7 Indian Ingredients Used In Some Of The Best Perfumes In The World

India has always had a rich history of perfumery. Even before kings and kingdoms, fragrances were a key part of both worship and healing in our country. Archaeologists believe our country has been making perfumes ever since the Indus Valley Civilisation, as they found a terracotta-based distillation apparatus dating back to 3000 BCE.

Even today, India is a big name in the world of perfumery — especially when it comes to the natural attars that have been in production for centuries in Kannauj. Used only by the nobility in olden times, attars refer to the essential oils extracted from ingredients ranging from flowers to wood and spices. These essential oils can then be used by themselves or mixed with alcohol and other ingredients to make your traditional eau de parfum or eau de toilette, depending on the oil concentration.

And so, it comes as no surprise that many Indian ingredients have become a part of popular fragrances. From common finds like jasmine and rose to rarer scents like khus and oud, the addition of intense ingredients can make your perfume suitable for things like weddings or parties where your scent contributes to your overall appearance.

Here are seven such Indian ingredients most commonly used in perfumes:

7 Indian Ingredients Commonly Used In Perfumes

Khus

Commonly known as vetiver, Khus is used in perfumes that can best be described as cool and fresh.

Manifest recommends:Terre De Hermes Vetiver,Tom Ford Grey Vetiver,Vetiver by CreedandJo Malone London Vetiver & Golden Vanilla Cologne

Rose

It is known that the Mughals brought the damask rose to India on camelback. Today, while many synthetic essential oils of the rose are available, the natural rose attar produced in Kannauj remains unbeatable.

Manifest recommends:Dolce & Gabanna’s Dolce RoseEau De Toilette,Maison De Fouzdar Tuba Rose,Issey Miyake Rose And Rose Eau De Parfum,Byredo Rose of No Man's Land Eau de ParfumDiptyque Eau Rose Eau de Parfum

Jasmine

The nocturnal flower, Jasmine, has a flowery and sweet smell that has found its way to many international fragrances.

Manifest recommends:Gucci Flora Gorgeous Jasmine Eau De Parfum,Estee Lauder Pleasure Eau De Parfum,Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb Eau De ParfumandNarciso Rodriguez For Her Eau De Parfum.

Chai or Tea

The British brought along with them a tea culture to India, but since then, we’ve been among the leading producers of tea in the world. So, it comes as no surprise that the ingredient has found its way into perfumes.

Manifest recommends:Bvlgari Omnia Eau De Toilette,Jo Malone London Assam And Grapefruitand LeMonde Gourmand Chai Epice.

Sandalwood

Commonly used for spiritual and religious purposes, natural sandalwood essential oil can cost you a bomb, but there are plenty of synthetic options available in the market today. What’s more, this fragrance is very popular with the celebrities.

Manifest recommends:Le Labo Santal 33 Eau De Parfum,Dunhill Indian Sandalwood Eau De Parfum,Tom Ford Santal Blush,Diptique Tam Dao Eau De Parfum

Saffron

Like sandalwood, saffron is a fragrant ingredient that leaves its fragrance and flavour, even when used in the most minimal quantities. From healing to spirituality and religion, saffron is an Indian all-rounder.

Manifest recommends:Byredo Black SaffronEau De Parfum,Baccarat Rouge 540Eau De Parfum,ZARA Magnificently DubaiEau de Parfum andYves Saint Laurent LibreEau De Parfum.

Mango

The king of fruits and the flavour of summer has been captured in several fragrances. While mangoes aren’t just found in India, some of the best varieties originate from our country, making this seasonal treat our national fruit.

Manifest recommends:Paco Rabanne FameEau De Parfum,Miu Miu Fleur De LaitEau De Parfum,Marc Jacobs Daisy Ever So FreshEau De Parfum andEscada Taj SunsetEau De Toilette.

Cover image credit: Evie S/Unsplash