The Heart of the Bhatthi:
What Exactly Is a Degh?
A traditional copper degh sealed with mitti clay beside the bhatthi wood fire at Hari Bhai Shah in Kannauj.
Before there was a bottle, there was a copper vessel. In Kannauj, fragrance does not begin on a shelf; it begins beside a fire. At the centre of this entire process is the degh—a round-bottomed copper vessel capable of holding between 40 and 160 kilograms of botanical petals. It is where flower, water, heat, and time first come together to make traditional deg-bhapka hydro-distillation possible.
So, What Is a Degh?
A degh is a large, rounded copper distillation vessel used in traditional Kannauj perfumery. It holds fresh botanical material and water at the beginning of distillation. Flowers are not boiled aggressively; they are gently heated so steam carries volatile aromatic molecules toward the receiving vessel (bhapka).
Why Copper?
Copper transfers heat efficiently, making it possible to manage distillation temperature carefully. When handling delicate botanicals like Damask rose, jasmine, or kewda, controlled heating preserves the true character of the flower.
The Degh Is Sealed with Mitti
Once filled, the degh is sealed at the rim using mitti clay—creating a steam-tight barrier without synthetic plastic gaskets or industrial seals. Copper below, clay at the rim, wood fire beneath, and flowers within.
The Bhatthi Beneath the Degh
The fire hearth beneath the vessel is the bhatthi, traditionally fuelled with wood. Because temperature cannot be automated with a dial, an experienced artisan tends the fire—learning through years of practice when to add wood and when to let the heat settle.
The Chonga: The Bridge Between Two Vessels
Steam travels out of the degh through the chonga—a hollow bamboo pipe sealed with mitti clay that connects to the receiving bhapka vessel submerged in cooling water tanks.
Attar vs. Floral Water
When fragrant steam enters a bhapka containing aged sandalwood oil, the aroma absorbs into the oil to form traditional, alcohol-free attar. When the bhapka is left empty, the condensed steam forms pure botanical hydrosol (rose water).
Why We Retain the Degh
Plastic and stainless steel can be cheap, but a hand-hammered copper degh is built to serve across generations. We do not replace the vessel for every batch; we honor and maintain tools that have earned their place in the workshop.
01 · Copper & Mitti
Hand-hammered copper vessel loaded with fresh botanical petals and sealed at the rim with natural clay.
02 · Wood-Fired Bhatthi
Artisan-managed wood fires heat the vessel, sending fragrant steam through bamboo chongas.
· Alcohol-Free Catch
Vapour condenses into pure sandalwood oil for attar or remains un-oiled for pure botanical hydrosol.
“The degh is part vessel, part tool, part inheritance, and part memory. Every batch teaches something new.”