What is Attar? A Helpful Guide to Natural Perfume Oils

Finding a perfume that actually lasts and feels unique can be surprisingly tough. Most perfumes are packed with synthetic ingredients and sharp, alcohol-based sprays that fade by midday. If you're looking for a truly delightful scent—something with genuine depth and splendor—attar oils are a wonderful option that offer a truly unique sensory experience.

So, what exactly is attar? In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about attars.

What is Attar?

At its core, attar is a natural oil-based perfume crafted to be the purest expression of a scent. Highly prized for their rich complexity, these precious blends stand out because they rely on traditional distillation methods. Attar boasts a wonderful depth and long lasting personality that set it apart from other types of perfumes.

How is Attar Made?

Attar is produced through the traditional method of hydro-distillation — the same technique used by artisans hundreds of years ago. This enduring practice uses water as a medium to extract precious oils from raw aromatic ingredients.

Hydro-distillation begins by carefully heating a blend of water and fragrant ingredients in a distillation vessel. With time, the mixture is sufficiently heated to produce steam, carrying away the fragrant essential oils.

The hot steam is then rapidly cooled into a liquid water-oil mix. The water is finally siphoned off, leaving aromatic essential oil in its purest form.

Different Types of Attar

Attars are wonderful because their high quality redolence isn’t limited to just a few ingredients. They can be derived from many aromatic ingredients, and can come as a standalone scent or as a combination of many. This means that for every preference, there is an attar perfectly suited for it. 

Woody/Earthy:

• Sandalwood
• Oud (Agarwood)
• Cedarwood
• Moss

Sweet Gourmand:

• Amber
• Tonka
• Vanilla
• Lactonic
• Resin

Animalic:

• Musk
• Leather

Floral:

• Rose
• Jasmine
• Honeysuckle
• Patchouli
• Ylang-ylang

Fruit:

• Citrus
• Bergamot
• Blackcurrant
• Pineapple

How Does Attar Work

There’s more to attar than just ‘smelling good’ — high quality attar posses four qualities that contribute to releasing a wonderful fragrance.

Depth: ‘How well’ the scent holds throughout every phase. Attars are prized for their rich tones and complexity. The distillation process produces a concentrated oil that truly encapsulates the splendor of the aromatic ingredients used!

Longevity: ‘How long’ the perfume stays fragrant on the skin. Attars are the distilled essence of fragrance in concentrated oil form, giving their aroma an unmatched ability to linger for extended periods.

Projection: ‘How far’ the perfume radiates in the air when stationary. Attars excel in producing a closer, intimate cloud of scent rather than a far-reaching one. But what attars lack in projection, they more than make up in depth and longevity. 

Silage: The ‘scent trail’ left behind when walking. Attar produces a softer, subtle aroma that intrigues rather than a scent that blindly overpowers.

How Do I Use Attar?

To use attar, simply apply a few drops of the oil directly to the skin. Since attar oils use heat to release their fragrance, it is best to apply them to pulse points. These warm sports include the:

• Wrists
• Sides of the Neck
• Behind the Ears
• The Upper Chest

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply attar to my clothing?

A: Using attar on clothing is generally not recommended as it might leave stains. Applying directly to the skin is the preferable method, as natural body heat helps activate and release attar’s wonderful aroma.

Q: Does attar contain any alcohol?

A: No, attars are distilled from raw aromatic ingredients without the use of alcohol.