Attar
Attar can refer to a traditionally distilled fragrance or a perfume oil. Learn how the term is used, what sandalwood contributes, and which details to check.
Updated
Attar, also written ittar, refers to fragrant preparations associated with South Asian and Middle Eastern perfume traditions. In the traditional Kannauj process, aromatic material is distilled and its scent collected into a receiving oil, historically sandalwood oil.
The word is also used more broadly in retail for oil-based perfumes and blends. Those uses do not all describe the same process, carrier or ingredient list. Ask how a particular attar was made if traditional distillation is part of what you want.
An attar can be floral, woody, earthy or another style. The name alone does not prove that it is entirely natural, made only with sandalwood, ready for every use or guaranteed to last a certain number of hours.
- Ittar
- An alternative spelling of attar.
- Deg and bhapka
- The still and receiving vessel used in traditional Kannauj distillation.
- Receiving oil
- The oil into which the aromatic distillate is collected in the traditional process.
- Sandalwood base
- A historically important receiving material with a scent of its own. Other carriers are used in some contemporary preparations.
- Attar vs. perfume oil
- Perfume oil is a broad format description. Attar can carry a more specific manufacturing and cultural meaning, so check the maker’s usage.