Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh- A place where perfumes are made from Rain.

This blog I am tempted to write is based on a discovery accidentally from the net.I was not looking for. Such a place but it so happened that I came across with it by chance. When Im read the history of the place I was so much impressed to put it in the form of a blog As the heading of this Blog suggests Kannauj is a place where everywhere the fragrance of perfumes prevails. This place is in UP.it is said to be the place where perfume is made from Rain.It might look like hearing a paradox.but no.there is some facts in saying so. Some Research people had tried to prove scientifically also that the place smells perfume due to various natural reasons This town is a business town of Perfumes..All the people in this village are in one way or other related to the Perfume business. The attar is the main perfume being made in Kannauj. In my childhood atvthevtime of School Education I had many friends from Muslims and Christians.Kerala is still a place where religious controversies do not affect friendship.Those days there were never any discrimination based On religious feelings. My Muslim friends on various occasions used to spray attar paticles all over my body saying that I would smell fragrance .Today I am happy to knowv the reasons behind whatvtheybwere telling me so. The ingredients required for the making of Attar are mainly as briefed hereunder: 1)Basic materials:Sandalwood oil,Dl- OctYl Phthlate( DOP) and Liqid Paraffin. 2)Floral Material: Rose Flowers, Kewra flowers,Bela Flowers,kadamb flowers,Chameli Flowers,Marigold,Suffron& maulshri Flowers. 3) Herb and spices required: Many many Herbs & Spices are being used in the manufacture of Attar.they are mainlyoak moss,Suganth Mantri,Laurel Berry,Juniper Berry,Cypriol,Indian Valerian,Jatamansi,Hedychium Spicatum, Dau Haick,Sugandha Bala,Sugandha Kokila,Kulanjan,,Javitri/ Jaiphal,Cardom,clove,Suffron,Ambergris& Musk. The ingredients are available. And spread overAligarh( U.P),Palampur(H.P),Ganjam( Orissa),KANNAUJ(U.P).North, East& SouthbIndia,Madhya Pradesh Let us look into the procedure being followed in Kannauj,the principal perfume town where perfume Attar is being manufactured. The Hydro distillation process is a traditional method of manufacturing Attar.this process is still being followed In Kannauj. Here the main flowers used for preparation of Attar are Jasmine,Marigold,Chameli,Kadamb& Maulshri These flowers are more easily available here in Kannauj. The Hydrodistillation process consists of two main process called "Deg & Bhapka" process. Let us see what these are briefly. Deg or Still: ***************** The process is carried out in Copper Stills called " Degs"as was done centuries ago.These arecall directly heated Stills and their capacities can range from 10 to 160 Kgs Of Floral/ Herbal materials. The lid of the still is called"Sarpos" and is also Made of Copper having openings for Connections to one or two receivers. Bhapkas or Receivers: *********+++++++++++++++ One of the peculiar features of thebAttar Distillation is that no separate confessor is used.The unique Odour of Attar is obtained by condensing vapor into the base material mainly Sandalwood Oil.The receiver is built of Copper and is of Round Shape with Long Neck for case in connection withDeg or Chonga.It is known as Bhapka and it acts as Condensors aswell. Chonga or Bamboo condenser: ****************************** The still and the receiver areConnected by a Chonga.This is a Hollow Bamboo pipe wrapped with twine or insulation. Traditional Bhatti or Furnace: ******+************+************* Normally wood or Coal is used for heating and heat is controlled manually. GachchiOr cooling Water Tank: ****************************** This is the place where Bhapka or receiver is kept and used for Coolingbthe distillate from Deg. Kuppi or Leather Bottle *************************** These are bottles made from leather of Animals.The reasons for making these bottles are theIr semi- permeability towards Water.It is used for removal of moisture from Attars.The leather allows water to move out and Attar to remain as suchvthereby removing water from Attar. Copper has been the main structural Material for Deg &Bhapka because it is malleable good conductor of Heatand easy to repair. Now let us look into various types of Attars: MAIN TYPES OF ATTARS: ******************************* The Attars can be broadly classified and categorized into the following types based on the Raw Materials used. FLORAL ATTARS: **************** Attars manufactured from single species of Flower are coming under this category.These are indicated below: 1)Gulab ex Rosa damascena or Rosa Edward. 2)Kewra. ExPandanus odoratissimus 3)Motia. Ex Jasminum Sambac 4)Gulhina Ex Lawsonia Intermis 5) Chameli exJasminum Grandiflorum. 6)Kadam exAnthoephalus cadamba HERBAL AND SPICY ATTAR: ************************* Attar manufactured from combination of Floral ,Herbal and Spicy materials are coming under this category. Hina and it's various forms Viz Shamama,Shamama- tul- Amber,Musk Amber and Musk Hina. There are some Attars which are neither Floral nor Herbal . They are generally called ATTAR MITTI FALLS.This is manufactured by using a different process of distillation Of baked Earth over Base material. There are many auses for Attar.Basically it isca personal perfume .It is also being used for Pharmacritical purpose and as flavor for different types of Sweets. As in the cases of any other Iindustries,Attar also undergo Qulality controlb and Standardization Of Process parameters.As in any other Industry Standardization is essential to capture World Markets and to sustain there. The eqipments required for the manufacture also being made locally to boost the local manufacture in and around . The project cost depend upon the cost of ingredients in the market and vary according to increase or decrease of prices prevailing at different periods. So no specific formula can be derived for this purpose on a permanent basis. For quality control and better marketing goals Research & Development Organisations and the manufacturing units are continuing their association to achieve better and better results in the industry of Perfumes. Before concluding ,it is worth of looking into the process of keeing the perfume business In the thickly populated Bhendi Bazar in Mumbai .There are enormous number of shop owners who are experts in the attar Industry still doing their business in full swing.They are very. Cordial people ready to part with their full co opration with customers .For them customer is the primarily important part of their business.there are many dealers who constantly innovate to keep pace with the demand of the present day Customer. They thrive very hard to do their business honestly by safeguarding the traditional old methods also alive even today while mix the modern methods also to benefit both the business as well as the customer. There are dealers in Bhendibazar who maintain that their attar has even permanent shelf life and the Attars manufactured from original herb Extracts smell better as they get older. In short ATTAR attracts angels and ward off Evil Spirits!!! Sreedharan Mundanat 21st May 2015