Kannauj Perfume

India has perfumery tradition that dates back to over 5,000 years to the Indus valley civilization. Perhaps Kannauj was chosen by the Mughals for attar manufacturing due to its geographical location which was unique in planes of North India. Kannauj is situated on the banks of the river Ganga and with four other rivers in the neighborhood. The tall gates at the two entrances of the Kannauj town by a local perfumer in the year 1944 indicate the glorious past of attar industry in Kannauj. The quality of attar depends upon its concentration level of flowers/herbs in water, higher the concentration, higher the quality. Rose flower plants (Rosa Damascena) were brought from Iran and other Central Asian countries and grown across the region. Kannauj slowly but steadily grew as the Perfume City of India. Presently with over 25,000 of nearly 80,000 population of the Kannauj town directly or indirectly involved with perfume/attar production and related products like incense sticks, dhoop sticks, Rose water and gulkand (sweetmeat made of rose petals and sugar).

The attars of Rose and Kewra are two unique attars to India which constitute 80% of all the attars produced at Kannauj.