Attar (also spelled ittar or itr) is a concentrated perfume oil that contains no alcohol. It is dabbed onto the skin in small amounts, sits close to the body and usually lasts longer than a spray of the same scent. Attar has been worn in India and the Middle East for centuries.
Where attar comes from
The word comes from the Arabic 'itr', meaning fragrance. India has a long attar tradition, from the distilleries of Kannauj to the old perfume bazaars around Charminar in Hyderabad, where families like ours have blended and sold attar for generations.
Traditional attars capture flowers, woods and resins in a base oil. Modern attars also include oil versions of popular perfumes, so you can wear a scent you love without alcohol.
The main families of attar
Oud attars are deep, smoky and woody. Musk attars are soft, clean and skin-like. Floral attars include rose (gulab), jasmine (mogra), kewda and shamama. Sandal (chandan) attars are warm and creamy. Amber and spice attars are rich and warming, good for winter.
How to choose your first attar
Think about when you will wear it. For daily wear and the office, choose musk or a light floral. For prayer, many people choose musk, rose or sandal. For weddings and evenings, choose oud or amber. Start with a small 3 ml bottle of a few scents before buying a larger size.
Questions people ask
Is attar halal?
Attar contains no alcohol, which is why many Muslims prefer it for daily wear and prayer. For religious rulings, ask a scholar you trust.
Is attar the same as essential oil?
Not exactly. An attar is a perfume made to be worn on the skin, often a blend of many materials. An essential oil is usually a single plant extract.
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Written by the Ayyub Ali Fragrances family, perfumers in Hyderabad since 1986.