India, May 1 -- Back in time, when there were not many facial mists or toners, one thing that stood out and instantly refreshed the summer mood was Gulab Jal or rose water. I still remember the sweet and calming fragrance lingering in my grandmother's home. That soft and floral fragrance came from a small glass bottle tucked beside her mirror, filled with gulab jal.

On summer afternoons, when the heat wrapped itself, she would sprinkle a few cool drops onto her face, her wrists, even the corners of the room. And the air would shift instantly. Back in time, gulab jal went beyond a beauty ritual. It touched everything, from the festive sweets, morning prayers, to tired eyes.

In a world that now rushes toward instant solutions, Gulab Jal r...