SHAMAMA ATTAR

Shamama attar is a complex Indian perfume tradition rather than the scent of a single plant. It brings together warm spices, aromatic herbs and earthy wood, sometimes with a softer sandalwood character or a darker, leathery nuance. The result can feel richly textured, with several aromatic strands present together rather than one predictable sequence of flowers, spice and wood.

Kannauj producers describe making traditional Shamama by hydrodistilling a mixture of botanicals into sandalwood oil using the deg-bhapka method. The aromatic material is received in the oil during the process, not simply added afterwards as a universal final step. Recipes, batches and the carrier used can differ between makers and grades. In a perfume’s note list, Shamama may identify this layered aromatic character; it does not guarantee a fixed ingredient count, particular botanicals or a wholly traditional finished perfume.