A living tradition of distillation into sandalwood
Indian Attar Tradition
The Indian attar tradition in Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh) has continued uninterrupted for more than 500 years. The deg-bhapka method — distilling flowers into sandalwood oil using copper stills and bamboo tubes — creates oil essences for ritual, therapeutic and everyday use. A key part of Ayurveda, Sufism and the Mughal courts.
Key aspects
- ◆Center: Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh (500+ years of tradition)
- ◆Method: deg-bhapka (copper distillation stills)
- ◆Key attars: gulab (rose), mogra (jasmine), oud, mitti, kewda
- ◆The foundation of Ayurvedic aromatherapy and Sufi rituals
Representative names
- Kannauj Attars
- Ajmal India
- Forest Essentials
- All Good Scents