Ittar

A traditional Indian perfume, Ittar has fascinated generations with its soothing fragrance. It usually figured in the romantic stories of the bygone era. Its patrons included great poets like the legendary Mirza Ghalib. Applied by the young and the old, it has sadly been sidelined by the modern synthetic perfumes that have flooded the market. Uttar Pradesh in the north and Hyderabad in the south are the few regions in the country where it is still made.

Owing to its strong scent, Ittar is sold in tiny bottles. The usual convention is dipping cotton balls in the liquid and placing it behind the ears. It can also be used in the usual manner by applying on the cloth. This perfume is mostly preferred by the Muslims owing to the absence of alcohol in it. It is prepared from the extracts of naturally available fragrant materials like amber, rose petals, sandalwood and musk.