Even Ayurveda, advises us to use sambrani, as it calms the nerves, and produces tranquility, thus making the person ready for prayers. Years back women after having their hair wash, used to light up sambrani and keep a straw basket above it. The steam will seep out of the pores of the straw basket.
Sambrani is the Indian name for Benzoin sometimes called Gum Benzoin, a balsamic resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax. The term Sambrani is coined by Ayurveda (an ancient system of medicine) for the yellow resin, a gum-like substance that comes from perfumed bark of Sal tree.