Once upon a time in an ancient land, lived women who had discovered the secret to radiant, youthful skin…

No, this post is not a tale about some mystery from long ago. It is about Ubtan, the magical paste created years ago, handed down from mother to daughter and eventually shared by all womanhood in the Indian subcontinent. Wonder of wonders, it continues to be easily available even today having traveled over the centuries.

For the uninitiated, an ubtan is an ayurvedic powder for the face and body primarily used to cleanse and beautify, but also to heal and protect.  It finds frequent mention in various ancient Ayurvedic texts. Ubtan application is also listed in Solah Shringar, the elaborate ritual of how a woman should adorn herself for her wedding and as a new bride afterward.

Here's the lowdown on Ubtan

A herbal preparation in the form of paste used by women of India and other South-Asian countries, it is applied to the skin to beautify and improve its lustre. It is also known as ‘Ubvartan’ (a less common name) and used as a massage to soften and nurture skin.  The formulation of ubtan has traditionally been handed down from one generation of women to the next, never losing importance.  A variety of herbs, roots, spices, grains, and cereals are ground and commonly mixed with rose water, oils, curds, cream, or milk (raw) to create a paste that is applied on the skin.

The preparation of ubtan varies from place to place in India. In fact, sometimes you may find an ubtan typical to a particular family, its ingredients being guarded as zealously as a trade secret! Of course, this is stretching things a bit far because recipes for most ubtans are easily available with family elders and now on the net, thanks to technology.

To wrap this section up, it ought to be mentioned that apart from women, ubtan was, and continues to be used by men on their wedding day. It is considered auspicious to anoint both the bride and groom with turmeric paste.

Get Your Safe Glow with Botanical Formulations

Ubtan is one of the safest preparations you could think of applying on your skin. Its ingredients are entirely organic, it has been tested and retested over the years by scores of users, there are 0 harmful or artificial chemicals in it. The most popular ubtan is made of haldi (turmeric or Curcuma longa). A fresh rhizome is ground finely to form a paste that is mixed with rose water, curds, or raw milk, applied generously, and left to dry naturally. Its main ingredient, turmeric, has proven anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. For years, it has enhanced the natural glow and radiance of skin by gently exfoliating dead skin cells. When teamed up with Chandan (Sandalwood or Santalum in powder or paste form), this ubtan becomes a formidable application for tackling acne.

An ubtan of neem leaves’ paste enriched with Fuller’s Earth is an excellent cure for acne and skin blemishes. It ensures the skin is cleaned well, rid of toxins, and its pores tightened. It restores the natural oil balance of the skin and promotes cellular growth. It is also believed to rid the face of excess fine hair.

Another extremely popular ubtan is made of gram flour (besan) and is one of the simplest DIY around that packs a terrific punch. All you need for it is gram flour and rose water (in case of oily skin) or malai (cream from boiled milk in case of dry skin). Other optional additions include turmeric and rice flour. Mix well and apply on facial skin. Take a snooze while it dries naturally. Then gently wash off with water and pat dry. Voila! You have squeaky clean and soft skin in a quarter of an hour. Gram flour, loyalists swear, will pull out dirt from every bit of your skin to leave it clean and radiant. It also has anti-microbial properties.

Ubtan and the Indian (South-Asian) Wedding

An auspicious ritual in Indian weddings across parts of the country is the application of turmeric paste on the bride and the groom. It is commonly known as the Haldi or Manjha (Muslim) ceremony.  Weddings are big, joyous, and zestful affairs in South Asia where entire families and scores of friends come together to take part in the event.  The Haldi (or Manjha) ceremony typically takes place a day ahead of the wedding ceremony though the practice tends to vary. Today, they are fun and happy occasions where everyone takes a shot at applying generous dabs of turmeric on the bride and groom amidst much joking and gaiety.      

Ruby Walia, the Founder-Director of Phool Patti, says,” It is matter of pride for us that Phool Patti Ubtan Paste and Phool Patti Oil are carving their own sweet spot in Haldi (Manjha) ceremonies. We have always adhered to the strictest control over ingredients and formulation process of our products. Seeing them being used for traditional Indian weddings that are an extremely important event not just for the bride and groom, but for the entire family gives me untold joy and happiness.”

Akshita and Akshat’s Sunshine- splashed Haldi in Cancun, June 2023

Phool Patti traveled with Ruby Walia and other wedding guests to the heart of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun, in June 2023. It was a destination wedding selected by the bride, Akshita, for its gorgeous beaches, mesmerising waters, and amazing weather (that tilted towards slightly hot at that time).

The wedding took place at the Grand Palladium, Cancun, through different events and rituals over 1- 3^rd June 2023 wherein Akshita tied the knot with her beau, Akshat.

Guests took part in the delightful Haldi ceremony of Akshita and Akshat where everyone used Phool Patti Utban and Phool Patti Hair Oil generously. “I made sure there was more than enough stock, so everyone had fun with hues of yellow!” says Ruby Walia, laughing.

Phool Patti Ubtan

As with each product from her label, Phool Patti Ubtan is artisanal, organic, and prepared under the strict supervision of Ruby herself. She is uncompromising about quality control and rigidly maintains the purity of the ingredients used in Phool Patti Ubtan. Made of turmeric, sandalwood, saffron, barley, chickpea powder, mogra powder and rose powder, the formulation is a delight to use and smells wonderful.