Travel + Leisure

Get A Whiff Of History At The Oldest Perfume Shops In India

BY ANUSHKA GOEL PUBLISHED: NOV 13, 2023 04:00 PM IST11 MIN READ

While modern perfumery has evolved, some of the oldest perfume shops in India remain faithful to age-old traditions. We check out some below.

• DESTINATIONS
• INDIA
• GET A WHIFF OF HISTORY AT THE OLDEST PERFUME SHOPS IN INDIA

The art of perfumery was first introduced to the world by the Egyptians. Since then, cultures around the world have taken up this craft, creating signature scents using oils and attars to add a touch of fragrance to their bodies. While modern perfumery has evolved, some of the oldest perfume shops in India remain faithful to time-honoured traditions. The origins of perfumery trace back more than 4,000 years to ancient Cyprus, where the earliest known perfumes were discovered. Over time, evidence of perfumery has emerged in various ancient civilisations, including the Chinese, Hindus, Israelites, Arabs, Greeks, Romans, and Carthaginians. Perfume spread to the world when the Arabs standardised the production, resulting in the global diffusion of these fragrances.In the 16th century, perfume’s popularity is believed to have soared in France, especially amongst the aristocracy. So profound was this obsession that even Louis XV got everything scented, from clothes to furniture and gloves! The invention of Eau de Cologne further propelled this industry, allowing it to flourish and expand its influence worldwide.

What makes India’s oldest perfume shops truly unique 

 

In India, fragrances serve a dual purpose, transcending mere cosmetics to play an integral role in cultural and religious practices. Ittar, rosewater and sandalwood are commonly used across religions to perfume food and for special rituals such as adorning brides before their big day. It is also used in prayer ceremonies in the form of incense sticks. However, the allure of perfume’s use on the body to appeal to the senses remains common across cultures and economic barriers. This is why several perfume shops across the country keep a range of fragrances that not only cater to various moods and times of the day (fresh scents for the day versus floral, sensuous ones for the evening) but to different preferences, budgets and more. Some popular Indian fragrances include the smell of first rain, known as ‘petrichor’, as well as sandalwood and jasmine, to name a few. Intriguingly, India has several perfume shops that have been crafting their own attars (ittars/itrs/atrs) and oils for generations, with a legacy that spans over two centuries in some cases. Each of these establishments has something unique to offer, with fragrances that you may not be able to find elsewhere. It’s this exceptional quality that sets them apart. Eminent Indian personalities have frequented some of these shops, while for others, it’s the sheer weight of their history that makes them extraordinary. 

What sets Indian perfumery apart

Divrina Dhingra, the author of The Perfume Project, sheds light on the unique character of perfumery in India. “India has a rich history that goes as far back as the first millennium BC. Since then, fragrance has played a role not just in matters of worship and offering but in trade and personal use, too. Compared to our lives today, ancient Indians who could afford perfume had far more elaborate rituals around its use. As far as trade goes, materials like sandalwood, agarwood, jatamansi were very important,” she tells us. 

The love for Indian raw material remains a hallmark of perfumery, with many perfumers and fragrance houses sourcing their ingredients from India. Some popular Indian scents are extracted using traditional methods, which makes them potent and sought-after. For example, “Kannauj – the perfume capital of India, is known for its traditional deg bhapka method that is still used today,” Dhingra tells us.So, the next time you’re in the market for a new fragrance, we suggest you check out the oldest perfume shops in India not just for unique scents but also for a lesson in India’s rich perfume history.

SUGANDHCO/Scentkart, Luknow – Since 1980

 
SUGANDHCO has its roots in the legacy of perfumer Chhunnamal Vijayvergiya, who began the craft of perfumery back in the 1850s. His perfumes were popular amongst the nawabs and rasookdars of Lucknow and with time, the business changed and adapted to modern tastes and techniques. 

The SUGANDHCO brand was established in 1980 and is known for unique varieties such as cooler perfumes and floor fragrances. They also have an online store, ScentKart, through which customers can purchase their wares. 

Location: D-4 Janpath Market, Lucknow
Full article: https://www.travelandleisureasia.com/in/destinations/india/oldest-perfume-shops-in-india/