Kannauj Perfume (Attar)

Name: Kannauj Perfume (Attar)
Brand: Kannauj Essential Oil Producers Association

Registry facts for Kannauj Perfume (Attar)
GI number	GI-6
Typical price	₹500 - ₹10,000
Verified cooperatives	Kannauj Essential Oil Producers Association
State	Uttar Pradesh

About Kannauj Perfume (Attar)

Kannauj Perfume, better known as attar or ittar, is a natural, alcohol-free fragrance distilled from flowers, herbs and even baked earth. Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh is India's historic perfume capital, and its attars range from rose (gulab) and jasmine (mogra) to kewra, henna and the famous mitti attar, which captures the smell of first rain on dry soil. A few drops of attar on the wrist last far longer than a spray.

Heritage and place

Perfumery has been practised in Kannauj for centuries, and the town's distillers once supplied royal courts. Families still run small distilleries, and knowledge passes from one generation to the next. The GI protects the name for genuine Kannauj production, which matters because many products sold as attar today are blended with synthetic oils or diluted with mineral spirits.

How it is made

Traditional distillation uses the deg and bhapka method. Flowers or herbs are heated in a copper pot (deg), and the vapour travels through a bamboo pipe into a receiving copper vessel (bhapka) partly filled with sandalwood oil, which absorbs the scent. The process is repeated with fresh batches over days, and the finished attar is aged. The technique is slow and labour intensive, which is why real attars are expensive.

Registry record

Kannauj Perfume (Attar) is listed in this catalogue as GI-6, a Geographical Indication tagged product of Uttar Pradesh in the manufactured category. The name is legally protected: only producers within the notified region may sell under it. Confirm the entry in the official GI Journal before relying on it commercially.

◈ How to spot a fake Kannauj Perfume (Attar)

What to check

Ask what the base is. Traditional attar uses sandalwood oil, while cheap versions use paraffin or synthetic bases. Real attar is oily rather than watery, develops on the skin over hours and is sold in small quantities. Compare prices carefully, because a low price for a rare note such as rose or mitti usually means dilution. Buy from established Kannauj distillers or government-backed outlets and ask for a fragrance note description.

Hydro-distilled traditionally into a sandalwood base. Retains scent for days; cheap imitations rely entirely on volatile synthetic chemical alcohols.

Price to expect

Genuine Kannauj Perfume (Attar) typically sells in the range of ₹500 - ₹10,000. Prices far below that range are a common sign of an imitation.

Where to buy

Look for authorised sellers such as Kannauj Essential Oil Producers Association, or government emporia and cooperatives in Uttar Pradesh.

Catalogue record

Catalogue record: GI-6 · Uttar Pradesh · reviewed 2026-10-02

Frequently asked questions

What is the GI registration number of Kannauj Perfume (Attar)?

This catalogue lists Kannauj Perfume (Attar) as GI-6. Registration numbers should be confirmed against the official GI Journal before commercial use.

Where is Kannauj Perfume (Attar) made?

Kannauj Perfume (Attar) is produced in Uttar Pradesh, in the manufactured category of this catalogue.

Can Kannauj Perfume (Attar) legally be made outside Uttar Pradesh?

No. GI protection means only producers within the notified region of Uttar Pradesh may legally sell goods under the name “Kannauj Perfume (Attar)”.

What does genuine Kannauj Perfume (Attar) cost?

Genuine Kannauj Perfume (Attar) typically sells in the range of ₹500 - ₹10,000. Prices far below this range are a common sign of an imitation.

How can I spot a fake Kannauj Perfume (Attar)?

Hydro-distilled traditionally into a sandalwood base. Retains scent for days; cheap imitations rely entirely on volatile synthetic chemical alcohols.

Where should I buy genuine Kannauj Perfume (Attar)?