Blind teacher turns scent into art with Baghdad perfume shop

BAGHDAD — In a small storefront in Zafaraniyah’s Saeeda neighborhood, Murtadha Majid runs a popular perfume shop — despite being blind.

Majid, now in his twenties, lost his sight years ago. But the challenge, he said, sharpened his other senses and helped him develop a deep connection with scent. “My interest in perfumes started in childhood,” he told 964media. “I used to save money not to buy toys or candy, but to buy perfumes. I would mix them on my hand without knowing there were different formulas.”

Today, he runs Murtadha’s Concentrated Perfumes, using a precise memory of bottle placement and a refined sense of smell to navigate and blend with confidence. “I distinguish the perfumes and their types by location because I arrange them in sequence, and my sense of smell helps me recognize each type,” he said.

His biggest challenge? Male customers. “Men have more difficult tastes than women,” he said. “They don’t know what they want. Women, on the other hand, may bring the bottle of the perfume they used before or describe the kind they prefer, which helps me suggest something close.”

Majid is also a schoolteacher, balancing two professions with care. “Perfume is my hobby, and teaching is my job,” he said. “I have a rule — if I can change the mindset of even 10 students out of 300, or help them find their goal, then I consider that an achievement.”

He acknowledged the pressure of managing both careers but said passion drives him. “Yes, there’s pressure from both jobs, but when you love what you do, the difficulties fade,” he said. “My message to young people facing challenges in life or chasing their dreams is this — you’ll never achieve anything if you stay asleep. If you try and work, the word ‘impossible’ will disappear.”

Ahmed Basim, a longtime customer, praised Majid’s craft and character. “Mr. Murtadha is a decent and respectful person, and his perfumes are beautiful,” he said. “When I come here to buy a perfume, I have trouble deciding, so I ask for his help, and he always chooses something that suits me.”