Walk into any fragrance shop in Bangladesh and you will see two worlds side by side: sleek spray bottles and small glass vials of attar. Both smell beautiful β but they are very different.
What is attar?
Attar (also called ittar) is a concentrated perfume oil, traditionally distilled from flowers, woods and resins into a sandalwood or neutral oil base. It contains no alcohol, so it stays close to the skin, develops slowly and lasts 8β12 hours or more from a single drop. Try Maison Noor White Oud Attar or Maison Noor Taif Rose Attar.
What is eau de parfum?
A spray perfume is a blend of fragrance oils dissolved in alcohol. The alcohol carries the scent into the air, so sprays project more (higher sillage) and open brightly, then settle over a few hours.
Which should you wear?
- Attar: prayer, Eid, close company, sensitive skin, or when you want something personal and quiet.
- Eau de parfum: the office, nights out and any time you want a noticeable scent trail.
- Both: dab attar first, then spray a matching perfume β layering is a classic Arabian trick.
