Imports & ExportsStart exporting

Pharma & chemicals

Export perfumes and attars

Kannauj attars, rose water and alcohol perfumes; Singapore, the UAE and the USA buy the most.

Free to exportHS 3303
HS code
3303
Perfumes and toilet waters — eau de cologne, alcohol-based perfumes, attars and perfumery compounds without spirit, rose and keora water (3303).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 as checked in November 2026. Perfumes are cosmetics and need a cosmetic manufacturing licence. Attars that contain sandalwood oil or other forest products: check the Schedule 2 entries for those inputs before you ship. Confirm your exact 8-digit line on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before you ship.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 285 mn
to 114 countries

What is exported

India exports traditional attars distilled in Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh), rose and keora water, and alcohol-based perfumes and deodorant blends made in Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Gujarat and Bengaluru. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 285 million under HS 3303; Singapore and the UAE led, followed by the USA, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and the UK. Gulf buyers value attars and oud-style blends; Western buyers buy fine fragrance and private-label perfumes.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Traditional attarsRose, kewda, mitti, khus and shamama distilled into a base oil, often sandalwood.
  • Floral watersRose water and keora water.
  • Alcohol-based perfumes and deodorantsEau de parfum, eau de toilette and body sprays.
  • Perfumery compoundsFragrance blends sold to soap, cosmetic and incense makers.

Where it is grown or made

  • Uttar PradeshKannauj — traditional attar distilleries; also Lucknow and Jaunpur
  • MaharashtraMumbai — fragrance houses and perfume fillers
  • Delhi NCR and GujaratDelhi, Noida; Ahmedabad and Vapi
  • KarnatakaBengaluru and Mysuru

Export packing

  • Attars in small glass bottles, roll-ons or aluminium bottles for bulk, padded in cartons.
  • Alcohol perfumes as Class 3 dangerous goods in UN-approved outer packaging, or as limited quantities where allowed.
  • Ingredient list (INCI), allergens, batch and maker's address on each retail pack.

Who buys abroad

  • Perfume shops and distributors in the Gulf
  • Diaspora and religious-goods retailers
  • Fragrance houses and cosmetic makers
  • Private-label perfume brands

The quality buyers ask for

Composition
Natural attar (hydro-distilled into base oil) or compound; state the base (sandalwood, DOP-free carrier, alcohol)
Concentration
Perfume oil % for EDP/EDT; alcohol grade and strength for sprays
IFRA compliance
IFRA certificate for the product category (leave-on, rinse-off)
Allergens
Fragrance allergens quantified for EU labelling
Physical
Colour, specific gravity, refractive index and odour matched to the standard sample

Certificates

  • Cosmetic manufacturing licenceRequiredNeeded to make perfumes in India.
  • IFRA conformity certificateOften askedBuyers ask for it to show the fragrance meets IFRA Standards.
  • EU cosmetics complianceOften askedResponsible Person, safety report and CPNP notification for the EU.
  • Dangerous Goods Declaration (alcohol perfumes)Often askedRequired for flammable perfumes by sea or air.
  • GI authorised user (Kannauj Perfume)Often askedLets you sell under the registered GI name.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Small, high-value lots; attars often move as LCL or air cargo in padded cartons.

How it travels

Air for small attar lots; sea for alcohol perfumes as Class 3 DG.

Storage

Cool, dark storage; keep bottles tightly closed.

Shelf life

Attars keep for several years; alcohol perfumes typically about three years.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Product name, net volume, ingredients (INCI) with allergens, batch, maker and country of origin.
  • "Flammable" warning and DG marks on alcohol-based products.
  • Arabic labelling for Gulf retail packs.
Where to get it tested

The Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj, tests attars and essential oils. NABL-accredited labs analyse allergens and composition by GC-MS (search 'essential oils' or 'perfumes' in the NABL directory).

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • CHEMEXCILCosmetics, toiletries, essential oils and perfumery compounds are listed under CHEMEXCIL in Appendix 2T; take your RCMC from CHEMEXCIL.chemexcil.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • IFRA Standards on restricted fragrance materials; EU Cosmetics Regulation rules, including listing of fragrance allergens on the label above set thresholds.
  • Alcohol-based perfumes are flammable dangerous goods (UN1266, Class 3): DG packing and declaration for sea and air; limited-quantity rules for small bottles.
  • Gulf: product registration or notification and Arabic labelling; Saudi Arabia through the SFDA.
How to start small

Kannauj attars and rose water for Gulf and diaspora retailers are an easy start in small lots. Buy from a registered Kannauj distiller, test against IFRA limits, and ship non-alcoholic attars by courier or air on advance payment.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Undeclared alcohol perfumes in air cargo — fines and offloading.
  • Copying famous brand names or bottle shapes — seizures for counterfeit goods.
  • Synthetic blends sold as pure attar; Gulf buyers test and reject.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (7)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 3303 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2) and SCOMET list (Appendix 3)
  4. IFRA — International Fragrance Association (IFRA Standards)
  5. European Commission — Cosmetics (Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009)
  6. IP India (Geographical Indications Registry) — Registration details of Geographical Indications
  7. CHEMEXCIL — official site

Trade data

Indian perfumes and attars exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 285 mn
+20% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +16.6%
US$ 245 mn → US$ 285 mn
Buyer countries
114
Average export price
US$ 6.02
per kg · 47,397 tonnes shipped · US$ 6.13 the year before
Singapore: US$ 48.4 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 48.3 mnUnited States of America: US$ 44.8 mnNetherlands: US$ 24 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 19.5 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 19.1 mnBrazil: US$ 8.2 mnIraq: US$ 5 mnHong Kong: US$ 4.7 mnSudan: US$ 3.8 mnNepal: US$ 3 mnSri Lanka: US$ 2.8 mnChile: US$ 2.8 mnSenegal: US$ 2.7 mnItaly: US$ 2.7 mnKuwait: US$ 2.6 mnNigeria: US$ 2.3 mnBelgium: US$ 2.3 mnQatar: US$ 2.2 mnYemen: US$ 2.1 mnCanada: US$ 1.6 mnOman: US$ 1.4 mnSingapore: US$ 48.4 mnSingaporeUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 48.3 mnUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of America: US$ 44.8 mnUnited States of AmericaNetherlands: US$ 24 mnNetherlandsSaudi Arabia: US$ 19.5 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 19.1 mnBrazil: US$ 8.2 mnBrazilIraq: US$ 5 mnIraqHong Kong: US$ 4.7 mnSudan: US$ 3.8 mnNepal: US$ 3 mnSri Lanka: US$ 2.8 mnChile: US$ 2.8 mnSenegal: US$ 2.7 mnItaly: US$ 2.7 mnKuwait: US$ 2.6 mnNigeria: US$ 2.3 mnBelgium: US$ 2.3 mnQatar: US$ 2.2 mnYemen: US$ 2.1 mnCanada: US$ 1.6 mnOman: US$ 1.4 mnIndia
Where Indian perfumes and attars goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 115 mn1152020-212021-22: US$ 134 mn1342021-222022-23: US$ 207 mn2072022-232023-24: US$ 239 mn2392023-242024-25: US$ 245 mn2452024-252025-26: US$ 285 mn2852025-26
India’s perfumes and attars exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2020-21, lowest in 2025-26 — a 112% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 12.79 per kg12.792021-22: US$ 8.75 per kg2022-23: US$ 8.47 per kg2024-25: US$ 6.13 per kg2025-26: US$ 6.02 per kg6.022020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian perfumes and attars · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 115 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 134 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 207 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 239 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 245 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 285 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 372 mn (US$ 315 mn – US$ 438 mn)3722026-272027-28: US$ 448 mn (US$ 373 mn – US$ 538 mn)4482027-28
India’s perfumes and attars exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 448 mn

Likely range US$ 373 mn to US$ 538 mn.

Trend
+20.4% a year
Fit (R²)
0.91
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1SingaporeUS$ 48.4 mn+1.9%
2United Arab EmiratesUS$ 48.3 mn+30.8%
3United States of AmericaUS$ 44.8 mn+15.6%
4NetherlandsUS$ 24 mn-7.6%
5Saudi ArabiaUS$ 19.5 mn-5%
6United KingdomUS$ 19.1 mn+10.1%
7BrazilUS$ 8.2 mn+51.5%
8IraqUS$ 5 mn+4.6%
9Hong KongUS$ 4.7 mn+942.2%
10SudanUS$ 3.8 mn+16.6%
11CameroonUS$ 3.7 mn+104.4%
12NepalUS$ 3 mn+41.3%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. Hong KongUS$ 450k → US$ 4.7 mn+942.2%
  2. CameroonUS$ 1.8 mn → US$ 3.7 mn+104.4%
  3. BrazilUS$ 5.4 mn → US$ 8.2 mn+51.5%
  4. NepalUS$ 2.1 mn → US$ 3 mn+41.3%
  5. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 37 mn → US$ 48.3 mn+30.8%
  6. SudanUS$ 3.3 mn → US$ 3.8 mn+16.6%
  7. United States of AmericaUS$ 38.7 mn → US$ 44.8 mn+15.6%
  8. United KingdomUS$ 17.4 mn → US$ 19.1 mn+10.1%

Low demand

  1. KuwaitUS$ 3 mn → US$ 2.6 mn-15.5%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Other perfume and toilet waters3303 00 90 · Perfumes and toilet watersUS$ 162 mn+17.9%33,903 tonnesUS$ 4.78 per kgwas US$ 5.03
Perfmes contng spirit for retail sale3303 00 50 · Perfumes and toilet watersUS$ 72.7 mn+29.5%8,709 tonnesUS$ 8.35 per kgwas US$ 7.66
Perfumes and perfumery compounds (excluding aqs dstlts) not for rtl sale3303 00 40 · Perfumes and toilet watersUS$ 21.1 mn+2%1,736 tonnesUS$ 12.13 per kgwas US$ 12.58
Perfumes and toilet waters — eau-de-cologne3303 00 10US$ 19 mn+24.9%1,505 tonnesUS$ 12.62 per kgwas US$ 9.27
Spirituous toilet preparations n e s3303 00 60 · Perfumes and toilet watersUS$ 8.7 mn-15.8%397 tonnesUS$ 21.96 per kgwas US$ 15.78
Perfumes and toilet waters — rose water3303 00 20US$ 1.6 mn-3.6%894 tonnesUS$ 1.81 per kgwas US$ 1.78
Perfumes and toilet waters — keora water3303 00 30US$ 410k-87.8%253 tonnesUS$ 1.62 per kgwas US$ 8.02

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 27.2 bn
2023
India among exporters
#16
of 150 countries
India’s share of world exports
0.8%
US$ 228 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 28.9 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1FranceUS$ 7.67 bn 26.3%
  2. 2SpainUS$ 3.22 bn 11%
  3. 3United Arab EmiratesUS$ 2.75 bn 9.4%
  4. 4GermanyUS$ 2.49 bn 8.5%
  5. 5ItalyUS$ 2.19 bn 7.5%
  6. 6USAUS$ 2.01 bn 6.9%
  7. 7SingaporeUS$ 1.35 bn 4.6%
  8. 8NetherlandsUS$ 869 mn 3%
  9. 9CzechiaUS$ 784 mn 2.7%
  10. 10United KingdomUS$ 744 mn 2.6%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 4.49 bn 16.5%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 2.24 bn 8.2%
  3. 3United KingdomUS$ 1.34 bn 4.9%
  4. 4United Arab EmiratesUS$ 1.33 bn 4.9%
  5. 5SpainUS$ 1.23 bn 4.5%
  6. 6SingaporeUS$ 1.15 bn 4.2%
  7. 7NetherlandsUS$ 982 mn 3.6%
  8. 8ChinaUS$ 979 mn 3.6%
  9. 9ItalyUS$ 799 mn 2.9%
  10. 10CzechiaUS$ 774 mn 2.8%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 5.56 bnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 5.52 bn
GermanyUS$ 2.15 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 2.15 bn
SpainUS$ 1.48 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1.48 bn
United KingdomUS$ 1.34 bnIndia 1% · gap US$ 1.33 bn
SingaporeUS$ 1.31 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 1.31 bn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 1.33 bnIndia 1.9% · gap US$ 1.3 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 1.2 bnIndia 1.2% · gap US$ 1.19 bn
ChinaUS$ 997 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 997 mn
ItalyUS$ 990 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 989 mn
FranceUS$ 824 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 821 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export perfumes and attars

India has a centuries-old attar tradition centred on Kannauj and a growing modern fragrance industry in Mumbai and other cities. France, the USA, Spain, the UAE and Singapore lead world perfume trade, with the UAE and Singapore also acting as re-export hubs. Demand comes from the Gulf's strong perfume culture, diaspora and religious use, and private-label fragrance for retailers. Openings are in genuine Kannauj attars, rose and keora water, oud-style blends for the Gulf and fragrance compounds for soap and cosmetic makers.

  1. 01Choose products

    Attars, floral waters, alcohol perfumes or compounds.

  2. 02Find a distiller or fragrance house

    Registered Kannauj units for attars; licensed fillers for sprays.

  3. 03Test and certify

    IFRA conformity and allergen analysis.

  4. 04Sample

    Send small samples to Gulf and diaspora buyers.

  5. 05Pack

    Leak-proof bottles, padding; DG packing for alcohol products.

  6. 06Ship and claim

    File the shipping bill; claim RoDTEP and drawback.

  7. 07Payment

    Advance payment for small lots; LC for larger orders.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting perfumes and attars

Can I ship alcohol perfume by courier?
Only as declared dangerous goods within courier and IATA limits; many couriers refuse it.
Is Kannauj attar GI-protected?
Yes. "Kannauj Perfume" is a registered Geographical Indication; use the name only for genuine Kannauj products.
Which council?
CHEMEXCIL (essential oils and perfumery compounds).
What RoDTEP applies?
All 3303 lines carry 0.7% of FOB in Appendix 4R.
What is IFRA?
The International Fragrance Association, which publishes standards limiting or banning certain fragrance materials.
Sources (6)
  1. IFRA — International Fragrance Association (IFRA Standards)
  2. European Commission — Cosmetics (Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009)
  3. IP India (Geographical Indications Registry) — Registration details of Geographical Indications
  4. CHEMEXCIL — official site
  5. IATA — Lithium batteries: Dangerous Goods Regulations guidance
  6. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27

Who buys Indian perfumes and attars

All countries →

More in pharma & chemicals

All products →