Long before modern perfumery, India's fragrant palette came from the natural world. Flowers, aromatic woods, herbs, spices, roots and resins were gathered, processed and combined to create perfumes, oils and incense.

Different regions brought different materials to this tradition. Roses and jasmine became important in North Indian perfumery, vetiver was valued for its earthy character, sandalwood became an important base for traditional attars, while materials such as saffron, agarwood, kewra and various herbs added their own qualities. Kannauj's traditional perfumery continues to work closely with seasonal and locally available materials.

Working with these ingredients requires more than simply knowing what smells good. Traditional perfumers have developed an understanding of when flowers should be harvested, how they should be handled and how heat and time affect the final result. In Kannauj, for example, the timing between picking a flower and beginning its distillation can influence the quality of the attar.

This is what makes natural materials such an important part of India's fragrance heritage. They connect the finished perfume to its source, its season and the knowledge of the people who work with it.