As a beauty editor, aside from writing about the latest trends and new products, I also get a chance to see the inner workings of the beauty industry. From meeting product developers for those state-of-the-art hairdryers to interviewing aestheticians and dermatologists on how they create revolutionary skincare products–it’s all in a day’s work. A few weeks ago, I was invited by RAS Luxury to their estate in Raipur to see how their products were made.
After spending 24 hours at their farm, I learnt how RAS Luxury (pronounced ruh-us) sources ingredients from their own farms–all of which are grown organically. Often, essential oils sit on the shelves for a long time before encountering the middleman and finally making their way to the manufacturing and bottling unit. So their potency is reduced considerably. Ras Luxury, however, sources everything from Chhattisgarh and nearby states (barring argan oil that is imported from Morocco), strongly adhering to the ‘Make in India’ policy.
During the course of our stay, the founders held a session on making your own perfume. As a perfume fiend, I couldn’t wait to try this experience myself. My mind was clear and my olfactory senses even clearer. After which, the table was set with miniature bottles of base, middle, and top notes with beakers and droppers. We weren’t really adding alcohol and water to our fragrances–which is also included in the composition of perfumes–as the base of our perfume was to be a blend of different oils.
We were told how to layer the oils. First, we were given a base oil which was neutral. Then, we added two-three drops of our top notes and swirled it around. Next, we added a few drops of our middle notes, layering with two options. Finally, we added our base notes, repeating the procedure. Slowly, I could see the perfume taking shape. The perfume needed about 20 drops of essential oils. I used vetiver, patchouli, mandarin, and geranium. The result was a floral, citrusy perfume that was just right for spring. Also, I was pretty excited about naming my perfume, and after much deliberation I settled on my grandmother’s name–Eunecia, as she loved perfumes.
While the company hasn’t launched perfumes yet (we’re hoping that’s in the pipeline), their Night Elixir is a best seller and their body scrubs are a must-have on any shower caddy.
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