Ayurveda has worked with herbs, oils, flowers, roots and minerals for thousands of years, recognizing each ingredient for its unique qualities and actions within the body and mind.
At PAAVANI, our formulas bring this traditional plant wisdom into modern daily rituals. From aromatic botanicals like vetiver and ylang ylang to plant extracts and essential oils, each ingredient is thoughtfully selected for the role it plays within a formula.
Explore our Ayurvedic herbs and natural ingredients from U–Z to learn more about their traditional uses, benefits and the PAAVANI rituals in which they can be found.
VANILLA BEAN ABSOLUTE
Vanilla planifolia
Vanilla comes from the cured seed pods of Vanilla planifolia, a tropical orchid native to Mexico and Central America. Its warm, sweet and unmistakable fragrance develops through the careful curing of the vanilla bean.
Vanillin is one of the primary aromatic compounds responsible for vanilla’s characteristic scent, alongside a complex mixture of many other naturally occurring aromatic constituents.
In aromatherapy, vanilla’s rich, familiar fragrance brings a comforting and grounding quality to body care. Its soft sweetness is particularly complementary to vata-balancing rituals designed to encourage warmth, nourishment and a greater sense of ease.
Found in: Vata Body Oil, Pitta Body Oil and Tridoshic Body Oil
VETIVER
Chrysopogon zizanioides
Vetiver is a deeply aromatic grass native to South Asia whose roots are used to create an earthy, smoky and distinctly grounding essential oil. It has a long history of use in Ayurveda, perfumery and traditional cooling rituals.
In Ayurveda, vetiver is valued for its cooling and grounding qualities. Its earthy nature can help settle excess vata while its cooling quality makes it complementary to pitta, particularly during hot weather or times of heightened intensity.
Vetiver essential oil contains a complex mixture of naturally occurring sesquiterpenes and other aromatic compounds responsible for its distinctive, long-lasting fragrance. Its deep scent makes vetiver especially well suited to aromatic rituals designed to encourage steadiness, calm and connection to the body.
Found in: Vata Spritzer
WILD ORANGE
Citrus sinensis
Wild orange is an aromatic citrus fruit whose peel produces a bright, sweet and instantly recognizable essential oil. Its fresh fragrance brings an uplifting quality to aromatic and body care rituals.
Orange peel oil is naturally rich in limonene, a characteristic citrus compound responsible for much of its vibrant aroma and a focus of modern research into citrus essential oils.
Its light, energizing fragrance helps awaken the senses while bringing brightness and warmth to balanced, everyday self-care rituals.
Found in: Tridoshic Body Oil and Tridoshic Spritzer
WINTERGREEN
Gaultheria procumbens
Wintergreen is a small evergreen plant native to North America with a long history of traditional topical use. Its leaves produce an essential oil with an intensely fresh, mint-like aroma.
Wintergreen essential oil is naturally composed largely of methyl salicylate, a compound responsible for its characteristic fragrance and distinctive sensory effect when used topically. Because wintergreen essential oil is highly concentrated, it is best used in carefully formulated and properly diluted topical preparations.
Its invigorating sensory qualities make wintergreen particularly complementary to massage rituals for areas of the body that feel tired, tense or overworked.
Found in: Tension Relief Oil
WITCH HAZEL EXTRACT
Hamamelis virginiana
Witch hazel is a flowering shrub native to North America with a long history of traditional topical use. Extracts are made from its bark, twigs and leaves and have become a familiar ingredient in facial toners and botanical skincare.
Witch hazel naturally contains tannins and other polyphenolic compounds that contribute to its characteristic astringent and antioxidant properties. Applied topically, these qualities help refresh and tone the skin while making witch hazel particularly useful in formulas designed to support a balanced complexion.
Its cooling, clarifying nature allows witch hazel to work across a range of skin types when thoughtfully formulated with hydrating and soothing botanicals.
Found in: Vata Toner, Pitta Toner, Kapha Toner and Tridoshic Toner
YLANG YLANG
Cananga odorata
Ylang ylang is a tropical flowering tree native to Southeast Asia whose fragrant yellow blossoms are steam distilled to produce a rich, sweet and deeply floral essential oil.
In aromatherapy, ylang ylang is valued for its soothing, grounding and sensorial qualities. Its lush floral aroma brings softness to body and self-care rituals, making it particularly complementary to moments designed to encourage relaxation and ease.
Used in skincare, ylang ylang is valued for its balancing and conditioning qualities, particularly in botanical formulas designed to support healthy-looking skin without feeling overly drying or heavy.
Found in: Vata Body Oil, Pitta Body Oil, Tridoshic Serum and Tension Relief Oil.
