Plural of attar; precious fragrant essential oils, traditionally made from flowers (especially roses) through distillation.
From Arabic attar (perfume/fragrance), brought into English through trade with Ottoman and Indian merchants. The word reflects centuries of perfume-making traditions in the Middle East.
Attar of roses—made by distilling thousands of rose petals—became such a luxury in Victorian England that it cost more per ounce than gold. A single drop of traditional attar can scent an entire room for days.
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