Inspired by her daughter, Sara Alhamar, founder of Pearla, shares how a personal idea grew into a children’s brand built around fragrance, family, and meaningful products.
Children’s fragrance brand Pearla began with a deeply personal idea. Inspired by motherhood and the birth of her daughter, Sara Alhamar created the brand to offer families beautiful, high-quality products with meaning behind them. Sara used the money her daughter received as birth gifts to establish the business, beginning with personalised baby blankets before customer interest led her into children’s fragrances.
Today, Pearla’s signature scents include 1104 and 1208, named after the birthdays of her daughter, Khulod, and son, Salim. With new fragrances and a gentler baby formula in development, the founder hopes to grow Pearla into an internationally recognised Emirati children’s company. Here, she discusses the brand’s beginnings, what she learned from mothers, the support she has received as an entrepreneur, and why following her own ambitions allows her to inspire her children.
Sara Alhamar, founder of Pearla
Tell us about Pearla and where the idea for the brand came from.
Pearla was inspired by my daughter and my experience as a mother. I wanted to create beautiful, high-quality products that would make children and their mothers happy. Motherhood helped me understand what families need, and it continues to inspire every product and idea I develop.
The business began after my daughter was born. In the UAE, visitors often give money as a gift when a baby is born, so I saved the money she received and used it to launch Perla. I wanted to create something meaningful that would always be connected to her.
Why did you decide to focus on fragrances for children?
I was searching for something special for my daughter, but many of the children’s fragrances I found on the market seemed very similar.
At the time, I was selling personalised baby blankets. I created my own fragrance by blending different oils and sprayed it onto the blankets before giving them to customers. People began asking about the scent because they loved that it was long-lasting and reminded them of a baby. Their response encouraged me to develop the fragrance as a product in its own right. I began with 1104, which represents my daughter’s birthday.
How has the fragrance collection developed since then?
I later created 1208, named after my son’s birthday. The fragrances are personal to me because they reflect my children’s different personalities. Our customers have also become very loyal to the scents. Many people who purchase a fragrance return to buy the same one again. The perfumes are light and familiar, so both parents and children become accustomed to them. We also have three additional fragrances planned for the collection.
What considerations are involved in creating fragrances for children?
The current fragrances should only be sprayed onto clothing, and we make this clear to every customer. One of my future goals is to develop a gentler formula created specifically for safe, direct use on babies. Product safety is extremely important, and this is an area I want to continue developing carefully.
What are your ambitions for Pearla?
My dream is for Pearla to become one of the largest Emirati companies dedicated to children and eventually expand internationally. In the future, I would also like to explore other areas of the children’s market, including baby-care essentials such as diapers. My aim is to build a complete Emirati children’s company with products that support families through different stages.
What does Emirati Women’s Day mean to you as an Emirati woman and entrepreneur?
Emirati Women’s Day is a very special occasion for me. It celebrates the achievements and strength of Emirati women while recognising the important contribution they make across many fields. It also reminds us of the tremendous support we receive from the UAE’s leadership. Emirati women have been given many opportunities to succeed, grow and pursue their ambitions, and that support has helped women build meaningful careers and businesses.
How has the Sharjah Business Women Council supported your entrepreneurial journey?
The Sharjah Business Women Council has supported us through workshops, regular follow-ups and guidance throughout the development of the business. It has also promoted our work through its social media platforms and provided opportunities to participate in festivals and events. These initiatives have helped introduce Perla to a wider audience and given businesses such as mine greater visibility, including opportunities to be featured in magazines.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned since launching your company?
The most important lesson is that learning never stops. There is always room to improve, particularly when it comes to understanding and communicating with customers. I learn a great deal from mothers. They ask questions, share their experiences, and raise points I may not have considered. I listen carefully to their feedback and use it to improve the products and the wider business. Remaining open to learning is essential.
What advice would you give to other women who want to start a business?
I would encourage any woman with a creative or innovative idea to move forward. Following a dream gives you purpose, but it is also important to choose something you genuinely love. Passion gives you the motivation to continue when building a business becomes challenging.
Finding balance between motherhood, work and personal wellbeing is not always easy, but women should still create space for their own goals. Achieving something for yourself builds confidence and happiness, which can positively influence your family.
My daughter sometimes helps me pack orders, and she now sees business ownership as something she could pursue herself one day. When children see their mothers working towards their ambitions, it gives them someone to look up to and encourages them to imagine possibilities for their own futures.
