Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Sambrani (Styrax Benzoin) or Devadhupa malacca  Did you know that Sambrani or Styrax Benzoin or gum Benjamin, a common ingredient in incense-making and perfumery used throughout many cultures, is known by two common types of benzoin - Benzoin Siam and Benzoin Sumatra of Indonesia? Sambrani, with scientific name Styrax Benzoin or Devadhupa malacca in Sanskrit, is Benzoin gum, also known as benzoin resin and gum Benjamin. The resin is obtained from the Benzoin tree, a species of tree native to Sumatra, Indonesia, member of the Styrax genus in the family Styracaceae, and is also native to rainforests of many countries of Southeast Asia. The naturally occurring resin is Sambarni or Paal Sambrani, a Tamil name, while it is called Loban in Hindi, and its lighted smoke is an ancient tradition that has been followed for several centuries in India due to it’s amazing benefits to dry hair by women and for babies, and also as mosquitoe repellant.   In...

Sambrani Benefits: For Babies, Hair Drying, and Cold. If there is one tradition that I completely love and makes me feel very good is to use sambrani. Sambrani is called benzoin resin in English and it is the resin of a tree that is dried, powdered and sold in the markets, either as a powder or in blocks. Sambrani usage has been in the culture for many years and in fact every South Indian home will have sambrani holders that will be more than 100 years old. Many countries use sambrani, in Arab countries they use it directly and in some countries they use it in incense. You can also use it instead of sandalwood shavings as a base for making incense cones.   To light up sambrani smoke, coal is collected in sambrani holder and the sambrani powder is sprinkled over it. I just love the smell of sambrani, it has a unique beautiful fragrance that is different from the normal incense sticks. The smell of sambrani transports me back in time and somehow fills me wi...