Saudi Arabia based Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Jasser, Chairman of Arabian Oud, embarked upon a mission to create multi-billion dollar oriental perfume business with a single store in 1981.  Today, Arabian Oud, with its retail network of more than 550 stores in 17, is one of the largest  perfume retailers in the world. In the Middle East and Europe, the tradition of oud perfume is in a multi-billion dollar industry and the rest of the world has caught the scent; Arabian Oud has opened stores in London, Paris, Beirut, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. "We were the first to take the oriental perfumes trade to the flobal market from the old souqs of Saudi Arabia," says Al-Jasser.  Having started trading in the oriental perfume business 30 years ago, he opened his first store in Riyadh in 1981.  After two years, Al-Jasser was ready for an ambitious expansion drive.  Today, the brand enjoys 30-40 per cent share of the GCC market which is worth $3.3 billion.  "By 2012, we hope to reach the 1,000 store mark," he says. A unique aspect of the group's retail network is that it has no agents or distributors. Al-Jasser recognised the pitfalls of wholesale and distribution agencies early: "We adopted a direct retail strategy that enabled us to expand beyond the realm of Arabia into a worldwide network of premium retail outlets.  The latest addition to our network is our second store in France on the Champs Elysees in Paris, which will be inaugurated by the end of this year." .Also scheduled to open by year end is group's second store in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.  Arabian Oud has also scored a few firsts; its stores in both Champs Elysees, Paris and Oxford Street, London, are the only stores to be allowed to put up the signage in a language other than Latin characters, moving away from the tradition in those landmark historical streets.Other locations like Washington