Scent of loss in business

Wednesday October 24 2007 11:03 IST
Express News Service

KENDRAPARA: For ages at least 30 Muslim families of the district have been eking out a living by preparing perfumes (itar) from the flowers of ‘champa’ and ‘kia’.

But the perfumers, led by Sk. Hakim (65) of Chaudakulat village under Pattamundei block, are forced to do part-time business due to non availability of good quality flowers.

“Most of the perfumeries are running much less than the installed capacity as we do not get regular supply of flowers,” said Hakim.

“Demands of local made itar is decreasing by the year due to availability of cheap scent in the market. Many people now-a-days use itar only during marriages and some religious functions,” said Mohammed Akil (46), another perfumer of Dobandha village.

However, last week’s Id brought cheers for the perfumers. “A large number of Muslims prefer to purchase itar from us during the Id and other religious functions. We did brisk business this Id,” said Amjad Ali (42), who has a itar perfumery at Ranapada village in Kendrapara.

“Three decades back, we used sandalwood oil to prepare good quality itar. But due to scarcity and skyrocketing prices of sandalwood it is now impossible to use sandalwood oil in itar,” said Sahid Ali, another villager.

The itar-makers, initially, used to be only Muslims. Later many Hindus took to the trade. Shortage of kia flowers is another impediment for the itar-makers.

“We used to get kia flowers from Ganjam district and some areas of Kendrapara and Jagatasinghpur. But, due to rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, large areas of kia bushes are being denuded. We are also not getting sufficient quantity of champa flowers as many people are not planting the flowering trees,” added Ali.

The perfumers are sceptic about the future of this age-old profession. Young persons have little interest to take to this trade.
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