Attar

Description

In the world of perfumery, attar holds a significant place! Attar is an Arabic word that means scent.

Also known as Ittar, attar is a natural perfume oil that is derived from plant sources like herbs, blooming flowers, spices, barks, and other such organic sources. Oils can also be extracted from chemical means; however, only perfumes that are distilled naturally qualify to be an attar. Once these natural oils are obtained, they are processed into the wood base like sandalwood and then aged to make a beautiful scent. The ageing period can vary from one to ten years, depending on the botanical through which the oil is derived. It also varies on the kind of results desired.

There is no expiry date to pure attars, and with time many of them smell even better.

Attars are considered luxurious and were offered to gods in ancient times, and it is also a tradition to give them to the guests on their departure as nobility. Ood attar, being the noblest of all, is well-known as a premium gifting option. It has been used in the eastern part of the globe for thousands of years.

As these naturally-extracted perfumes are of high concentration, they are usually sold in small quantities in some small crystal bottles. These beautiful small bottles make the attire more pleasing. Also, natural perfume is costly, so to make attar affordable, they are offered in small quantities. Only a little amount of attar is enough for use because of its high concentration, and thus, a bottle can last for a long time.

In ancient times, attar was used only by the elite, particularly by kings and queens. Also, it was and still is used in religious places. There are numerous uses of attar:

As there is no alcohol content in attar, it is used as a personal perfume, particularly by Muslim community. Attar is found useful in the pharmaceutical industry. It is known to strengthen the nervous system, relieve depression, stress, and food cravings. The perfumes of rose and kewra are added in some sweet delicacies in countries like Pakistan, India, and Bengal.