Perfumes are widely known for their ability to stir memories, capture essence, and evoke emotions. Attar, also called ittar, is a traditional perfume derived from natural sources like flowers, herbs, and spices, involving a base carrier such as sandalwood to create a unique and lasting scent. The art of attar dates back thousands of years. Its rich history, sewn in the tapestry of time, makes it not just a scent in a bottle, but a carrier of sorts, passing down generations of expertise and history.
The process of making high-quality attar is intricate and time-consuming. It is an oil-based and alcohol-free perfume, thus requiring no synthetic elements. Rather, it utilizes nature’s ingredients to create intricate depths of aroma.
History of attar
The name “attar” is of Persian origin and translates to “perfume.” Although attar originates from India and the Middle East, attar-making may have begun with the Egyptians, who were first known to extract scents from flowers for various purposes. It wasn’t until the 16th century that attar-making became prevalent because of the Mughal Empire in India.
The Mughal royalty placed opulence and pleasure above most and gave attars their time in the spotlight. The Mughals were known for their love for perfumes, heavily patronizing perfumers throughout their reign. This practice eventually led to widespread acceptance and distribution of attar. Then, they were used for everything from rituals to offerings, beautification, and aromatherapy.
Attar from Kannauj in the Uttar Pradesh area was the most sought-after, with the scent being described as earthy, soft, calming, or deep. With the rise of synthetic perfumes in the 20th century, attar has become less popular. However, the desire for natural and sustainable products has brought it back to the limelight, and online attar stores are back in the business of formulating this age-old craft.
The extraction process of attar
Attar is formulated in a slow and intricate process that requires knowledge, skill, and an understanding of nature’s materials. It is considered a science and an art, and production of it can span weeks to months.
The flowers are carefully picked at the perfect blossoming time, and distillation begins immediately.
Attar-making is an ancient tradition involving a copper still called a deg in steam distillation. The botanical materials are placed in the deg, and steam is passed through them, releasing their essential oils. The steam carries the oils to a receiver called a bhapka. The oil (attar) and liquid are left behind when the steam condenses to a liquid.
When attar is left to age, it produces a deeper and more nuanced scent than synthetic perfumes. If you’re looking to buy attar online, consider transparent brands about their sourcing and processing to ensure the best-quality attar.
Sustainability in attar-making
Attar-making is a revered craft famous for using all-natural materials, meaning all its components are obtained from nature. Attar is typically made from flowers like rose and jasmine, spices like saffron and vetiver, and resins like agarwood (oud).
Attar-making preserves the practice of responsibly sourcing and sustainably farming these botanical elements, making the craft stand out in sustainability. In addition, it relies heavily on traditions and methods that have been passed down for generations, preserving ancient knowledge.
Many online attar stores are small businesses that run on this ancient knowledge, ensuring fair trade practices while keeping the knowledge alive.
What sets attar apart from perfumes?
While both are fragrances, one major difference is that attar is made from natural sources, while perfumes are formulated from synthetic materials. Due to the distillation process of attar, the oil concentration is higher than that of perfume. Higher oil concentration means that attar is longer-lasting than perfumes, with only a few drops being incredibly potent. Attar’s natural formulation also gives it the upper hand as it contains no synthetic ingredients that could likely cause irritation or allergies.
Finally, one of the most notable differences is that attar is oil-based while perfumes are alcohol-based. Oil-based scents are known for their in-depth scent profile and unique interaction with the individual skin and heat.
Conclusion
Taking attar from plants to bottle is a slow but rewarding process. Nature lends the best of itself, and attars are crafted from these fine ingredients. Attars offer a unique depth and profile that is unlike anything synthetic. So next time you’re looking to buy attar online, remember the art of crafting it from plant to bottle.
