Kannauj, a small town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is renowned for its centuries-old tradition of crafting attar, or natural perfumes. Often referred to as the “Perfume Capital of India,” Kannauj has preserved the ancient art of distilling aromatic essences, passing down these skills through generations of artisans. The attar-making industry here is deeply rooted in cultural heritage, and the perfumes of Kannauj have garnered fame worldwide for their purity, quality, and distinctive natural scents. The Art and Science of Attar-Making Attar Kannauj , an Arabic term meaning "scent" or "perfume," is an essential oil derived from botanical sources. Unlike synthetic perfumes, which use chemical compounds, attar is made using natural ingredients such as flowers, herbs, spices, and woods. In Kannauj, the traditional method of making attar—called the hydro-distillation process—has remained largely unchanged for over a thousand years. This process involves heati...