BOTANICAL LIBRARY

Botanical Library

Rituals rooted in Amritsar. Guided by Ayurveda.

An Ayurvedic and Indian ingredient glossary behind the collection.

The House of Amritsar is developing a premium collection of topical skin, scalp and body rituals inspired by the grooming, bathing, perfumery and self-care traditions of Punjab and wider India. This library brings together every botanical, mineral and classical preparation referenced across our collection — their cultural place, aroma, colour, texture and role in ritual — so customers, spa and hotel partners, and journalists have one accurate, consistent reference.

For product context and common customer questions, see our Public FAQ. For the complete heritage, formulation and trade reference, see our Knowledge Centre.

LAST REVIEWED 26 JULY 2026

WHAT THIS LIBRARY IS

Not every ingredient listed here currently appears in a finished product. A material earns a place in one of our eight ritual concepts when its heritage story, sensory contribution and safety profile all line up with that ritual’s purpose; everything else that genuinely belongs to the tradition we’re drawing from still earns a place here, as reference material. As with our hero ingredients, every material here will carry a full ingredient declaration, sourcing statement and safety assessment before it appears in a finished product.

All materials

38 of 38 materials shown

Hair & Scalp Botanicals

9

The oiling, washing and head-massage traditions behind our scalp rituals.

Bhringraj

Eclipta prostrata

One of the botanicals most closely tied to Indian hair-oiling tradition; described in Ayurvedic literature as a keshya (hair-associated) herb, traditionally infused into rich scalp oils. Anchors the heritage of intensive scalp massage and pre-wash oiling behind our Kesh Amrit concept.

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Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

Phyllanthus emblica

A celebrated Ayurvedic fruit and traditional rasayana material, long used in Indian hair oils, powders and household grooming. Supports the traditional conditioning and hair-care identity of our scalp-oil concepts.

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Neem

Azadirachta indica

A bitter botanical with a long place in Indian cleansing and grooming traditions, associated with preparations for oilier or congested-feeling scalps and skin. Provides a purifying heritage note across our scalp-care and clay-mask concepts — not positioned as treating dandruff, acne, infection or disease.

Brahmi

Bacopa monnieri

Traditionally associated with cooling scalp oils and head-massage rituals. On this site, “Brahmi” specifically means Bacopa monnieri, not Gotu Kola — we treat the two as distinct botanicals throughout our collection.

Coconut Oil

Cocos nucifera (oil)

A familiar regional hair and body oil, especially in warmer parts of India, generally regarded in Ayurveda as more cooling than sesame oil. Provides slip, shine, emollience and a recognisable hair-oiling texture in our Kesh Amrit concept.

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Shikakai

Acacia concinna

Used for generations in Indian hair-cleansing and bathing customs; its natural saponin content made powdered or steeped Shikakai a familiar traditional hair wash. In our Brahmi & Shikakai concept, it’s included at a concentration selected to condition rather than cleanse.

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Fenugreek (Methi)

Trigonella foenum-graecum

Seeds long used in Indian hair-care pastes and household remedies for conditioning and shine — a familiar, grounded reference within our botanical library.

Hibiscus (Gudhal / Japa)

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

A traditional hair and scalp botanical across South Asia, associated with hair strength and shine, and recognised for its vibrant petals and rich colour.

Jatamansi

Nardostachys jatamansi

An aromatic rhizome long used in Indian hair-oiling and calming aromatic traditions, valued for its distinctive earthy scent.

Face, Radiance & Aromatic Botanicals

15

Complexion-focused materials, classical facial-oil traditions and the aromatics that shape them.

Kumkumadi (tradition)

One of the best-known saffron-led facial-oil traditions associated with Ayurvedic beauty ritual. Kumkumadi isn’t one single fixed historical recipe — preparations have always varied by region, household and era. It inspires our saffron-led Radiance Facial Elixir concept; any proposed products are modern cosmetic interpretations rather than a claim to reproduce one fixed classical formula.

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Saffron (Kesar)

Crocus sativus

Long valued in Indian beauty, perfumery and ceremonial tradition for its colour, aroma, rarity and association with luminosity and luxury. The central heritage ingredient behind our Kumkumadi and Rasayana concepts.

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Sandalwood (Chandan)

Santalum album

An established place in Indian aromatic, ceremonial and complexion-focused preparations; traditionally associated with cooling qualities. Primarily aromatic and sensory in our formulations — species, origin, sustainability certification, concentration and fragrance-allergen declaration to be confirmed.

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Lotus (Kamal), including Lotus Pollen

Nelumbo nucifera

The lotus holds deep significance across Indian spiritual and cultural tradition, widely associated with beauty, purity and renewal, and reflected in the House of Amritsar emblem. Lotus pollen is a specific modern cosmetic material rather than a complete classical Kumkumadi ingredient; exact identity, plant part and extraction method are to be confirmed before specific claims are made.

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Gotu Kola

Centella asiatica

A restorative herb in its own right, sometimes confused with Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) in casual use — we treat the two as distinct botanicals throughout our collection. A widely recognised South Asian botanical offering a distinctive reference for contemporary facial-care development.

Manjistha

Rubia cordifolia

A root long used in Indian skin and complexion tradition, valued for its deep pigment, and recognised for its association with complexion-focused ritual.

Turmeric (Haridra)

Curcuma longa

Central to Indian household, ceremonial and beauty custom, including the pre-wedding Haldi tradition. Brings warmth, colour and cultural familiarity to our Amrit Abhyanga concept; extract and concentration are chosen carefully to avoid staining or instability.

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Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera

One of Ayurveda’s most recognised rasayana botanicals, traditionally described as nourishing, grounding and restorative. Positioned as a heritage and cosmetic botanical across our Rasayana, Amrit Abhyanga and Ashwagandha concepts — not as an ingredient that treats stress, hormones or internal health.

Bakuchiol (from Babchi)

Purified compound, typically derived from Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia, also classified as Cullen corylifolium)

Babchi has a long history in Ayurveda, though purified bakuchiol itself is a modern isolated cosmetic ingredient — it’s more accurate to describe bakuchiol as derived from a plant with Ayurvedic heritage than as a classical formula in its own right. A modern skin-comfort active in our Rasayana concept.

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Frankincense, Indian (Shallaki)

Boswellia serrata

A resin with a long place in the subcontinent’s aromatic, perfumery and topical traditions. Its warm, resinous aroma informs the fragrance direction of richer facial and body concepts.

Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth)

A mineral clay, not a plant, strongly associated with beauty tradition across Punjab and the wider subcontinent, valued for its texture and oil-absorbing character. The defining heritage reference for our Purifying Clay Mask concept; mineral composition, purity, microbiological quality and heavy-metal limits to be confirmed by the supplier before launch.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus spp.

A widely used contemporary aromatic and spa ingredient, though not a foundational classical Ayurvedic botanical. Modern and sensory in our clay-mask concept; species, concentration and fragrance allergens to be confirmed.

Pomegranate

Punica granatum

Different parts of the pomegranate appear across Indian food, beauty and plant tradition. Fruit, seed oil or extract may contribute emollient or antioxidant-supporting properties to our Rasayana concept, depending on the exact material selected.

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Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. Ocimum sanctum)

Regarded as one of the most sacred and versatile plants in Indian tradition, associated with purification and daily ritual, and often referenced in aromatic and cleansing preparations.

Champaca

Magnolia champaca

A fragrant flower with a long-standing place in Indian perfumery and ceremonial tradition, prized for its rich, sweet aroma.

Body, Massage & Comfort Botanicals

14

The oils, resins and butters behind Abhyanga massage and everyday body ritual.

Sesame Oil (Til Tailam)

Sesamum indicum (seed oil)

One of the most prominent oils in Ayurvedic body-oiling and Abhyanga tradition, valued for a rich, enveloping, traditionally warming character. Provides massage glide, emollience and the principal traditional connection behind our Amrit Abhyanga concept.

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Classical Indian Massage-Oil Traditions

Warm aromatic oils and attentive massage have long formed part of Indian body-care custom. These traditions inform the pacing, texture and sensory direction of our proposed professional body rituals.

Mahanarayan-Inspired Oil

A classical multi-ingredient formulation (Mahanarayana Taila), not a single raw ingredient

Recognised as a classical Ayurvedic multi-ingredient preparation, typically built on a sesame-oil base. Every constituent supplied under this name will be identified individually and incorporated into a complete cosmetic ingredient declaration before launch — we will not present “Mahanarayan oil” as though it were one uniform ingredient.

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Bala

Sida cordifolia

A traditional strengthening botanical long referenced in classical Indian massage-oil formulations, contributing a recognisable heritage note to warming body-oil concepts.

Ginger (Sunthi / Ardraka)

Zingiber officinale

Used across Indian food and body-care tradition for its warming, stimulating sensory character, inspiring layered body-ritual concepts.

Camphor (Karpura) & Mint (Pudina)

Camphor and mint have long appeared in Indian aromatic and topical tradition for their distinctive fresh, cooling sensory effect. Sensory only in our formulations — not positioned to relieve pain, inflammation or a muscular disorder; the final formula will confirm ingredient identity, natural or manufactured origin, and safe cosmetic concentration.

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Vetiver (Khus)

Chrysopogon zizanioides

An aromatic grass root with a long place in Indian perfumery, cooling screens, household ritual and body care, giving our Amrit Abhyanga concept its grounded, earthy fragrance profile.

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Rose Water (Gulab Jal)

Rosa damascena / Rosa centifolia

A cornerstone of Indian perfumery and skin-toning tradition, recognised for its light floral aroma and elegant sensory character.

Shatadhauta Ghrita (“Hundred-Times-Washed” Ghee)

A classical Ayurvedic preparation of repeatedly washed cow ghee, historically referenced for soothing topical use and prized for its lighter, whipped texture. Its inclusion in any future formulation would need separate vegan-status disclosure.

Triphala (“Three Fruits”)

Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula

A classical three-fruit combination central to Ayurvedic rejuvenation (rasayana) tradition, widely recognised within Ayurvedic heritage.

Kokum Butter

Garcinia indica

A traditional Indian plant butter from the Konkan region of western India, valued for its firm texture and emollient character in household beauty custom.

Aloe Vera (Kumari)

Aloe barbadensis

Valued across Indian tradition for its cooling gel and light texture, informing the comfort-focused direction of our Shakti concept.

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Licorice (Yashtimadhu)

Glycyrrhiza glabra

A classical Ayurvedic root associated with soothing, brightening use in traditional skin preparations, contributing to the heritage story of our comfort and radiance concepts.

Guggul

Commiphora wightii

A resin with a long history in classical Ayurvedic formulations, traditionally associated with purification and included in topical oil and balm preparations for centuries.

MODERN FORMULATION, HONEST PROVENANCE

Not every ingredient considered for the collection will have an Ayurvedic or Indian backstory. Modern cosmetic ingredients — carriers, emulsifiers, stabilisers, preservatives and antioxidants — may be selected for texture, stability, compatibility and performance. The House of Amritsar will describe those ingredients honestly, alongside the classical botanicals that shape the collection’s identity.

HELP SHAPE THE COLLECTION

Tell us which rituals matter most

We’re using our website and two short surveys to understand which product concepts, ritual formats and price points are most relevant before committing to production.

For product context and common customer questions, visit our Public FAQ. For the complete, detailed reference used by journalists and trade partners, visit our Knowledge Centre.