A heady mix
LAUNCH Maroma the fragrance brand opens its first retail outlet in the city
E
nter Express Avenue,
and you're often greeted by a heady mix of smells — fresh paint, wet
cement and a bouquet of fragrance. Follow the trail of lavender,
rosemary, and sandalwood, and you'll find yourself at Maroma. Specialising
in natural fragrances, this is Maroma's first retail outlet. Launched
by Paul Pinthon and Laura Reddy from Auroville, Maroma has been a
recognised brand for over 30 years.
How it began
It
all started with a bus ride to Auroville. Paul Pinthon had come from
France with several others at a time when Auroville was in need of
funds, and launched L'encens d'Auroville, a line of fragrances. "We
wanted to make products that would become the ambassadors of Auroville,"
he says. Years later, Laura Reddy joined hands to create Maroma, while
retaining L'encens d'Auroville as their flagship incense line.
Over
the years, Maroma has spread its wings to include bodycare and home
fragrances to its line of products. Today, its popular product lines are
Maroma Spa (with its soaps, shampoos, massage oils and bath salts) and
Colibri (with its natural insect and moth repellents). Maroma Men offers
Ton-ka-Vetiver, Olibanum-Citrus and Cedar-Lavender in incense, soaps,
shampoos, perfumed oils and more.
Claimed to be eco-friendly, Maroma also stocks gift sets, scented candles, bodysprays, reed diffusers and an aromatherapy line.
ARUNA V.IYER ASHASRIDHAR