Traditional Perfume Making in Kannauj: India’s Fragrance Heritage

Kannauj, often called the Perfume Capital of India, has preserved one of the oldest fragrance-making traditions in the world. Here, perfumes—known as attars—are handcrafted using natural ingredients like roses, jasmine, vetiver (khus), and agarwood.

The process follows the ancient “deg–bhapka” method:

1. Fresh flowers are collected at dawn for maximum aroma.

2. They are placed in a copper vessel (deg) with water.

3. The vessel is heated over a wood-fired clay oven.

4. Fragrant steam travels into a receiver flask (bhapka) filled with sandalwood oil, which absorbs the essential oils.

5. The blend rests for weeks to months, allowing the scent to mature naturally.

Every drop of Kannauj attar carries craftsmanship, history, and pure nature—no chemicals, no alcohol. Today, this timeless art continues to define India’s perfume legacy.