Holy Lama Naturals
Gouri Kubair, managing director of Holy Lama Naturals talks us through the body care range
Why was the brand founded? Holy Lama Naturals is a family business based in Kerala, India, with our story spanning three generations of my family. In 1938, Mr. D V Deo (my grandfather) became a pioneer in the essential oils industry; he was the first person to cultivate vetivert (a tall grass) on a commercial basis to extract the oils for use in perfumery and so was a founding figure in the Indian essential oils industry.
My father, Vijay (D.V. Deo’s youngest son) followed in his father’s footsteps. In the 1980s, he lived in the Himalayas for eight years on a government-backed project helping locals to cultivate and extract lemongrass oil. Whilst there he made a 12-day walking pilgrimage to
Aja Ney, (the holy place of Lama Guru Padmasambhava) where the presiding Lama presented him with a ‘Thangkha of Lama Guru’ which symbolises good luck in life. He had always wanted to create his own range of products that were pure, natural, ethical and sustainable. In 2000, having gained 40 years of experience in the essential oils industry, he finally realised his dream through the creation of a collection of natural body care products. Remembering that meeting with the Lama all those years before, he was inspired to call the brand, Holy Lama Naturals.
What makes you different to other brands?
The whole basis of the business is ethical, and it is run on the 10 principles of fair trade. We are responsible employers; equal pay is ensured, irrespective of gender and annual wage increases are always made in line with inflation so wages are assured, no matter how low the market falls. We are also responsible partners; our business is run on a nocredit principle so that all the farmers and raw material suppliers are paid immediately and with fair prices.
What are your hero products? We make a huge range of products including for hair care, body care, face care and a selection of massage oils but one of our most popular items is our natural deodorant which uses potash alum as its key ingredient. This is a naturally-occurring antiseptic mineral used to inhibit the growth of odourgenerating bacteria. The potash alum forms a porous barrier that prevents the bacteria in the armpit from multiplying but importantly does not congest the sweat glands allowing instead the natural process of perspiration to take place, which purifies and cools the body. Meanwhile a fabulous botanical blend of pure vanilla, ylang ylang, petigrain and rosemary releases a long-lasting fragrance, leaving you feeling confident, fresh and sweet smelling all day.
To see the full range visit holylama.co.uk
Handmade Yogi Soap in Neem and Tulsi
Awaken your senses, with this gorgeous smelling soap that contains a moisturising blend of coconut oil and essential oils.
From £4.85, holylama.co.uk