Sandali Rose (Gulab) Attar

Sandali Gulab (Rose) Attar

Sandali Gulab Attar, also known as Sandalwood Rose Attar, is a traditional perfume oil crafted by blending two natural aromatic extracts: sandalwood oil and rose oil. Here are its key characteristics:

Composition

  • Sandalwood Oil: Derived from the wood of the sandalwood tree, it has a woody, sweet, and warm aroma.

 • Rose Oil: Extracted from rose petals, it offers a sweet, floral fragrance. Commonly, rosa damascena is used for its velvety and slightly powdery scent.

Fragrance Profile

The combination results in a unique scent that is sweet, woody, and floral. It is traditional yet luxurious, often described as creamy due to the richness of sandalwood paired with the softness of rose.

Uses

   • Perfume: Popular as a natural fragrance for both men and women.

   • Aromatherapy: Known for stress relief, calming effects, and promoting inner peace.

   • Personal Care: Used in cosmetics and skincare due to its non-alcoholic and chemical-free properties.

Benefits

   • Relieves stress and anxiety.

   • Enhances meditation and yoga experiences.

   • Improves skin quality while being suitable for sensitive skin

Production of Natural Attars

Sandali Gulab Attar is traditionally made in India using hydro-distillation or the deg thappa method to ensure purity. Kannauj, often called the "Perfume City of India," is renowned for producing high-quality attars

The traditional method of making Sandali Gulab Attar (Sandalwood Rose Attar) involves the Deg and Bhapka hydro-distillation process, a centuries-old technique primarily practiced in Kannauj, India. Here is step-by-step.

1. Collection and Preparation of Ingredients

• Fresh rose petals are collected early in the morning to preserve their fragrance.

• The petals are separated and combined with water in a copper still called a deg.

• Sandalwood oil, which serves as the base or fixative, is prepared separately.

2. Sealing the Still

The deg is sealed with a mixture of clay and cotton to make it airtight, preserving the delicate aroma during distillation.

3. Distillation Process

• The deg is connected to a bamboo pipe (chonga), which leads to a receiver (bhapka) submerged in a cooling tank (gachchi).

• A fire is lit under the deg, and the steam extracts the essential oils from the rose petals.

• The steam passes through the chonga to the bhapka, where it condenses into a liquid.

4. Separation and Re-distillation

The condensed liquid contains both rose oil and water. This mixture is distilled again to extract pure rose oil, which is then blended with sandalwood oil in precise proportions.

5. Maturation

The attar is allowed to mature for several weeks or months in leather bottles (kuppi), enhancing its fragrance and stability.