The “flower Men,” a tribe of people descended from the ancient Tihama and Asir groupings with traditions dating back more than two millennia, such as the garlands of herbs and blooms they wear on their head.
The men live in the Habala Mountains that overlap Saudi Arabia's southern border with Yemen, but take orders from neither government, instead living their lives under the dictates of tribal law.
But as photographer Eric Lafforgue discovered, they are the source of much unrest in the region, conducting cross-border battles and reacting violently should any outsider stumble into their turf.
This remained the case until the early 1990s when the Saudi Arabian government, keen to boost tourism in the region, built cable cars to the villages and hotels for tourists to stay in.
But with many of the flower men forced out of their homes by the development, clashes soon erupted and the area remains volatile - mainly because of the crisis in neighboring Yemen.
Lafforgue revealed in an exclusive interview with MailOnline Travel that some of the local people really hate foreigners; even Saudi people are not welcome in some villages.
As a result, when Lafforgue arrived in the village of Rijal Alma, the locals' initial reaction was to hide, especially women, but men were more amenable.
Lafforgue expressed his fascination with their garlands, most of which were made using wild basil and jasmine picked in the foothills of the Habala Mountains.
“They do it every day. They all want to look better than their neighbors,” he explained.
“Not every garland is worn for its beauty, but they use similar herbs as a cure for headaches,' he explains.