Seva Guide5 min read · Updated 6 Jul 2026
Itr is the last thing applied and the easiest to overdo. Restraint is the whole of the technique.
How much
A single touch on the vastra is enough. Itr is an oil rather than a spirit, so it does not disperse and fade the way a spray does — what you apply is what stays.
Where to apply
On the cloth, never on the deity form directly. Oil marks stone and metal over time and is difficult to remove without abrasives.
Storing itr
Keep the bottle closed, upright and out of sunlight. Good itr thickens slightly in cold weather and returns to normal in the hand; this is not a fault.
