Mira Kulkarni,

MD Forest Essentials

Earlier, Ayurveda meant funny-smelling powders and potions in plastic bottles with home-made labels. Not something that took pride of place on your dressing table. But Mira Kulkarni changed all that with her home-grown brand Forest Essentials. She worked for many years with vaids and biochemists to make products using long-forgotten recipes which kept the inherent properties of Ayurveda intact, and yet, were scented and pleasurable to use. The concept of light, pleasurable and luxurious Ayurveda products clicked with the buyers.

One of Forest Essentials’ first products was a batch of honey soap made with honeycomb, fresh honey and essential oils. Kulkarni personally cut it up, packaged each bar in brown tissue paper with a fancy ribbon around it and sold them to her friends. The overwhelming response prompted Kulkarni to set up a small factory in Rishikesh. The first commercial contract came from Hyatt Regency (Delhi) in 2001. Three years later, she launched her flagship store in Khan Market and gradually increased the company’s presence.

Forest Essentials products are manufactured in the Himalayas, using local spring water, ingredients and labour. In 2008, global cosmetics giant Estee Lauder bought a minority stake in Forest Essentials, an investment that has helped the brand scale even further. Today, Forest Essentials is sold in 60 company-owned stores in 15 cities across the country. It is also the only Indian brand present in Sephora India.

When not spearheading a global brand and working on newer formulations Kulkarni loves to tend to her garden and plant the seeds she brings from all my travels. The 59-year-old also finds cooking therapeutic and often experiments with exotic dishes from Spanish, Italian, Mediterranean and Hyderabadi cuisines.

ADVICE TO FUTURE

ENTREPRENEURS: It is important to be clear that you are doing something you love doing. Then look at every setback with the thought “this too shall pass” and don’t stop. Remember, there is no top of the mountain, there will always be another