History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c19.10

v1.c19.10

The aforegoing discussion shows that in the initial stages of Indian civilization the terms for perfumes and cosmetics and their use, in vogue, namely *gandha*, *sugandhi*, *candan*, *aguru*, *sugandhi-tejana*, *gandhamālya*, *avasikta*, *lipta* and others, suggest the fact that the art was simple insofar as only the use of scented-water, oil and pastes for anointing and flower-garlands for decorating the person is ascertained. The later Vedic age, covering the Buddhistic era, represents greater sophistication in the use of cosmetics as the related terminology includes a great variety of items and their uses. Majumdar opines, in this regard, that ancient India made sufficient advance so far as this aspect of civilization is concerned. Among the constituents of toilet we have principally to note various fragrant substances, hair-dye, flower-garlands, incense, perfumes, scented oil, collyrium, *anulepana*, (sandal paste etc. for the body) *alaktaka* (lac-dye for the feet) etc. (Majumdar 1938, p.85)