Journal

Notes from the atelier

Long-form pieces on the decisions behind the products — the temperatures, the timings, and the trade-offs we made along the way.

FeaturedFormulation

Why we print percentages on the front

Almost every natural cosmetic names its hero botanical. Almost none tell you how much is in there. Here is why that matters.

2 September 20266 min read

Formulation5 min

Sulphates are cheap, effective and everywhere. Removing them changes more about a formulation than most people realise.

Tradition7 min

The subcontinent had a word for hair cleanser long before the English language borrowed one. It is still one of the best.

Skin5 min

The highest-return thing you can do for your skin is also the step most people skip. Usually for textural reasons.

Standards6 min

'Ayurvedic' is not a regulated marketing word in most of the world. In India it is a manufacturing licence.

Standards4 min

A slight shift in colour between two bottles is evidence of something, and it is not a fault.