Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
For centuries, Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh has been associated with the art of making traditional fragrances. Today, its perfume industry has something more than a rich heritage behind its name. Kannauj Perfume has a recognised Geographical Indication (GI) registration that links the product to its place of origin and provides a legal framework to protect that identity.
Known for its itra or attar, Kannauj continues to be associated with traditional fragrance-making techniques in which flowers, herbs, spices and aromatic woods are distilled to create perfumes.
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The Uttar Pradesh government’s One District One Product (ODOP) portal identifies Itra (Scents) and Perfume Products as products associated with Kannauj and describes the district as having a centuries-old tradition of fragrance making.
HOW KANNAUJ PERFUME GOT ITS GI TAG
The application for Kannauj Perfume was filed on February 9, 2009, by the Export Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh Government Export Promotion Bureau.
According to the official Geographical Indications Registry, the product was granted GI registration on March 31, 2014, under Certificate No 203.
The registration has since been renewed and is currently valid until February 8, 2029.
A GI registration gives a product a recognised geographical identity by establishing its association with a particular place. In the case of Kannauj Perfume, the registration connects the name of the product with Kannauj and its established fragrance-making tradition.
THE TRADITIONAL DEG-BHAPKA PROCESS
At the heart of Kannauj’s traditional perfumery is the deg-bhapka method, a form of hydro-distillation that uses copper vessels to extract and blend fragrances.
The traditional process involves distilling aromatic materials such as flowers, herbs, spices and aromatic woods. The work requires an understanding of ingredients, heating, distillation and the delicate blending of fragrances.
These skills have been passed down through generations of artisans and perfumers in Kannauj, helping preserve a method of fragrance production that remains closely associated with the district.
The process is not simply about extracting a scent. The choice of ingredients, the manner in which they are heated and distilled, and the eventual blending all require knowledge built through generations of practice.
WHAT THE GI TAG MEANS
The GI registration gives Kannauj Perfume a recognised geographical identity and provides a legal framework for protecting the registered name.
However, a GI registration does not automatically mean that every producer can use the GI indication. India’s GI system provides for authorised users, and registration of a GI and registration of an authorised user are separate processes.
For consumers, the GI name can act as an indicator of geographical identity, helping establish the product’s connection with Kannauj.
For producers, the registration provides a mechanism to protect the association between the product, its name and its place of origin.
FROM TRADITIONAL CRAFT TO PROTECTED IDENTITY
For Kannauj’s traditional perfumery industry, GI recognition forms part of a wider effort to preserve production knowledge while connecting local producers with contemporary markets.
The Uttar Pradesh government’s ODOP programme separately identifies Kannauj’s Itra (Scents) and Perfume Products for district-level promotion.
The GI registration therefore does more than recognise a product name. It connects Kannauj Perfume with a specific geographical location and the traditional fragrance-making practices that have developed there over generations.
With the GI registration renewed through 2029, the legal framework protecting Kannauj Perfume’s geographical identity remains in place even as the district’s centuries-old perfumery industry continues to operate and adapt to changing markets.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
