The Trail of Aromatic Ventures
Updated: Nov 6, 2021
“The perfume you wear, tells more about you than your own words, it is your personality, what you choose to be, and most importantly, where you come from.” - Sadhana Singh, Savour & Aura
Imagine a scenario in which you realized that the leaders of history, the great Indian elites, were far more fascinated by the pleasure of scents than us. Would that whiff of Mogra be more charming in the event that you realized that it traces long back in your history, will the sweet smell of Gulab now be reflective of where you come from? A surge of memories can whisk you away at the trace of words like Chandan, Jasmine (Chameli), Saffron, Marigold (gainda), and more. It is unbelievably a profound recollection of so many scattered incidents wrapped safely in the envelope of these aromas.
Interestingly, India is known to be the land where this mystique of adorning various scents and using them for various ornamental and medical purposes began. The trail goes back as long as 7000 years ago, where even in the Vedas, there is a strong mention of the delights of natural, non-alcoholic, perfume concentrates, that evoked sensory pleasures beyond explanations and the use of flowers and fragrances in customary services of all kinds. Our land has a history filled with pursuits of pleasure in the form of a book called “The Ni’matnama, or the Book Of Delights” shared by William Dalrymple in his talk titled ‘Scent and Sensuality in India’ at Arna Jharna: The Desert Museum. Written in 1469-1470, the book by the Sultans or the Indian elites of that era elaborates on the various aspects of culture and lifestyle that added pleasure to their lives, with the mention of scents and their enchanting qualities in very high regards. Preparation, distillation, certainly recommended blends, the book then published between 1495-1505 has elaborate documentation of olfactory delights created for the House of Pleasure ( Harems ), written by Ghiyath Shah.
The Indian practice of aroma goes back to the communities of the Indus Valley, where archeologists have exhumed refining stills. Precise, illustrious, and sensual practices were all linked to the art of perfumery and fragrances. From the overwhelming aromas of Jasmine in the walks of South India to the powerful scent of rose and other strong fragrances in the form of attar in Old Delhi, the Indian perfumes ground us as they parallelly deliver an alleviating experience, it’s truly magical.
With a set of our rich experiences in native aromas that are a powerful mix of Ayurveda and hints of Arabic and Persian impacts, we have come a long way in the current times. While we cherish the modern twist of scents, bundled as top-notch items, wouldn't it be fascinating to have a sniff or two of these Indian recollections that are enriched with adoration?
Experience the art of Indian fragrances and their premium flavors of history today. Discover our range of products crafted especially to make your life better.