Attar, also known as Ittar, is a natural perfume oil that has been used for centuries in parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Attars are highly concentrated perfumes that are free from alcohol and synthetic chemicals. They are made from plant sources like herbs, blooming flowers, spices, barks, and other natural ingredients. Attars are sold in small glass flaçons and are not sprayed, but dotted onto pulse points with a slim glass rod attached to the top, though rollerball dispensers are now also available. Some common types of attars include:
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Mitti Attars: These attars are distillates of baked soil over liquid paraffin or sandalwood essential oil via water distillation techniques, sometimes using Ganges river water.
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Animal Scents: These attars are derived from animal substances such as pheromones. For example, musk and ambergris are animal scents.
Attars are used as a perfume, especially in Muslim communities due to the absence of alcohol. They are also used in the pharmaceutical industry for making medicines, especially for cardiac and aphrodisiacal purposes. Attars can be used as a natural air freshener, and some people use them for aromatherapy purposes.
