What Is Attar, a Concentrated Perfume Oil?
Attar is a 100% pure undiluted perfume oil with zero alcohol, zero water, and zero synthetic fillers. In our Deira atelier, each bottle is compounded drop by drop: aromatic concentrates are blended into a skin-safe carrier base, rested for twenty-eight days, and then decanted into sealed glass. Because there is no alcohol, the oil binds to your skin lipids and releases slowly. One drop on a pulse point remains active for eighteen to twenty-four hours.
The result is a warm, intimate sillage that lives in the wearer's scent cloud rather than projecting across a room. That intimate halo is the signature of pure extraits, and it is why attar is preferred by skin-sensitive wearers and by anyone who dislikes the sharp top-burst of sprayed perfume.
What Is Eau de Parfum, a Spray?
Eau de parfum is an alcoholic perfume: approximately 15% to 20% fragrance concentrate dissolved in 80% to 85% denatured ethanol. Alcohol is a carrier of volatility. It flashes off rapidly within the first two hours, taking the top notes with it, and it gives sprays their initial loud projection. A commercial eau de parfum typically remains perceptible for six to eight hours.
Some eau de parfums use synthetic musks to extend dry-down, which is a chemical rather than natural longevity.
Concentration and Longevity Compared
Pure attar: 100% concentrate, 0% alcohol, 18 to 24 hour skin longevity, intimate sillage. Extrait de parfum: 20% to 30% concentrate, 70% to 80% alcohol, 8 to 12 hour longevity. Eau de parfum: 15% to 20% concentrate, 80% to 85% alcohol, 6 to 8 hours. Eau de toilette: 5% to 12% concentrate, 88% to 95% alcohol, 3 to 5 hours. These numbers come from our in-house evaporation testing on human skin at 33 to 37 degrees Celsius, detailed in our laboratory longevity study.
Price, Travel, and Purity
Because attar contains no alcohol, one 12ml bottle equals the scent payload of roughly 100ml of eau de parfum. Travel is simpler too: attar is non-flammable and airline-friendly, while sprays face restrictions on many international flights. For buyers wanting 100% purity, attar is the only format that guarantees zero alcohol, zero water, and zero synthetic dilution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which lasts longer, attar or parfum?
Pure attar oil lasts longer on skin, typically 18 to 24 hours, versus 6 to 8 hours for an eau de parfum spray, because attar contains no alcohol to carry the top notes away.
Is attar stronger than parfum?
Attar smells less loudly at first but develops a warm, long-lasting halo close to the skin. Parfum sprays project loudly for the first two hours then fade quickly. For total longevity and intimate sillage, attar wins.
Is attar alcohol-free?
Yes. Genuine attar is 100% pure perfume oil with zero alcohol, which makes it suitable for sensitive skin and safe to carry on international flights.
Can I buy attar oils from Dubai online?
Yes. We ship 100% pure attar oils from Dubai worldwide via DHL and FedEx, with USA delivery in 3 to 5 business days.