By Business CNCT
Bolton entrepreneur Zubair Hassan is set to showcase his business journey at a major London festival celebrating Somali culture, joining prominent figures to discuss entrepreneurship and heritage.
Mr Hassan, founder of fragrance house Rayie Musk, has been invited to speak on a panel about Somali entrepreneurship at the Somali Week Festival in London on October 20.
He launched the Bolton-based business in February 2026, following four years of developing its debut perfume collection.
Based on Weston Street, Rayie Musk draws inspiration from Somali heritage and history. Its first collection, The Coast, features three eaux de parfum named after Somali port cities: Berbera, Kismaayo and Jamaame.
Explaining the inspiration behind the collection, Mr Hassan said frankincense and myrrh had originated in the Horn of Africa and had been shipped through its ports for thousands of years.
He said the ingredients continued to feature in many European perfumes, despite the regions they came from often receiving little recognition.
“In a Somali home the day is marked by them, frankincense in the morning and myrrh in the evening. I wanted to build a house that puts the credit back where it belongs,” he said.
Mr Hassan will join several prominent business figures at the festival, including Hussein Suleiman, founder of Amsterdam-based fashion label Daily Paper.
Alongside his appearance on the entrepreneurship panel, he will host a stall showcasing Rayie Musk’s fragrances, allowing festival visitors to sample the collection.
Made in England, the perfumes are available to purchase online through the Rayie Musk website. Each 50ml bottle is priced at £85.
Mr Hassan hopes the brand will raise awareness of the Somali influences and ingredients that have contributed to the global perfume industry for centuries, while celebrating the heritage behind the fragrances.
