Attar
The word 'attar', 'ittar' or 'itra' believed to have been derived from the Persian word itir, meaning 'perfume', is an essential oil derived from botanical sources.
In ancient Egypt, a mixture of oil and crushed herbs have been used to create perfumes until a renowned Arab physician, Ibn Sina's discovery of distillation technique. Attar is commonly used amongst natives of the Indian Subcontinent and Arabia to treat numerous health disorders, and it was widely used in Greek medicine.
How to Apply Attar
There are different ways of applying attar but the best would be to take one or two drops of it on the wrist and then dab a little behind the earlobes. You may also apply it to the back of the knees elbows or shoulders or even on clothes.
For dark attars before applying on the clothes please take one or two drops of it on your palm and rub a little then apply on clothes.
The best time to apply any fragrance is after having a shower and let the body dry first.
For perfumes, keep a shoulder distance before spraying on the body or clothes. But for any alcoholic perfume first, apply a little on your skin and check if you feel any irritation. If not then it is safe to use.
Types of Attar
Non-Alcoholic Attar has special medical value and they are generally classified based on their effect on the human body such as warm attar like musk, amber, and Kesar (saffron) are used in winters, they increase the body temperature. Cool attar such as rose, jasmine, khus, kewda, and mogra are used in summer and have a cooling effect on the body.
| Musk | Musk or "Kasturi" used to obtain from the musk gland present in the skin beneath the abdomen of the male musk deer, called "Kastura" or "muskh" in Hindusthani. |
| Agarwood | Historically, Oud has been traded and cherished among perfumers, healers, alchemists, and oil traders. |
| Sandalwood | Sandalwood oil is popularly used in incense for its reputed calming effect during meditation. |
| Rose | Rose oils are obtained by steam-distilling the crushed petals of roses, a by-product of which is rose water. |
| Jasmine | Jasmine oil, derived from Jasmine flowers, has a potent floral aroma and is a popular expensive ingredient in perfumes. |
