Attar’s are beautiful fragrances in the form of perfumed oils that are derived from natural sources through a distillation or extraction process. Depending on the elements used Attar’s can be classified into two main types, Floral attar’s that are made from flowers and Herbal attar’s that are blended with a mix of flowers, herbs, spices and other botanical ingredients.
Other types of attar creations that are commonly known include the unique ‘Mitti’ attar which is distilled from baked clay giving out the smell of rain on parched earth, as well as attar’s made from animal scents such as Musk’s and Ambergris. Furthermore, Attar’s can also be categorized based on the effects that they have on the body once applied, where cooling Floral attar’s can be used in the summer and warming Herbal attar’s used in the winter.
The distillation process used to extract essential oils can be traced back to the Indus Valley civilizations as revealed by the distilling artifacts that have been unearthed in this region, however even prior historical records indicate of the existence of a female chemist by the name Tapputi-Belatekallim who was experimenting and creating distilled fragrances in ancient Egypt.
Modern history credits historical figures such as Ibn al-Baytar for works on essential oils extraction as well as Ibn Sina (Avicenna) for refining and perfecting the distillation process, in fact these ancient techniques of distillation and extraction are still used to this day in the city of Kannauj, India’s perfume capital.
Attar’s are essentially fragrances in the form of liquid oils that are created using natural ingredients through a process of distillation, and as the Latin terms Per and Fume (through smoke) suggests, modern day perfumes have evolved from the ancient Attar making techniques. A notable difference between the two being that modern day perfumes use alcohol as a carrier or solvent while Attar use a base oil created from tree bark such as Sandalwood.
Narrated ‘Aishah: I used to perfume Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) with the best scent available till I saw the shine of the scent on his head and beard.
Sahih al-Bukhari Volume 7, Ahadith 5923
77, The Book of Dress
Narrated ‘Thumama bin Abdullah: Anas never used to refuse (a gift of) scent and used to say that the Prophet (PBUH) never used to refuse (a gift of) scent.
Sahih al-Bukhari Volume 7, Ahadith 5929
77, The Book of Dress