Perfume is set aside once Ihram begins because the state of Ihram is built around simplicity, humility and equality — pilgrims deliberately step away from personal adornment, including fragrance, as part of a wider set of restrictions observed during Hajj and Umrah.

Part of a Bigger Picture of Restraint

Avoiding new perfume sits alongside several other Ihram restrictions — such as not cutting hair or nails, not hunting, and men wearing simple, unstitched white cloth rather than tailored clothing. The idea running through all of these is a stripping back of ordinary worldly concerns and personal vanity, so that pilgrims stand before God in a state of humility and equality with everyone else performing the same ritual.

Why Scent Specifically Is Included

Fragrance has long been understood, across many traditions, as a marker of personal adornment and self-presentation, so setting it aside fits naturally within this broader spirit of the ritual. This is a matter of established Islamic jurisprudence, and pilgrims should follow guidance from a qualified scholar or their pilgrimage group for the specific rules that apply. Our guide to perfume basics, part of the complete guide to perfume, looks at how different cultures and faiths have approached fragrance and adornment.