'ATTAR’DELIGHT: 90 YEARS ON,STORE KEEPS CUSTOMERS UNDER SPELL WITH RANGE OF FRAGRANCES

摘要

When we set out in search of an attar store,the only information in hand is the store's location-Shivajinagar.As we make our way through the hustle and bustle of the area,with a major bus depot,street hawkers selling food,flowers and clothing,the scent of perfume leads us to Imaad Perfumes,quite effortlessly.After all,in this month of Ramzan,men and women use attar generously owing to the belief that it was a favourite of Prophet Mohammed,who used it frequently.”Staying clean and using attar/ittar are sunnah(tradition)for us,”says Jawad Khan,a third-generation businessman,whose family has been into the business for over 91 years.As we find our way around the prominent store located diagonally opposite the Sultan Shah Mosque,which houses 1,000 varieties of the non-alcoholic perfume,Khan is busy suggesting the best ones to buy to customers.In between sales talk,he tells us that the thick coloured scents-extracted from flowers,herbs,spices or barks of trees and then distilled naturally without using any chemical or alcoholic additives-fly off the shelves during this season.”While we usually cater to 250 customers on a daily basis,during Ramzan,we have at least 1,000 customers a day.People come here either before or after namaz to try on attar since we also offer free trials,”adds Rafeeq Ulla Khan,who has been managing the store for 25 years.