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The bakul is one of India s most sacred and beautiful floweringtreesThe bakul is one of India’s most sacred and beautiful floweringtrees. It is most commonly found on the western coast ofIndia and flowers between the months of March to August – fillingthe warm night air with an intoxicating aroma. The perfume ofthe bakul flower, also known as the “garland flower” lasts for avery long time and therefore is symbolic for the lasting love anddevotion one has for one’s beloved. Bakul trees are often foundgrowing at temple entrances. The bakul’s deep green leafybranches offer luxuriant shade and cool respite from India’sblazing sun creating a peaceful sanctuary to meditate under. Following the ancient Hindu custom of marrying male andfemale trees, the bakul - which is considered male - is planted onthe right side of the entrance, while the chalet tree, which isconsidered female, is planted on the left side. Interestingly, however, the essence of the bakul isconsidered to ignite the female energy (Shakti) and the chalet, thefemale tree, drives the male energy - an example of the male-femalebalance (Shakti banana) in Hindu philosophy. Bakul flowers areoften considered sacred and are used as temple offerings to pleasethe gods and goddesses or worn and given as garlands at holyceremonies. Bakul Attar can also be burned in water to createa peaceful and meditative atmosphere. Bakul Attar is the extract ofcreamy bakul flowers infused in pure sandalwood oil and then agednaturally. The entire process is labor intensive and can takeup to a year and the result is intoxicating. The perfume isexotic, hauntingly deep and very soulful. It can be describedas robust and earthy sweet with pleasant soft tea-like back notes. Appropriate for both men and women, the attar is often saidto have aphrodisiac properties! Walking through a thick carpet ofbakul flowers that have bloomed in the steamy night air and fallento the ground of a temple courtyard, it is easy to understand whythe people of India’s past pointed to the heavens as the source ofthese flowers.
BAKUL ATTAR
