Attar for this Ramzan season

Attar perfumes add a special fragrance to Ramzan prayers and festival season. Long lasting and heart-filling fragrance make Attar a favourite of all. That’s the reason why Attar is popular than normal perfumes. It is high in demand in Muslim-nominated Arabian countries. Attar was born centuries back before the branded perfumes of today. In Arabic language, Attar means ‘Medicine Trader’ and ‘Perfume seller’.

Flowers are distilled and oils are extracted to get Attar. All perfumes produced in this method are known as Attar. In Kerala, Malabar region is famous for Attar. Attractive Attars with the fragrance of Jasmine, sandal and vetiver (ramacham) are among the variety fragrances. To retain fragrance for a long time, the extracts are mixed with white oil to prepare attars.

Attars prepared using auto-distillation method is more intense. For the same reason, a little amount of attar is sufficient. Apart from flowers, roots, leaves, twigs and wood are used for this purpose. Attars are available in the price range – 40 to 10,000 Indian rupees for 10 milli litres.

Attars are alcohol free – thus it has an upper hand over normal and branded perfumes available in market. As they are alcohol-free, they are free of side effects, and suit any climate. They also never cause skin problems or damage to clothes.

How to use Attar?

1. Attars are to be applied in hands, wrist just beneath palm and backside of ears. It’s not a good procedure to apply everywhere.

2. Attars are prepared using sandal oil, oud perfumes etc. But duplicate attars are also available in market which makes use of the petroleum product – paraffin wax. Regular use of such artificial attars can result in skin diseases such as allergy.

3. Attars used in excess or of less quality can give skin problems such as red rashes, itching, swelling and burning feel too. So while you choose attar, test it on your skin before you buy.

Significance of Oud

Oud is the real star of Attar market. Attar prepared from oud is high in demand. Perfumed Oud (Agarwood) is believed to be God’s tree, and food of soul as per Islam belief. Oud is a part of daily life of Arabians, and either home or any public place, their daily life starts by burning Oud. Oud is fumigated in mosques also. Oud resembles wood affected by termites, yet it is very costly. It is costlier than gold, and as per quality its price falls in the range, 2000 – 4 lakh rupees for 1 Kg. Kilos of Oud is distilled to get 1 litre of Attar.

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