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In our latest series, we explore how exactly some of the more rare ingredients we work with smell. Today, it’s all about earthy yet sweet Guaicwood.

Originating from the Palo Santo tree, Guaicwood has a distinct sort of earthiness that is reminiscent of honey and tar at the same time. For our perfume Les Cayes, we used it as a heart note to add strength yet softness to the laid-back fragrance.

Originating from South America, guiacwood is known for its elegant scent as well as its medicinal properties – which Is where its name Palo Santo, or Tree of Life comes from. The scent itself is heavy – smoky, rubbery, tar-like, accented by honey-sweet tones – almost like a dense balsamic! It does not weigh down a fragrance but gives it a bit of depth that makes all the difference.

Guaicwood oil is obtained via steam distillation and is most popularly used in perfumery today.

For our Les Cayes, Guaicwood gives balance to the easy breezy fragrance highlighted with lemon, vetiver, bergamot, cedar wood & musk, handling the lighter citrus notes and the heavier musky notes with aplomb.

Our new series Inspired By looks at intriguing thought processes and awe-inspiring works of art that inspire, amuse, and encourage us. 

Glimpses of strength and grace – Tropical Modernism brings that and much more to the plate. Significant because of the way it is designed for its environment, the stunning architectural style brings balance to the fore.

Our new candle Pondicherry Yellow is reminiscent of balance in the way distinct scents are handled deftly. A certain pride accompanies it, in the usage of fine Indian ingredients – the same pride that infuses Tropical Modernism and its use of indigenous material.

Known for its wide open spaces and increased ventilation, Tropical Modernism stands out yet fits in beautifully. With its statement ingredients such as turmeric, coconut and sandalwood, Pondicherry Yellow also walks that very same tightrope.

Courtyard by Geoffrey Bawa. Source.

Photo by Frits Meyest. Source.

Vladimir Ossipoff’s work in Hawaii. Source.

In our latest series, we explore how exactly some of the more rare ingredients we work with smell. Today, it’s all about the elegant and statuesque Amber.

Almost mystical in its presence & perception, Amber is known through the lens of poetry & symbolism since ages. Popularly known as Tears of the Sun, Tiger’s Soul, Window to the Past and Petrified Light, amber is fossilized tree resin that has taken millions of years to form. Inspired by its inherent aroma, the amber note is created using a complex blend of ingredients and has a warm, sweet and woody fragrance – which is brought out in our candle Moon Set.

Apart from perfumery, amber is known for being a precious gemstone and a medicinal remedy too. Originally available from around the word, the oldest amber deposits were found in Europe, with about 50 different types of fossil resin deposits.

Amber oil is not a direct result of the fossilized resin but is, in fact, created using a blend of complex ingredients that is engineered by perfumers to create a distinctive aroma, and hence is not a standardized fragrance that is easily found around the world. Typically labdanum, benzoin & vanilla are used to create the amber note and the proportions of this can be managed to achieve the effect that the perfumers have in mind.

The layered ingredient adds elegance, sweetness and warmth to fragrance, thereby adding depth to it. In our Moon Set, we have paired it with Freesia, Vanilla, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Musk for a warm, restful and inviting candle that allows one to be.

In our latest series, we explore how exactly some of the more rare ingredients we work with smell. Today, we talk about the spicy yet sweet Elemi.

Clean and fresh yet deep and soothing, Elemi has mysterious powers to elevate any fragrance it’s a part of. It stands out with its complex notes and can be considered a “fix-it” ingredient, making it an integral part of our fragrances, especially 1020 and Calicut.

Named after the Arabic phrase “As Above, So Below”, Elemi is considered to be rooted in balance and spirituality. Its notes point toward being Terpenic in nature where one can almost think of woody and fresh pine needles, citrus and coriander – altogether, an incredibly sophisticated and crisp aroma.

Native to the Phillipines, Elemi is a resin from the tree of the same name. The pale yellow resin has a thin consistency and blends well with both spice and citrus olfactory families. The oil is obtained through steam distillation. Apart from perfumery, it is known to be medically effective as well.

In 1020, we paired Elemi with spicy Ginger and subtle Vetiver to create a balance while in Calicut, it adds a bit of freshness to the spicy and musky palette. The beauty of Elemi lies in its versatility and ability to elevate a fragrance, which is why it’s been preferred by perfumers down the ages.

As we step into the latest decade, powered by a healthy dose of hope and anticipation, we can’t help but recall the simpler times, when we could just be.

Inspired by contentment that spanned seasons and joy that can’t be contained, we came up with our latest fine fragrance candle, Ela. A Special Edition candle, with artwork designed by Shweta Malhotra, Ela is evocative of bliss, pure and simple.

Highlighted by its play of cardamom, citrus and star anise, the fine fragrance candle is a soy wax candle and burns cleanly.

For our latest candle Ela, we asked visual artist Shweta Malhotra to create an identity for our warm and playful fine fragrance candle. Her ability to communicate without complicating is something that has always drawn us to her work. We sat down with her to discuss how she came up with the visual identity for Ela.

When you experienced the candle for the first time, what really stood out for you?

The fragrance was really nostalgic and warm being cardamom. It seemed like a refined and contemporary take on cardamom with hint of a citrus note.

What was the inspiration behind the design?

The design was inspired by its main ingredient Cardamom contrasted with citrus notes, which was the inspiration for the forms used.

That came together to create a festive symbol, the Diya.

Can you share your process of creating the identity for Ela?

The design was inspired by the fragrance and the festive element. I decided to keep it graphic and minimal and focus on the ingredients and what they make you feel visually.

To know more about Ela, please do click through here. 

With an astronomical increase in popularity over the last few years, Turmeric has become a trendy ingredient. Though is role in the culinary arts among South Asian countries has long since established, what is quite unknown is its role in perfumery.

Originating in countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Turmeric is also known as “Indian Saffron” for its rich hue and myriad uses from medicinal to beauty. The root of the plant is mostly used, and for perfumery, the oil is extracted after steam distilling the root.

Turmeric has a very distinct flavour profile. Spicy, woody, earthy and warm tones stand out, and in turn, it adds a bit of heat as well.

For our tropical candle Pondicherry Yellow, the use of turmeric was a must. A modern retelling of the famous Haldi Doodh or Golden Latte, the candle has notes of turmeric, coconut and sandalwood, creating a warm and comforting scent.

In our latest series, we explore how exactly some of the more rare ingredients we work with smell. Today, it’s all about mysterious Oud.

Popularly known as “Liquid Gold”, Oud is a resinous and fragrant heartwood commonly found in South and Southeast Asia. The heady musky and sensual scent is known for its ability to infuse a sense of decadence – which is why it’s one of the key ingredients in our candle “Blushing Oud”.

The incredibly rare scent is enhanced by its legacy – today, the finest oud is sourced from the oldest trees. Interestingly, it was referred to as the “Wood of the Gods” as far back as the 3^rd century AD in China! Used for religious and medicinal purposes in China, India and Vietnam, oud is also incredibly popular in the Middle East. The dark and rich scent is a result of the Agar tree being infected and producing a special type of mold which is then extracted.

There are three methods of extracting oud such as hydro distillation, steam distillation and CO2 extraction. However, the agarwood today has been declared as an endangered species, which is why synthetic strains have been developed as well.

For our Blushing Oud candle, we paired this luxe scent with timeless roses for an air of modern decadence. Highlighted by saffron and raspberries, it’s an explosion of the senses.

In our latest series, we explore how exactly some of the more rare ingredients we work with smell. Today, it’s all about classic Myrhh.

An ingredient that has been ingrained in our collective minds since the dawn of time, Myrhh is at once mysterious and iconic. An integral part of our unisex perfume 1020, it lends warmth and earthiness to a fragrance.

Originating from Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, the name ‘Myrhh’ comes from the Arabic word ‘murr’ meaning bitter. Known for its medicinal properties, it is actually a natural gum or resin extracted from the small thorny tree species belonging to the genus Commiphora.

The uses of Myrhh range from medicinal – it is an essential ingredient in Ayurveda – to incense and perfumery. In the past, it has played an important role in religious rituals as well in Ancient Egypt, Islam & Christianity.

The myrhh resin is extracted twice a year by a process known as Tapping. An incision is made in the tea trunk from where one can access the gum resin reservoirs.

Myrhh is known for its sweet yet nutty and warm profile – much like a mix of sandalwood and cedarwood mixed with vanilla. The earthy and musky ingredient adds depth and a slight bit of darkness to a fragrance. In our unisex fragrance 1020, Myrhh is one of the base ingredients, the ones that give a foundation to the fragrance.

In our latest series, we explore how exactly some of the more rare ingredients we work with smell. Today, it’s all about the exotic Osmanthus Flower.

What does Osmanthus Flower smell like?

A key ingredient in our unisex fragrance Chai Musk, Osmanthus is native to Asia, especially China, Japan, and Korea. With over thirty different species of flowering plants, Osmanthus is quite popular and has a variety of uses, from medicinal to culinary, along with having a strong presence in Chinese culture.

Though it’s quite popular in the East, it’s a lesser-known ingredient around the world. In Perfumery, the flowers are used for their scent. Usually, they change from silvery white to goldish orange to red in the span of its lifetime. However, for perfumery, the goldish orange flowers are used as they tend to have the notes that truly stand out.

Osmanthus is known for its complex blend of freshness and fruity-leathery notes. Almost reminiscent of decadent apricots and peaches, the flower is highly fragrant – fresh, sweet and powerful in equal terms. Technically speaking, Osmanthus has a white floral note and peachy-milky notes that lead to a very distinct flavour profile.

For our Chai Musk, osmanthus adds that hit of sublime sweetness that elevates the fragrance’s fresh and musky profile.