poster

traditional cosmetic paste

sonahar/thanaka

GRD0002

Poster for the Sonahar, or thanaka in Burmese, cosmetic paste whicch is made from the ground bark of a flowering tree belonging to the Murraya genus. The milky, bright yellow paste is said to have medicinal properties: Rohingya women and girls apply sonahar to their faces in designs such as swirls or blocks, concentrating on their cheeks and noses, to protect their skin from sun damage, insect bites, fungus and acne. Sonahar also has cooling properties, providing relief from the hot blaze of the tropical sun. Its fragrance is similar to sandalwood.