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{{Short description|Perfume from Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox geographical indication
| name = Kannauj Perfume
| color = Various
| logo =
| image = Camel skin Perfume Bottles from Kannauj.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Camel skin perfume bottles from Kannauj. The bottles are for aging the perfume.
| alternative names = Ittar
| description = Kannauj Perfume in Uttar Pradesh
| type = Manufactured
| area = [[Kannauj]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| country = India
| registered = 2013–2014
| material = Flowers, herbs, spices
}}
'''Kannauj Perfume''', also known as '''Kannauj Ittar''', is a traditional Indian [[perfume]] made in the city of [[Kannauj]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-23 |title=UP के एक शहर की विदेशों तक फैल रही खुशबू, क्या आप जानते हैं इसकी खासियत? {{!}} Kannauj perfume history about interesting facts |url=https://www.patrika.com/kannauj-news/kannauj-perfume-history-about-interesting-facts-8061606/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Patrika News |language=hi-IN}}</ref>

It has been protected under the [[Geographical indication]] (GI) of the [[Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights]] (TRIPS) agreement. Kannauj Perfume is listed as item 157 of the GI Act 1999, which was passed by the Government of India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ipindia.nic.in/girindia/treasures_protected/registered_GI_18November2015.pdf |title=State Wise Registration Details Of G.I Applications |accessdate=4 February 2016 |publisher=Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201065403/http://ipindia.nic.in/girindia/treasures_protected/registered_GI_18November2015.pdf |archivedate= 1 February 2016 }}</ref>

Kannauj's perfume sector has a storied history. Due to the role of perfume production in Kannauj, the city is known as "the perfume capital of India". Additionally, one writer said that "Kannauj is to India what [[Grasse]] is to France".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Geographical-Indications-tag-for-Nagpur-orange-Kannauj-perfume/articleshow/34214019.cms | title=Geographical Indications tag for Nagpur orange, Kannauj perfume | work=The Times of India | date=26 April 2014 | accessdate=4 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=Brand Building and Marketing in Key Emerging Markets: A Practitioner's Guide to Successful Brand Growth in China, India, Russia and Brazil | publisher=Springer | year=2015 | pages=405 | isbn=978-3-319-19482-0}}</ref> An expert stated that "''Kannauj has been the perfumery town of the country for thousands of years''".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2012/09/20/2003543194 | title=Life: India's perfume capital threatened by scent of modernity | date=20 September 2012 | publisher=The Taipei Times | accessdate=10 February 2016}}</ref>

The skills used to manufacture the perfume have been passed down through successive generations. In describing this process, one artisan said, "My family has been working in this field since three centuries and my son is the 30th generation". {{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The perfume is made from flowers and natural resources. [[Musk]], [[camphor]], [[saffron]] and other aromatic substances are also used in its production. Flowers like [[Jasminum officinale|white jasmine]] and plants such as [[vetiver]] are used for summer varieties, while soil is used for a monsoon variety, called {{anchor|Mitti attar}}''Mitti attar''. The smell of ''Mitti attar'' resembles [[petrichor]], the loamy smell of a first rain.<ref name="hindustantimes/rekOv9uFRO4g5pzDIW41dK">{{cite news |title=Mitti attar: Take home that lush smell of the first rain, trapped in a bottle |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/mitti-attar-take-home-that-lush-smell-of-the-first-rain-trapped-in-a-bottle/story-rekOv9uFRO4g5pzDIW41dK.html |access-date=6 February 2023 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=2 July 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Heena attar and musk attar are winter varieties.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/vivacity/the-great-indian-tadka.html | title=The great Indian Tadka | publisher=The Daily Pioneer | accessdate=10 February 2016}}</ref>

The perfume does not usually contain alcohol or other chemicals. {{Which|date=June 2023}} Perfume made from rose is more potent, while attar made from sandalwood oil lasts for a long time. The typical creation process of a small bottle takes roughly 15 days.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://travel.cnn.com/mumbai/life/pictures-fading-fragrance-kannauj-indias-perfume-capital-974565/ | title=Fading fragrance of Kannauj, India's perfume capital | publisher=Travel CNN | accessdate=10 February 2016}}</ref>

Kannauj perfume has reached both local and international markets. Around 20 companies export to foreign countries from North America and Europe, to the Middle East, Central Asia and Oceania.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Attar-losing-fragrance-in-Kannauj-perfurmers-unhappy-with-Yadav-clan/articleshow/34068440.cms | title=Attar losing fragrance in Kannauj, perfurmers unhappy with Yadav clan | work=The Times of India | date=22 April 2014 | accessdate=10 February 2016}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Geographical Indications in India]]
* [[Ittar]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography
* {{cite book | title=Report on the marketing of sandalwood oil in India | publisher=Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India | year=1986 | pages=141}}
* {{cite book | title=The Essential Oil and Perfumery Industry in North India | publisher=Essential Oil Association of India | author=Vashist, V. N. | year=1978 | pages=63}}

{{Geographical indications in Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Geographical indications in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Kannauj]]
[[Category:Culture of India]]
[[Category:Perfumes]]

Kannauj Perfume - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:58, 22 March 2026