Trust his nose? This Syrian perfumer needs just a whiff to mimic luxury brands

Syrian perfumer Mohammad Al-Masri (right) serves customers at his shop in a historic souq of Damascus's old city. Photo: AFP

One whiff of a fragrance is all Syrian perfumer Mohammad Al-Masri needs to recreate the scent of a luxury brand – without the label and for a fraction of the cost.

Dozens of customers flock daily to his tiny store, nestled in the historic market of Damascus's old city, many flashing photos on their phones of high-end perfumes they want to replicate.