Indian PERFUMES : Specific ones for Specific Purposes.

I found this gem of a piece in an old textbook about Traditional Indian Medicines and thought I'd share it with you....

Floral essences, called attars have always been used in India for many centuries. Nowadays, with improved technology, these attars have got transformed into Floral Scents, yet the contents are the same.

This book has a very interesting description of the advice given by Court Physicians to Indian Maharajahs and their consorts, the Maharanis ( Kings and Queens of 16th-century India ) and their Courtiers, about the use of attars.

It is said that each Essence has Specific powers, and so should be with a specific purpose:

If you are in love with a man, and he with you, and yet if he is taking too long to propose, why then, woo him with JASMINE and he will be drawn to propose to you!
For this purpose, the scent should be dabbed ( sprayed ) on the inner part of your wrists, at the base of your throat and on the middle of your back, between the shoulder blades.

If you are wooing a damsel but she is paying scant attention to you, approach her while wearing essence of musk deer. But if this is not available, you can use essence of musk melon instead.
This essence should be dabbed on your scrotum and in your armpits.

If you are attending Court and want to impress your over-lords and Seniors, wear Khus. This helps you stay in command of yourself and exude confidence. It also helps you to keep your head clear.
In today's context, this would mean you could use it while going for a job interview, while answering exams, and on other such occassions....

For social gatherings of equals, wear Champa.
So when going for parties, marriages etc you could wear this one, today.

For social gatherings, too, and for appreciating music and poetry and the Arts, Kevada is the right choice....this can be sprayed onto your clothes also.

* for sake of friendship, when you have been friends with them for some time and for maintaining that friendship, use Bakul, for this enhances sense of companionship.

* while meditating or for concentration while praying, use sandalwood perfume. This should be applied to the base of the throat, over the heart and around the navel.

I remember only these many, but I think there were a few more, too.
This bit of advice is certainly unique and probably worth remembering, and perhaps, occassionally following.

So if you're a gal whose suitor is proving adamant and reluctant.....go ahead and try wooing him with Jasmine and see it it impels him to go down on his knee, a rose in his hand......!
------------------------------------------------

10.05.07
Shyam Sunder, of Mumbai, telephoned me....
He says he felt empowered when he used khus perfume, dressing for his interview in a College as lecturer in Economics, last week.
He doesn't know the result yet, and whether he has been selected, but he said he certainly felt a lot more confident during the interview!