Keypoints:
- Graduate launches pioneering fragrance brand
- Magool reshapes Somalia’s scent industry
- Turkey studies inspired business vision
SOMALI entrepreneur Naima Salad has broken new ground in her homeland with the creation of Magool, now one of Somalia’s largest fragrance brands. Salad, who studied Political Science and International Relations at Turkey’s Samsun 19 Mayıs University, returned to Mogadishu determined to transform her experiences abroad into a business that would leave a mark.
From student to trailblazer
After graduating in 2019, Salad set out to fill a gap in Somalia’s consumer market. She explained that Magool, meaning ‘scent’ in Somali, focuses on ambient fragrance solutions for offices, hotels and retail spaces. The company also markets indoor fragrance machines and perfumes, effectively pioneering a sector that had not previously existed in Somalia.
‘I started this sector first. There are other brands now, but we remain the biggest,’ she told local media.
Rooted in Mogadishu
Salad’s decision to return home was rooted in her sense of national duty. ‘I am Somali. My country needs me. I went to Turkey to study, but I came back to bring the education and experiences I gained back home,’ she said.
Since leaving Somalia in 2013, she has witnessed Mogadishu undergo what she described as a dramatic transformation. Restaurants, cafés and new businesses have flourished, with improved security encouraging both local entrepreneurs and foreign investors.
Lessons from Turkey
Salad credits her years in Turkey as a pivotal moment in her journey. ‘At first, it was difficult, but studying in Turkey gave me great advantages. I made new friends, learned new ideas, and gained the inspiration to start this business,’ she recalled.
Her business still maintains trade links with Turkey, sourcing some products from Turkish suppliers, a nod to the growing ties between Mogadishu and Ankara. On a lighter note, she admitted that Turkish cuisine remains one of the things she misses most.
Building more than a brand
Magool’s rise reflects more than commercial success. For Salad, the venture is about reshaping consumer culture in Somalia while demonstrating that education abroad can be channelled into local impact.
Her story underlines the growing confidence of Somali entrepreneurs in building businesses that reflect both tradition and modernity, while strengthening trade links with partners such as Turkey.
Through Magool, Salad has not only built a brand but also introduced Somalia to a new industry—proof that determination, vision and education can turn an idea into a movement.
