This very popular form of fragrant water is made from freshly gathered flowers and contains no alcohol. The flowers used are selected for their sweet and lingering fragrance, some of the more common ingredients being the flowers of damask rose (Rosa damascene Mill.), jasmine, lam-chiak (Pandanus tectorius Bl.), kradang-ngaa-thai (Cananga odorata Hook.f. & Th.), orange champaka (Michelia champaca Linn.), chammanaas(Vallaris glabra Ktze.),bullet wood, lamduan (Melodorum fruticosum Lour.) and chan-ka-pho (Vatica diospyroides Syming.). Other ingredients used include the leaves of fragrant screw pine, the inner bark of chaluut (Alyxia reinwardtii Bl.bar. lucida Markge.), sandalwood, Siam benzoin, jasmine and hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis Linn.)oils.
Thai-style fragrant water is applied liberally onto the face, chest and arms during the hot climate. It is also recommended for use in cases of fainting. A thick made by mixing scented marl with fragrant water is used as an anointment in various ceremonies.
Thai Hom Mali rice is indigenous to Thailand. In the past, it has been variously labeled as “fragrant rice”, “jasmine rice”,...