From Engineering to Fragrance: The Journey of a Leader Who Thinks Outside the Box

In this inspiring interview with Dr. Abdulilah Mayet, one of the leaders of the Misk 2030 Program. We discover the story of a man whose passion began in childhood, torn between family perfume factories and home electrical gadgets. His journey took him from creating signature fragrances to developing advanced electronic materials and technologies, even securing patents that transformed industries on a global scale.

Dr. Abdulilah is not just an entrepreneur or academic; he is a living model of a leader who blends family legacy, world-class education, and relentless innovation.

Fragrance Roots and a Childhood of Innovation

Dr. Abdulilah grew up in a family with a long heritage in perfumery and soap-making in Makkah. His grandfather founded one of the city’s earliest perfume factories more than a century ago. As a child, he often accompanied his father to the factory, gaining early hands-on experience. Yet, he was equally fascinated by engineering and electrical experiments, so much so that he once caused a household blackout while tinkering with an old gift box that looked like a TV!

These early experiences shaped his personality as someone who always seeks the deeper “why” behind phenomena and how to improve or turn them into opportunities.

Leadership Begins in the Scouts

For Dr. Abdulilah, leadership is a gift from God, refined by experience not just training programs. His leadership journey started in elementary school when he joined the scouts, learning discipline, responsibility, and teamwork. By high school and university, he had become a scout leader, mastering the fundamentals of group work, guidance, and team-building values that would guide his professional career.

From Petroleum University to Silicon Valley

Dr. Abdulilah earned a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering with honors from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. He then joined an advanced electronics company in Jeddah, which sent him to Silicon Valley to learn how to manufacture and service complex devices. After a decade in this field, he returned to his passion (perfume) and founded Jawhara, his own perfume factory that elevated Saudi perfumery to international standards, exporting to Europe, Africa, and the Gulf region.

Blending Electronics with Perfume: An Unprecedented Innovation

Even after re-entering the fragrance industry, Dr. Abdulilah never abandoned his love for technology. While studying at KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology), he developed a project that combined electronics and fragrances: solvent-free air fresheners that stay suspended in the air longer without leaving residue on surfaces. Today, he is working on turning this breakthrough into a commercial product.

Inventing New Materials and Registering Global Patents

One of his most groundbreaking achievements was developing an “amorphous material” that can withstand high temperatures and is used in MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems). Global companies took more than 15 years to achieve this, but he accomplished it in just one year.

This innovation has the potential to revolutionize sensor and electronics manufacturing, reducing costs from thousands of dollars to under a hundred, similar to the leap the camera industry made when shifting from CCD to CMOS technology.

Toward a Knowledge and Silicon Economy

Dr. Abdulilah believes that Saudi Arabia has all the ingredients to become a global leader in semiconductors and microelectronics, from the availability of raw materials like silicon to the capability of building an integrated design and manufacturing ecosystem. He emphasizes that knowledge is the cornerstone of the future economy, aligning with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision of transitioning toward a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy.

A Philosophy on Failure and Building Success

For Dr. Abdulilah, failure is not the end it is a step up to the next level. His philosophy is simple: “Learn the lesson and move forward.” Thanks to this mindset, his success rate in research and development projects has reached 60%, far above industry averages.

The Most Important Lesson from His Journey

He concludes with golden advice for leaders and entrepreneurs:

“Always think outside the box. Ask why something happens and how it can be changed or improved. If you understand the root cause of any problem, you can change anything.”

This interview reveals a unique portrait of a self-made Saudi leader who blends legacy with innovation, science with industry, leaving his mark across every field he enters.

Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel, and listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Anghami.