With her training & expertise, the horizon of Aromatherapy & holistic wellness expanded in a new role as a Perfumer for Rupal Shbnam Tyagi.
In depth experience in the field of aromatherapy and perfumery over the years, led her to study Organic Cosmetic Science in detail and launch her own label – where the story of Wikka began, ensuing her vision of a brand, which people can rely on. The idea was simple – recreating a world of purer times with treasures of the royal household – brewing beauty concoctions with absolute natural essentials, the oils, herbs & potions – healing her way through Aromatherapy & holistic wellness. Here is the expert herself, Rupal Shabnam Tyagi, Aromatherapist, Perfumer & Organic Skincare formulator, and the founder of Wikka India, in conversation with GlobalSpa.
Starting off, how did your journey with Wikka begin? What was the concept behind it?
I have been a nature lover ever since I was a child. My days were mostly spent in our garden watering plants and soaking in all the goodness the greenery had to offer. It was like a song that I would not stop playing. Every season, I used to observe my mother and grandmother use natural homemade recipes for their skin and only eat seasonal fruits and veggies. I have a strong bond with nature and natural things. The raw, pure thing always attracted me. This intensified when nature started blessing me through and through during my pregnancy. I was struggling with allergies and the winds from our chamomile plants came straight into the room, every day as if to breathe new life into me. That was the first taste of a new possibility. Aromatherapy began entering into my life in the form of several such healing incidents. It would also be right to say that I was inspired by my grandmother-in-law who sparked my curiosity. After some years of working and understanding the industry, Wikka was ready to be born.
The concept behind Wikka is to keep things simple and natural. My intention was to make things that heal. Aromatherapy has always been a holistic healing method but not everyone knows about it. Through Wikka, we are trying to build a better, healthier world.
What would you say is the USP of the brand?
Everything that we do is very thoughtfully curated. I believe that we understand that healthy skin is more important than other aspects. We prioritize skin health. That to me is our USP.
What are some challenges you’ve had to face throughout your journey?
Oh, so many! Before Wikka, there was always this inquisitiveness. The demand of the industry was something different and my plans with Wikka were pretty much very unique. You see, skin health is still not a norm and a few years back, it was unheard of. The struggle was to make people believe in my idea. That was the first hurdle. But here’s the thing, I had a lot of friends and family who had benefited from my essential oils. Even before Wikka was born, I was getting involved with people on a regular basis to discuss natural products and healing techniques. There used to be long talks and hours of preparing useful essential oils. Along the journey, I did not always have time to go exploring and chasing knowledge. The nights were the only time where my tired body would fight with a mind that would not give.
So, with two children, and home, everything was chaotic. But that is what is amazing about doing something you have your heart in. You don’t give excuses. I was certain that I had to do this. Another thing that was challenging was that initially, I also had to travel as our tie-up was with a factory was in Himachal till we set up our own unit in Gurugram and it is very easy to get lost in nature. Then things got better. We used technology to reach the people who needed Wikka the most. Has my life become easier? Yes. I find comfort in knowing that somebody somewhere is benefitting from the natural products I create. That gives me the serotonin I need.
So, yes there have been a few hiccups along the way, but it was all worth it.
The brand is introducing one-of-a-kind aromatherapy infused fragrances. Why do you suggest this is a needed concept?
Innovation is the key to exploring the possibilities around you. We have been made to think in a certain way and society compels us to follow the norm but at Wikka, we unlearn things before starting anything new. The idea of one-of-a-kind aromatherapy-infused fragrances is to combine healing with infused fragrances.
This is a much-needed concept for a generation that is constantly under pressure and hustles hard. I am a very hard worker and if I could combine healing techniques in everything I do, my life would be so much easier. Infusing fragrances to your parties or even workplaces will benefit everyone. As we know, through aromatherapy we enhance our quality of life by lifting the mood, reducing anxiety, boosting energy, and overall giving an atmosphere that is so much needed today. Through this, we will be able to help all those who seek holistic healing and fragrant life.
How have you been sustaining through the pandemic?
Although I have been loving every moment of working from home, my heart goes out to those who have lost so much in this pandemic. There are simple things that I do to understand the needs of the time better. That includes reading more on nutrition, exploring new ways to better skin health, and of course, giving myself some time. I feel so much gratitude. So yes, reading and exploring have been the way of sustaining through the pandemic.
What can we expect from Wikka in the near future? Anything special we should be keeping an eye out for?
As I said earlier, we are always busy in the labs or buried in research books, innovating and thinking about new ways to make people’s skin and overall quality of life better. Aromatherapy is an integral part of Wikka. But we are also thinking of customized solutions based on Aromatherapy on a much larger scale. Then we have green solutions to modern-day problems. How we will do that is still a work in progress. But overall, yes, we have a lot of new exciting things coming up. We have just introduced an entirely new range full of mineral moisturizers, serums, and even hand sanitizers. The future looks good.
Lastly, any success mantra you live by?
I believe that one should never be bothered by what people think. The moment you begin to doubt yourself, your choices, your dreams, you are doubting God’s greatest creation. Trust in your process. There is something for everyone. I believe in three things way too much and they have kept me going-Earth. Life. Healing.
