Dhaka: Shoppers throng the perfume stalls at the largest attar market in the vicinity of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the heart of Dhaka in search of the perfect scent to wear for this year's Eid Al-Fitr.

Most of them will recall one specific fragrance that was created in the Middle East, a region that has long been known for its perfumes.

Since the development of sophisticated distillation methods by Arab perfume makers in the tenth century, which allowed for the mass production of essential oils, its olfactory influence has been felt in South Asia.

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Since the Islamic tradition encourages people to smell nice when they meet others, Bangladeshians refer to the alcohol-free oils by their original Arabic name, attar. This word's social significance increases particularly during religious celebrations and holidays in the Muslim-majority nation.

Typically, Ramadan and Eid bring about strong sales. According to Milon Mahmud, who sells attar at the market, imported goods are in high demand here, according to Arab News.

"People like them because of their high quality, variety, and scents and fragrances. They are widely used because of this. Mahmud offers alcohol-free attars from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

When he sells approximately 5 millilitres of attar for 200 taka ($2), he predicts that sales during Ramadan could reach $4,000 ($1.50).

Comparatively, the same quantity of locally produced perfume oils would cost roughly ten times less. However, attar sellers claim that there is a sizable quality gap.

The Baitul Mukkarram Market's Alhaj Faruk Islam, who operates a perfume stall there like Mahmud does, declared: "Our local products are not comparable with attar from Saudi Arabia... Our local fragrances don't last as long as this attar does.

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"Unlike our homegrown products, which are tainted, this attar is pure in quality."

Those who visit the market to purchase scents are well-informed about what they want. They are familiar with various brands and varieties of oil, with the majority preferring scents from the Gulf.

Before Eid, a customer named Hafej Mohammad Mahbub said, "I like attar of various scents, especially the perfume Sultan because it smells like roses.

"While perfumes from other regions are not pure enough, attars from Saudi Arabia and the UAE are free from adulteration. People adore attar from these nations for this reason.

Abdul Hannan claimed that the scents brought back pleasant memories of his youth, which was forty years ago.

Attar scents are something I adore. I remember watching my father use attar as a child on every occasion. He was the one who pushed me to follow suit, he continued.

The tradition Hannan picked up from his father also has a spiritual component, in Hannan's opinion.

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"I prefer to use attar during special occasions, specifically during any religious festivals," he declared. When I stand to offer prayers, the attar brings complete tranquilly to my mind.

"I sense something heavenly; I am surrounded by a sense of purity. It occasionally transports me back to my youth as well.