Quick Facts: Kayali Fragrances
| Owner | Mona Kattan (founder and co-owner) |
| CEO / Founder | Mona Kattan |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Ownership Type | Private |
| Stock Ticker | N/A |
| Publicly Traded | No |
Who Owns Kayali?
Kayali Fragrances is owned and led by Mona Kattan, who co-founded the luxury fragrance brand in 2018. Mona is the sister of beauty entrepreneur Huda Kattan, the founder of the globally recognized Huda Beauty cosmetics empire. The word “Kayali” is Arabic for “my imagination,” reflecting the brand’s philosophy of creating evocative, layerable fragrances inspired by Middle Eastern perfumery traditions blended with contemporary global sensibilities. Kayali operates as its own independent fragrance house, primarily based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where the Kattan family’s beauty empire is centered.
Kayali is privately held, and while it sits within the broader orbit of the Kattan family’s beauty businesses, it operates as a distinct brand with its own product lineup, team, and creative direction under Mona Kattan’s leadership. The brand emerged from Mona’s personal passion for fragrance — she is well-known in the beauty world as a fragrance connoisseur — and her desire to create a modern, approachable line of fine perfumes that encouraged consumers to layer scents rather than wear a single signature fragrance. The brand’s layering philosophy quickly became one of its signature marketing concepts.
Kayali’s initial collection focused on complex oriental, floral, and gourmand fragrances, including the breakout Vanilla 28 scent, which became a social media phenomenon and drew comparisons to high-end niche perfumers despite being priced accessibly. The brand rapidly expanded its lineup through additional collections and has developed a cult following among fragrance enthusiasts on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Kayali distributes globally through Sephora and its own e-commerce platform, giving it reach across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
About Mona Kattan
Mona Kattan is an Iraqi-American beauty entrepreneur raised in the United States who moved to Dubai with her family and became a central figure in the Middle East’s beauty industry. She initially co-built Huda Beauty alongside her sister Huda before launching Kayali as her own independent creative project. Mona has a massive social media following across Instagram and YouTube, where she shares her expertise in fragrance layering, beauty, and lifestyle. She is widely regarded as one of the foremost advocates for making fine fragrance more accessible and educational for a broader consumer audience. The success of Kayali has established her as a notable entrepreneur in her own right, separate from the Huda Beauty brand.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Mona Kattan founded Kayali in 2018: Mona Kattan launched Kayali Fragrances in 2018 as an independent fragrance house. The brand’s name means “my imagination” in Arabic, and its philosophy centers on creating fine fragrances that can be layered to create personalized scent combinations.
- Kayali is closely associated with the Kattan family beauty empire: While Kayali operates independently, it shares brand DNA with Huda Beauty, founded by Mona’s sister Huda Kattan. The Kattan family has built one of the most influential beauty empires to emerge from the Middle East, with global retail and e-commerce presence.
- Vanilla 28 became a viral fragrance hit: Kayali’s Vanilla 28 fragrance became one of the most talked-about perfumes on social media, sparking a broader conversation about vanilla-forward fragrances and helping establish Kayali’s identity as a brand that made fine fragrance approachable and fun.
- Global distribution through Sephora: Kayali fragrances are sold globally through Sephora, one of the world’s largest prestige beauty retailers. This partnership has given Kayali enormous distribution reach, making the brand accessible in shopping centers and online across dozens of countries.
- The brand champions fragrance layering: Kayali’s core marketing philosophy encourages consumers to layer multiple fragrances to create personalized, unique scents rather than relying on a single signature perfume. This educational approach has been central to building a highly engaged community of fragrance enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Kayali?
Kayali Fragrances is owned and led by Mona Kattan, who co-founded the brand in 2018. Mona is the sister of Huda Kattan (founder of Huda Beauty). Kayali is privately held and based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Is Kayali related to Huda Beauty?
Yes, in a family sense. Kayali was founded by Mona Kattan, sister of Huda Kattan who founded Huda Beauty. However, Kayali operates as its own independent brand with separate ownership, product lines, and creative direction — not as a division of Huda Beauty.
Is Kayali publicly traded?
No. Kayali Fragrances is a privately held company and is not listed on any public stock exchange.
Where is Kayali based?
Kayali Fragrances is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which is also the home base of the broader Kattan family beauty business. The brand distributes globally through Sephora and its own e-commerce platform.
Related Reading
Kayali founder Mona Kattan is the sister of Huda Beauty founder Huda Kattan.