When Chirag Farmahan moved from Delhi to Himachal after marriage, she dreamt of having a life that complemented the experience of living in the Dhauladhar ranges. Leaving behind a cushy corporate job was difficult but she always knew home will be in Himachal with her childhood sweetheart and now husband Somen.
Inspired by pristine nature around her Chirag began collecting plants, leaves and stones on her forest walks. Soon she began making art with stones, lamps and dreamcatchers and the satisfaction of being inspired by and living with nature kept driving her.
The smells of the forest inspired her to experiment with cedarwood oil, the oil of the cedar (Deodar) tree. And thus began the journey for Genie in a Bottle (GIB) – her brand to be.
Chirag began blending oils and making her own mixes according to the properties of various oils. While jojoba, geranium and sesame have been blended impeccably to form her trademark Genie body and face oil, others like lavender, patchouli and thyme lent their delectable scent to the other oils.
“I was not someone who believed in grooming myself. When I first came to Chirag’s studio in Bir, the smells seemed heavenly. And I tried the tester for Moonshine oil, which is a face and body oil. With continuous use I began to notice that the blemishes and dark circles disappeared from my face. And now it’s been 8 years and I swear by it and no other cosmetic or natural product has been able to help me like GIB has,” says Rahul, the first customer to buy Chirag’s essential oil mixes.
Available in the shop and online are oils and mists that seem to change the experience of living through aromatherapy. “Aromatherapy is gaining ground in India, with many brands catering to essential oils, but Chirag’s homegrown brand has the perfect mixes. She has mastered the skill of mixing oils according to their properties,” says Pushkar, another customer.
Spending her day in her studio, Chirag attends to the customers making herself fully available. She does not just sell her essential oils but furthers the conversation about aromatherapy by providing her customers with an experience of feeling the oils and giving them the time and space to see which oils resonate with them.
Aromatherapy is not just about smelling good and having your surroundings smell great. It’s kind of finding your own space through these oils.
“Many customers will prefer one oil over the other for no particular reason but because it makes them comfortable and allows them to rest within the space they call home,” says Chirag.
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She has been invited to festivals like Magnetic Fields in Alsisar, Rajasthan to exhibit and share her journey and conduct aromatherapy sessions with the guests visiting. “Each and every one of them has shared the uniqueness of the experience they felt while trying the oils and being able to rest and relieve stress and anxiety with their help,” says Chirag.
Many benefits of natural herbal oils are constantly talked about, and many oils help people with rashes, cuts and wounds. She is also slowly launching other products like lip balms and salves, but all in due time.
Chirag has also created special blends that work as mosquito repellants like ‘Bug Away’ and one for winters which is called ‘Winter Strong’. She is on her journey to create these special blends and take her small homegrown brand places.
Her studio cum shop works as a joint space for other homegrown brands who have exhibited and kept their artworks like pottery items, soaps, shawls and so on for sale. “This community feeling of helping each other and growing together is at the heart of our idea as young entrepreneurs who are striving for recognition and visibility,” says Chirag.
Bir becomes a good place to run her studio and shop because of the varied customer base it gets. Nowadays many individuals and couples from cities have moved rurally to places like Bir post-Covid so there is a broadening of the customer base and people’s mindsets.
“Many local youngsters are involved with us in other projects as well and that way the local community is also slowly getting involved in running businesses and different projects here. We also get many customers who are paragliding pilots, as Bir is one of the best paragliding spots in the country for cross-country or long-distance flying. During season time many pilots from all over the world are here to fly or teach their students about flying,” she adds.
Genie in a Bottle and other products by Chirag can be ordered online or purchased through her shop in Bir. To connect you can DM her on Instagram. Check this story on our Instagram page to connect with the brand.
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The lead shows Genie in a Bottle’s Earth oil. Genie in a Bottle is a homegrown brand based in Bir, Himachal Pradesh and run by Chirag Farmahan.
Novita Singh is the Associate Director at Village Square and an independent filmmaker.
