Corkman imports one of the world's rarest oils as perfume business makes perfect scents 

After decades working in the Middle East, Alan Coakley is bringing precious oud - sustainably - to Ireland in his luxury fragrance store

Alan Coakley with some of the fragrances for sale at Republic of Oud. Picture; Larry Cummins

An engineer who has worked in the Middle East for 20 years has returned home to launch a luxury fragrance and perfume business in Cork centred on one of the world’s rarest oils: oud.

Alan Coakley's new company Republic of Oud is based in Winthrop Arcade in Cork city, selling scents containing sustainably sourced oud, an oil prized as the basis for the world’s finest perfumes. Republic of Oud sells some of the most luxurious brands in the world, importing oud which can be also be made available to producers in Ireland.