The Scent That Floats Through Time
Even though Songkran might have splashed by, can you still catch a whiff of the refreshingly floral scent in the breeze? The one that clings to memories of gentle water pouring over hands and golden Buddha statues. That refreshing mix of Thai flowers and aromatic wood isn’t just any perfume - it’s Nam Aob Nang Loy, the traditional scented water that plays a leading role in Thailand’s most iconic festival.
Nam Aob Nang Loy
Let’s rewind to over a hundred years ago, or in the 19th century, when a special kind of Thai scented water made its market debut at Nang Loy market. Back then, there were no brand names and no packaging. The customers had to bring their own containers. But the scent was so unforgettable and super unique. But what made this water stand out was its unforgettable fragrance, uniquely Thai, long-lasting, and unlike anything people made at home.
It quickly became beloved among Thai women who used it to perfume their bodies after bathing, to cool off during the hot season, or during important rituals like the water-pouring ceremony for elders (Rod Nam Dam Hua) or bathing the Buddha statue (Song Nam Phra). The name spread by word of mouth: “That scented water from Mae Hiang at Nang Loy Market.” Eventually, it was shortened to simply Nam Aob Nang Loy, and the name stuck, becoming the official brand we know today.
So, who was the brilliant mind behind it? That would be Mae Hiang, a creative soul who adapted an old palace recipe handed down from a friend with royal connections. Inspired by the staying power of Western perfumes, Mae Hiang set out to create something just as enduring, but unmistakably Thai. She experimented by blending fragrant Thai herbs and flowers with her own secret formula of Thai-style essential oils.
With help from traditional ingredients like Thai flowers - jasmine (Mali), ylang-ylang (Kra Dang Nga), orange jasmine (Kaew), Thai herbs - nutmeg powder (Chan Thed), kaffir lime (Ma Krood), frankincense (Kamyan) with scented powder (Pang Rum) and borneol (Pimsen), she managed to fuse the oils with water, creating a scented liquid that was both delicate and persistent. It wasn’t just beautiful, it lasted. And it had that powdery starch residue at the bottom of the bottle, a tell-tale sign you’d have to give it a gentle shake before using.
From Nam Aob
To truly understand Nam Aob Nang Loy, we have to go back even further, to the 13th-15th century, in the time of the Sukhothai kingdom. This is when Thai people began making Nam Aob, a traditional scented water that cooled the body and soothed the soul. Crafted with flowers like jasmine (Mali), gardenia (Pud), and orange jasmine (Kaew), along with aromatic woods and herbs like sandalwood (Mai Chan), frankincense (Kamyan), and borneol (Pimsen), this mix was gently smoked with candle scent to create a calming aroma.
In those days, Nam Aob was commonly used by women as a kind of Thai perfume. It was mixed into traditional Thai cosmetics like powdered clay (Din Sor Pong) and lip balm (See Phueng), and sprinkled onto the body after a bath, especially during the hot season, as ingredients like Pimsen gave a cooling effect. Nam Aob also played an important role in ceremonies like Songkran and even funerals, where it was mixed into holy water.
The only downside? Because Nam Aob was made with fresh flowers, its scent faded fast. Its charm was fleeting and beautiful, but never built to last. That is, until a new fragrant revolution arrived.
To Nam Prung
Fast forward to the 19th century, thanks to increased global travel, the West introduced Thailand to a whole new level of staying power in perfumes. Unlike the gentle touch of Nam Aob, these new scents had staying power. Inspired, palace women began experimenting with ways to make Thai scents last longer. Long-lasting fragrance? Yes, please. Nam Prung, the next-level evolution of Thai fragrance.
To craft Nam Prung, artisans combined fragrant tree resins, flowers like jasmine (Mali), ylang-ylang (Kra Dang Nga), orange blossoms (Kaew), and aromatic herbs with water. The process was labor-intensive; each day for a full month, the flowers had to be replaced with fresh ones (yes, every day!). After that, the mixture was lovingly smoked with scented candles and aged for up to a year and a half.
So now that we’ve covered Nam Aob, Nam Prung, and Nam Aob Nang Loy, what exactly sets Nam Aob and Nam Prung apart?
Well, both were used to scent the body and used in ceremonial waters for special occasions, and both were rooted in Thai flowers and woods. Their shared base of fragrant woods and Thai flowers might make them seem almost identical at first. But Nam Prung had the upper hand in longevity—it lingered longer and came with royal credentials. Each palace had its own secret recipe, making Nam Prung a signature scent of nobility. It earned nicknames like “the scent that lingers on the floorboards” (Scent like Nobility, Scent lingers in the floors) because after a noble lady stood up, her perfume would remain behind.
But fragrance innovation wasn’t just for the nobility. When Mae Hiang developed a longer-lasting version of Nam Aob, she brought Thai perfumery into the mainstream. Her creation, Nam Aob Nang Loy, quickly became a household name. She didn’t stop there. Mae Hiang designed a custom bottle and logo, featuring a Thai-style fairy floating on a cloud, perfectly matching the name Nang Loy (floating lady). She also launched a full range of Thai scented products, including powdered clay (Din Sor Pong), scented talc (Pang Hin Rum), and scented candles (Tien Aob).
Eventually, her shop relocated to a new home in front of Wat Thepthidaram on Maha Chai Road, where it still stands today. While Thai scented waters are now mostly used for festivals like Songkran, if you’re curious to experience a piece of living history for yourself, stop by the original Nam Aob Nang Loy store. It’s more than a shop, it’s a window into Thailand’s fragrant past.
And if you’re ready to uncover more exclusive stories like this, check out our guided and self-guided routes at www.therootsroutes.com. Who knows what other sweet secrets you’ll stumble upon?