Blog

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Spicy and fresh, Lemongrass is one of those ingredients that’s easily discernible.

The aromatic plant thrives in tropical countries and has been used for food technology, traditional medicine and essential oils. It’s commonly cultivated for both food & fragrance as its aroma is quite citrusy and fresh yet sharp.

Lemongrass was first noted for distillation as far back as the 17th century in the Phillipines. In India, it has been favoured through the ages & is commonly known as ”Choomana Poolu” as a nod to the grass’ red stems.

Lemongrass is a key ingredient for our Chai Musk and, indeed, was the turning point for the perfumer. Having tasted it in her tea from a roadside stall in Bombay, she was spurred on to create a modern interpretation of chai, with lemongrass as a top note!

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.