The ledger
Twenty-one products, each with the line it rests on
The cases brands ask about most, from a cologne to a bakhoor burner. Rows marked "our reading" are not spelled out in the texts; they follow from them, and KEITI or MFDS should confirm them for your product.
| Product | Side | Item and form | Rests on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau de parfum, eau de toilette, cologne | Body | Cosmetic · perfume, cologne | Rule annex 3; Notice annex 2 excl. 1) |
| Attar, oud oil, mukhallat worn on skinour reading | Body | Cosmetic · perfume | Act art. 2(1); Rule annex 3 |
| Body mist, hair mistour reading | Body | Cosmetic | Act art. 2(1) |
| Perfume powder, solid perfume | Body | Cosmetic · powder fragrance, other fragrance | Rule annex 3 |
| Scent sachet carried on the person | Body | Cosmetic · scent sachet | Rule annex 3; Notice annex 2 excl. 1) |
| Body deodorant (spray, stick, powder) | Body | Cosmetic · body-odour product | Notice annex 2, deodorizers excl. 1) |
| Room spray | Space | Air freshener · indoor · spray | Notice annex 2 |
| Reed diffuser, refill oil, scented gel | Space | Air freshener · indoor · liquid or gel | Notice annex 2; KEITI manual |
| Aroma oil for an electric diffuserour reading | Space | Air freshener | MCEE release 23 Sep 2026 |
| Sachet hung in a wardrobe or carour reading | Space | Air freshener | Notice annex 2 (living space) |
| Car vent clip, hanging card, car diffuser | Space | Air freshener · car | Notice annex 2, table 1 |
| Linen or fabric spray that scents | Space | Air freshener · fabric | Notice annex 2, table 1 |
| Fabric refresher that removes odour | Space | Deodorizer · object | Notice annex 2, deodorizers |
| Shoe-cabinet or fridge deodorizer | Space | Deodorizer · closed space | Notice annex 2, deodorizers note (1) |
| Scented or plain wick candle | Space | Candle · scent or light | Notice annex 2, candles |
| Wickless wax melt for a warmer | Space | Air freshener · heated | KEITI manual Q5 |
| Incense, cones, bakhoor with fragrance addedour reading | Space | Air freshener · burning | Notice annex 2 excl. 3); MCEE release |
| DIY candle or diffuser kit | Space | Same as the finished product | KEITI Q&A Q1-1 |
| Room and body spray | Both | Air freshener and cosmetic | KEITI Q&A, scope table |
| Scent bracelet, necklace, patch, clip-on | Off | Outside air fresheners | Notice annex 2 excl. 4) |
| Ritual incense, raw oud chips, plain resin, dried petals, nothing addedour reading | Off | Outside air fresheners | Notice annex 2 excl. 3) |
Notice = MCEE Notice 2026-215 (in force 1 Sep 2026). Rule annex 3 = Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act. KEITI documents are from Nov 2022. All read 31 Oct 2026.
Why Gulf scents sit on the hard edge
A Gulf fragrance house sells oil to wear, wood to burn and mists for the majlis, often from one counter. Korea sorts those into two laws. The attar on the wrist is a perfume. The same house’s bakhoor, soaked in perfume and burned on charcoal, gives off scent in a room and is not in the exclusion for unscented ritual incense. Untreated oud chips sit on the other side of that exclusion, as long as nothing has been added. The text does not name bakhoor or oud, which is why those rows carry our reading.