Beyond Perfume: 6 Mystical and Traditional Uses of Ittar You...

For centuries, ittar has been more than just a perfume.

Steeped in culture, memory, and tradition, this natural fragrant oil has played subtle yet powerful roles in rituals, customs, and even remedies prescribed by astrologers and Vastu experts. If you thought ittar was only to be dabbed on the wrists or behind the ears, you’re in for a surprise.

Here are some alternative uses of ittar you might not know — passed down from oral traditions, spiritual beliefs, and age-old customs:

1. Applying Ittar on Ankles: For Love & Harmony

In some astrological and folk belief systems, wearing floral or musk-based ittar on your ankles is said to attract marital harmony and romantic energy. It’s a quiet ritual followed especially by newlyweds or those seeking companionship — a fragrant form of intention-setting.

2. Dabbing Ittar on the Pillow: For Peaceful Sleep & Positive Dreams

A few drops of calming ittars like rose, lavender, or sandalwood on your pillow corner are believed to promote restful sleep, mental clarity, and even spiritual dreams. Many households still follow this Vastu-aligned tip to keep negative energy at bay during sleep.

3. Ittar in Pooja and Rituals

Traditional homes often use ittar in aarti thalis, temple offerings, and spiritual ceremonies. It’s believed that the scent purifies the surroundings and pleases the deities — especially floral ittars like Kewra, Jasmine, and Rose.

4. Wearing Ittar Based on Planetary Positions (Astro-Fragrance Therapy)

Astrologers often recommend wearing specific ittars based on your birth chart or ongoing planetary transitions. For instance:

• Sandalwood ittar for Saturn remedies

• Mogra or Rose for Venus blessings

• Oudh or Kasturi for invoking strength during Mars periods

These aren’t just superstitions — the use of fragrance to balance energies and enhance mood is deeply psychological too.

5. Ittar in Closet Linens or Lockets: To Retain Aura

Some families place small cotton balls soaked in ittar inside cupboards, bangles, or lockets to infuse clothes and jewelry with energy and scent. This ensures that every garment carries an essence of familiarity, emotion, or memory.

6. Scenting Business Cards or Letters: To Leave a Mark

In the nawabi era and even today, perfuming letters or visiting cards with a touch of ittar is seen as a gesture of thoughtfulness. It adds emotional value and makes the recipient remember you through scent.

A Fragrance That Goes Beyond Skin

Zikrr believes in the philosophy that fragrance is remembrance. It is rooted in emotion, tradition, and stories passed down through generations. Whether you wear it on your wrist, your ankle, or on your pillow — ittar isn’t just perfume. It’s poetry.