Bath Powders
Herbal bath powders, such as the nalangu maavu of Tamil homes, made from green gram, herbs and fragrant roots and rubbed on wet skin instead of soap.
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In Tamil homes, nalangu maavu is the bath powder mixed for children and new brides, a fragrant blend of green gram, rose petals, vetiver and kasturi manjal. Herbal bath powders across India work on similar lines: coarse, plant-based flours rubbed on wet skin in place of soap.
Compared with ubtan, they are rougher and meant for the whole body during an ordinary bath rather than a special occasion. Common ingredients include moong or chana flour, khus, sandalwood, rose, orange peel and neem leaf powder, with wild turmeric for colour. The texture lifts oil well after a massage, which is why oil-bath days often end with these powders.
Wet a handful into a paste, rub it over damp skin and rinse well, pouring water slowly so the drain does not clog. Check the ingredient list for allergens and patch-test before full use. Keep the powder in a dry tin outside the bathroom so moisture does not spoil it.