For many, the smell of synthetic ittar or attar can give them a headache, make them feel nauseous or give them a rash. But did you know that ittars, till a few years ago, were not the same. Manufacturers produced edible-grade fragrant oils that were packed with natural, mild, fine and unmistakable fragrances.
All natural ittars have a natural oil as their base ingredient, with a characteristic smell. “Rub a piece of sandalwood on rock and you will smell an unmistakable scent. Similar is the case with orange peel, rose petals or jasmine,” says Shailendra Prasad, the fourth-generation owner of Hyderabad Perfumers. His great-grandfather Puran Das established the store in 1896 at Patthar Gatti in Charminar. “This was the age of natural perfumes which lasted for aeons before synthetic ittars came in to picture in the late 19th century,” he says.