The fragrance of a thousand roses hits you the minute you walk into the workshop of Juicy Chemistry, the hand-made cosmetics brand started by Megha and Pritesh Asher in Coimbatore. Throw in uplifting whiffs of mint and soothing lavender and you’ll get the drift.

Bottles of all-natural essential oils line the shelves, and hand-made soaps bursting with goodness, are arranged on a table. Huge bowls are filled with creamy, fragrant concoctions. Pritesh fusses over them like a possessive father, checking if things are just right. This personal attention to detail is why Juicy Chemistry, the eco-conscious brand, has found takers across the country and even abroad.

Customers are given detailed instructions regarding usage, and things to look out for. Any number of questions, however repetitive, are answered, because Megha says “people find it difficult to believe something can be truly and totally natural”. “But, we are in it for the long haul. After all, our brand was created because we were disappointed with the so-called natural products available; many were teeming with chemicals, but just did not mention it in as many words. We wanted to come up with honest-to-goodness products,” says Megha.

They began reluctantly, wondering if it was possible to go commercial without compromising on quality, and whether it would make business sense. A year into Juicy Chemistry, those doubts have been answered. Clients are addicted to their delightful, natural fragrance. Now, the couple has about 80 products, ranging from foot creams, body scrubs and body butters to cell-construction serums, a hair masque and a roll-on headache balm.

Megha is happy with the reception the products receive, despite their being priced on the higher side. “People understand that it costs money to stay natural. The minute chemicals get into it, the cost comes down drastically. They also understand that our products have a shorter shelf life. That’s looked upon as an advantage,” she smiles.

The success of the brand also proves that it is not necessary for a lifestyle product manufacturer to be based out of the metros. “The pace of life in Coimbatore nourishes our creativity, and these days, distance does not really matter,” she says.

The Juicy Chemistry range of products, including hair oils, comes in beautiful packaging — earthy, simple and mostly eco-friendly. Their hand-made soaps enriched with natural oils are wrapped in beautiful palm leaf containers. Megha trawls the Web to find packing suppliers whose ethic matches theirs. “A product must look good too; and people appreciate that you’ve taken the time to give them something that is a work of art.”

The couple primarily sells through word of mouth and online reviews. “That’s the best way to go forward and grow,” says Megha. “Our products do the talking, and they speak loud and clear.”