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Travel with us to our favourite cities around India

With one foot firmly set in Indian culture and the other in French, Pondicherry has been a haven of sorts for people who want to explore beyond the mundane.

VISIT

Nestled within Auroville’s leafy lanes is Svaram, a space that focuses on sound healing and works with artisans to create musical instruments. Absolutely charming, explore the rich history of folk instruments that are not easy to experience any more.

STAY

Le Dupleix

Constructed in the 18th Century as the residence for the Mayor of Pondicherry, Le Dupliex draws from both its rich French & Indian traditions, especially in its architecture & dining.

EAT

Stylish in all senses of the word, the Storyteller’s Bar is quite a charming spot. Host to a number of live gigs, fine cocktails & inventive fare, it’s Wall of Stories adds a personal flair.

SHOP

Pondicherry-based Naushad Ali is known for his treatment of woven fabrics, crafting transitional pieces for men & women. His shop not only features his work but also a select offering from India’s homegrown labels, Bombay Perfumery included.

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Like perfumery, architecture has the transformative power to propel one to the future or remind one of a time gone by. In our latest series, we’ve decoded the link between our fragrances to architectural styles that reflect them the most.

Our women’s fragrance Madurai Talkies, with its notes of Jasmine, Rose & Violet, evokes a complex set of emotions from nostalgia & wistfulness to charm – much like awe-inspiring South Indian Temple Architecture.

Srirangam Temple. Image Source. 

Monumental in every aspect, South Indian temples have wowed and inspired devotees & non-devotees alike since the 7^th century.

Much like how the temple’s sanctum sanctorum is enhanced by its superstructure with densely woven miniature shrines & sculptures, Madurai Talkies is built up by its layering of similar and different ingredients – rose, jasmine and violet infuse the scent with timeless elegance while white musk & cedarwood support & enhance the fragrance.

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Perfume has an ephemeral quality to it which makes it very desirable yet very hard to pin down. When it comes to gifting, perfume announces that one has paid attention to the personality & likes of the other person, making it a great option.

However, it can be quite tough to narrow down on a fragrance – here are a few points that could direct you.

Personality

One of the foremost tips is ascertaining the personality of the receiver. If they enjoy classic art and aesthetics, they might enjoy a timeless ingredient such as Tuberose or Cedarwood. If they are quite active and athletic, they might enjoy a fragrance that brings freshness to mind – such as Lemon and Bergamot.

Occasion

If you know that the receiver enjoys using different fragrances according to day & occasion, a good idea would to be gift a perfume based around an event. For instance, if they enjoy evenings out at cultural venues, then gifting a fragrance for their next evening out would add charm to the gift.

Tried & Tested

An easy way to ascertain whether the receiver would like the fragrance is to go through what they might already have – both in terms of perfumes and ingredients. That would be a good indicator to understand what new fragrances they might like, therefore simplifying the process.

Beyond Scent

A risky move but one that could work out beautifully is to forget all about their preferences and gift something they would never have bought for themselves. If they enjoy deep woody fragrances, for instance, you could gift a fresh citrusy fragrance with a hint of wood just so that it’s different yet similar at the same time.

Travel with us to our favourite cities around India

 One of India’s oldest cities,  Ahmedabad has evolved into an industrial & design mainstay over the years. Today, it’s known for its holistic approach to design and culture and its food trails.

VISIT

Ahmedabad is known for its diverse architecture. From intricate Jain temples to modernist structures, the city’s got it all. Explore Adalaj ni Vav, a rock-cut stepwell that’s adorned with finely carved details of Hindu & Jain mythology, along with flora and fauna.

Adalaj Ni Vav. Image Source. 

Head to Hussain ni Gufa next, an underground art gallery featuring M.F.Hussain’s art and designed by renowned modern architect (and Le Corbusier’s protégé) B.V. Doshi. The contemporary structure combines both natural and ancient aspects.  The caves resemble tortoise backs while the mosaic tiles on the roof are a call out to Jain temple architecture. Hussain’s paintings on the walls bring Paleolithic cave paintings to mind.

STAY

Designed for a textile baron, the House of MG is a lovely heritage hotel to explore Ahmedabad from. We love its artisanal take on décor, championing local design & craft.

House of MG. Image Source 

EAT

Right opposite the Sidi Sayyed Mosque is Agashiye, a terrace restaurant specialising in Gujurati cuisine with a focus on seasonal produce.

SHOP

A design, lifestyle & dining hub, the Project Café dons many hats at the same time. With an eye towards creation & curation, the Project Café is home to India’s finest designers. Plus, you can get a whiff of Bombay Perfumery’s fragrances there!

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Travel with us to our favourite cities around India.

Laidback haven or overcrowded party state, Goa is quite embedded in the ethos of India. Though we do enjoy the sunny climes, we like those hidden parts of Goan history that lend a particular charming quality a tad bit more…

VISIT

For a quick walk down memory lane, head to Barrio das Fontainhas, an old Latin Quarter in Panjim. With tiny streets and colourful old homes with tiled roofs, it reflects the Portuguese influence on Goa and is recognized as a heritage zone by the UNESCO.

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In February, an arts and culture festival takes place where the old homes are transformed into art galleries with local art, music and dance.

STAY

Siolim House is a 350 year old heritage hotel, built in 1675. Dating from the earliest times of Portuguese settlement in Goa, the hotel transports one to an era gone by.

EAT

With whimsical decor and fine fare, A Reverie is a lovely spot to end a day in Goa at.

SHOP

Housed in a heritage bungalow in Assagao, Project Cafe Goa is an experiential design space. Featuring a mix of design, food & decor, the space is a restaurant, shop & hotel all in one. Plus, you can explore our 8 fragrances right there!

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Lead Image Source – Art by Akeru Barros Periera

Travel with us to our favourite cities around India

Next up in our travel series is design haven Jaipur. From its winding lanes to its detailed architecture, from its timeless prints to its take on reinvention, Jaipur has slowly become one of India’s coolest cities.

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VISIT

Jaipur is known for its flea markets, with a focus on antiques. Head to the Hatwara Flea Market for a pinch of local flavour along with unique finds.

STAY

The Farm by Ritu & Surya Singh is akin to an ongoing art installation. Made from recycled materials, each and every aspect of the hotel is handcrafted and unique.

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EAT

Royal and decadent, Samode Haveli’s restaurant is an ode to the Jaipur of times past. A visual treat as well as a culinary one, we love this restaurant for its dramatic elegance.

SHOP

With a focus on fine homegrown brands, Teatro Dhora is great to discover new Indian labels – we’re available too!

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Spicy, woody, floral, fruity – perfume has the power to transform & transport. A beautiful mix of art and science, the world of perfumery is exciting and confusing all at the same time. To make sense of it, we’ve prepped a primer – read on below.

On the Power of Fragrance
No other sense is as evocative of memories and places as scent. A whiff of a citrusy fragrance might remind you of your favourite summer vacation, for instance. The olfactory system is closely linked to the amygdala or the emotional center of the brain which makes fragrances so alluring – it’s not just pleasant smells one is looking for but also meaningful scents.

Understanding ingredients & olfactive families that work for you
Choosing a fragrance has a lot to do with olfactive memories. Any time a fragrance makes a positive olfactive impact on you, you’re more likely to look for the same in other brands as well. However, that’s not to say that your preferences may stay the same as you grow older. Often, we can reject our past favourites too.

The easiest way to explore a different direction but not break out radically is to look for ingredients you like paired with other slightly contrasting ingredients. For instance, if you prefer the freshness of citrus, try it with a woody aspect. The top & heart notes will be light & fresh while the base note will be mature & soft.

There are 8 overarching categories that often overlap
Oriental, Spicy, Woody, Floral, Aquatic, Green, Fruity and Citrus
The first three can be quite mysterious while the rest are quite fresh & sharp.

Take your time buying a fragrance
Often, it’s easy to pick up a fragrance in a duty-free as you liked the way it smells instinctively. However, it could react differently with your physiology or you may not be the biggest fans of the heart or base notes that will emerge once the top notes die down.

The best way to explore fragrances is to buy samplers so you may have the chance to spray it on your skin directly and observe how it changes during the day.

Like perfumery, architecture has the transformative power to propel one to the future or remind one of a time gone by. In our latest series, we’ve decoded the link between our fragrances to architectural styles that reflect them the most.

Airy & open, our men’s fragrance Les Cayes is named after the Haitian town from where our vetiver is sourced from. The laidback fragrance has an undertone of a tropical island – think of nature & concrete living harmoniously, side by side.

Luis Barragan’s emotional landscape architecture is almost simplistic in the way he treats concrete.  Barragan is known for crafting a beautiful juxtaposition with the outdoors – building meets sky in a rather un-pretentious manner.

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Earthiness and freshness define Les Cayes with its citrus & vetiver highlights. The maximal citrus is balanced by minimal vetiver, much like how Barragan’s concrete structures are quietened down with the inclusion of nature.

Lead image by Šarūnas Burdulis

Like perfumery, architecture has the transformative power to propel one to the future or remind one of a time gone by. In our latest series, we’ve decoded the link between our fragrances to architectural styles that reflect them the most.

Lighthearted and fresh, our Seven Islands fragrance is inspired by the nature of Mumbai, where Bombay Perfumery is from. Charming and distinctive, Bombay Art Deco is also influenced by the nature of the city – bright colours, intricate details & intriguing craftsmanship.

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The 1930s saw a rush of affluence in Mumbai. Traders had a chance to travel the world and bring back modern ideas – and Art Deco was one of them. Majorly located around the Oval Maidan, today, the area is known for its diverse architecture from imposing Victorian Neo-Gothic buildings on one side and whimsical Art Deco buildings on the other.

Led by its belief of industrial modernity, Mumbai Art Deco is characterised by its nautical features such as porthole windows and observatory towers & rounded corners that make the design look streamlined and futuristic.

Art Deco is all about a modern take on playfulness – reflecting Mumbai through design. Similarly, Seven Islands, with its fruity and fresh concoction of vanilla, apricot and grapefruit, among others, creates a fragrance that’s reminiscent of standing right on Marine Drive at the onset of the monsoons.  

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Just like our perfumes, our fine fragrance candles are led by our ethos of shining a light on Indian ingredients. Recently we launched 3 new candles, Pondicherry Yellow, evoking a tropical haven, Moon Set, with a hint of romance, and Blushing Oud, that candle that brings decadence to mind.

We’ve worked with renowned French perfumers to create one-of-their-kind fragrances for these candles. Crafted from soy wax, they have a cleaner burning, devoid of toxins and carcinogens which are often found in paraffin candles.

To ensure you receive the very best out of your fine fragrance candle, here are a few tips & tricks

1. On first use, do burn it for about 3 hours. This will ensure that the top layer of wax completely melts and you get an even burning the next time you light it.
2. Trimming the wick is very important – the longer the wick, the faster the candle burns. Every time you light the candle, trim it to ¼ inch to minimize mushrooming & soot. Should any black smoke appear after this, snuff it out and re-trim the wick.
3. After trimming the wick, recentering it is also important. After you blow out the candle, adjust the wick to the centre of the candle when the wax is still molten. This will prevent a layer of soot being formed on the glass.
4. Always keep the candle burning within sight! Take care to not burn it in close proximity to anything that can catch fire.
5. Allow the candle to completely cool before relighting.
6. Don’t let the candle burn for more than 3 hours every time, after that first time.
7. Keep away from children, pets, curtains and drafts.
8. The lid is very important – when you’ve lit the candle, place it on the lid so as to protect the surface. After snuffing it out, cover the candle with the lid to prevent discolouration.To really let the fragrance consume a room, light it for atleast an hour – this also helps when you’re prepping for guests at home!

Inspired by travels near & far, the Bombay Perfumery Fine Fragrance Candles walk down the same path that our perfumes set out on. Modern in aesthetic, yet Indian at heart, the candles are inspired by fine ingredients and crafted to tell stories.

Pondicherry Yellow, our most vibrant candle of the three, is inspired by the mundane-turned-extraordinary Turmeric. Evocative of a tropical vibe, the candle transports one to lazy afternoons spent in shaded verandahs. Balanced by ginger, hazelnut, coconut milk & sandalwood, among others, the candle would be perfect lit during informal dinner parties.

If there ever was a phrase to describe Blushing Oud, it would have to ‘A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream’. The poetic candle is a mix of mystery and romance, with decadent oud and timeless roses taking centrestage, and is taken to another level with precious saffron, raspberries, myrhh and dry woods.

Inspired by contemplation, Moon Set is made for quieter times. Conversations between freesia and patchouli, vanilla and amber set the tone for this quiet yet assertive fine fragrance candle.

Heady, decadent, playful, mysterious – Jasmine is all that and much more. Known as the “King of Oils” because of its slightly more masculine quality among floral oils, Jasmine originates in the east and its oils have been used for centuries.

Recently, our founder, Manan Gandhi, visited the Jasmine fields in South India just in time for harvesting. Here’s a quick look at his Field Notes.

Broadly speaking, we use two variants of Jasmine in perfumery; the Jasmin Grandiflorum and the Jasmin Sambac.

Available in India and Egypt, the Jasmin Grandiflorum is slightly distinctive because of the slight pink shade in the petal.

In India, it grows around Coimbatore and its peak season is August to December. Usually picked when they have fully bloomed on the plant, the flowers are collected bright and early in the morning and then shifted to local collection points close to the field.

After this, they are transported immediately to the factory for processing as they need to processed within a few hours of their picking.

The flowers are then loaded into large extractors from where we derive a solid “concrete” which will eventually be used for fragrances. Further processed to the “Absolute” which is a liquid that is used in fragrances.

The Jasmin Sambac, on the other hand, is mainly used for decoration. Available only in India, it’s known as “Malli Poo” in South India where it mostly grows around Madurai.

The flowers here are picked when they are closed buds as compared to the Jasmin Grandiflorum as these flowers will fall off the plant once they have fully bloomed. Once again, they are collected early in the morning and transported to local flower markets – like a mini flower stock exchange! – where they’re auctioned. Prices tend to be highest in the mornings and on festival days.

Factories purchase flowers from the auctions and transport them to their spaces for quick processing. Buds are laid out for “blooming” so once they open up, they can be processed. Once again, a “concrete” is extracted at first, and then the”absolute” for fragrances.