It can, plausibly — covered skin tends to retain more warmth, and warmth generally helps a fragrance develop and project more, though there is no strict rule here since covering also reduces direct air exposure, which affects how the scent reaches the outside world.

What’s Likely Happening

Trapped warmth under an abaya or niqab can encourage a fragrance to open up and diffuse from the skin more actively than it might in cooler, open air, similar to how perfume behaves more intensely in a warm room than a cold one. At the same time, the fabric acts as a partial barrier, which may hold scent closer to the body and clothing rather than letting it spread outward as freely.

What This Means in Practice

Many people find that scent, especially oil-based attars, lingers noticeably on the fabric itself for hours after application, sometimes longer than it would on bare skin exposed to open air. This is one of the reasons attars and bakhoor remain so popular alongside modest dress traditions — they are built for exactly this kind of long, steady release. Our guide to wearing perfume with abaya, hijab and modest dress, part of the complete guide to perfume, goes into this properly.