The story
Kannauj is India's perfume city, where attar is still distilled the traditional way in copper stills (deg and bhapka) and the scent is captured in sandalwood oil. Farms around the town grow roses, jasmine, marigold and mint for the distillers. Most units are small family firms that sell to pan masala and tobacco makers, perfumers and the domestic market, and some export.
In numbers
Kannauj has about 375 functional attar and essential oil units, a cluster turnover of approximately Rs 400 crore, about 20% of output exported, and employment of approximately 1,00,000 (direct and indirect).
Cluster Diagnostic Report: Kannauj Attar & Essential Oil Cluster (TCSP, Office of DC MSME) · 2019About 250 micro, small and medium enterprises make attar and about 125 units make essential oils; attar contributes around 57% of cluster revenue and essential oils 43%.
Cluster Diagnostic Report: Kannauj Attar & Essential Oil Cluster (TCSP, Office of DC MSME) · 2019Usage in pan masala and tobacco-based products contributes more than 90% of the total revenue of attar manufacturing units.
Cluster Diagnostic Report: Kannauj Attar & Essential Oil Cluster (TCSP, Office of DC MSME) · 2019
GI tag
- Kannauj PerfumeApplication no. GI Application No. 157; Registration No. 203GI Registry, IP India - Application 157: Kannauj Perfume
Ways in for a newcomer
- Contract farming of roses, jasmine and aromatic crops
- Branded attar and natural perfume for retail and online
- Testing, packaging and bottle supply
- Agarbatti and dhoop from distillation waste
Problems the cluster faces
- Heavy dependence on pan masala and tobacco buyers
- Traditional stills with low yield and biomass fuel
- Competition from synthetic fragrances
- Few direct export orders
Businesses to start here
Ittar (Attar) Making →Perfume Manufacturing →Perfumery Compound Blending →Mogra (Jasmine) Essential Oil Unit →Agarbatti (Incense Stick) Making →Agarbatti (Incense Stick) Rolling Unit →