Are you ever just walking around, going about your day, when you catch a hint of a scent that takes you back? Maybe it’s a whiff of a passing stranger’s perfume that reminds you of your elementary maths teacher, or a flower caught in the wind that brings you back to your childhood home. Maybe it’s something you can’t describe taking you to a place you don’t remember, but that you can feel. 

Our sense of smell is unique in its capacity to make us feel. On a scientific level, this is because our olfactory system is intertwined with our limbic system, the brain's emotional centre. This means our sense of smell runs deep in our emotional memories, easily triggering feelings of nostalgia when the right fragrance hits our nose. Soma Ayurvedic understands the value of scents in helping you feel at home, wherever you are. Their fragrance sets take inspiration from major Indian cities, filling their body oils and perfumes with the essence of many of our homes.

 ‘Mysur Sandalwood’ takes the rich, earthy smell of Mysore’s famous export sandalwood and blends its notes of flowers and nutmeg to craft a complex, lush aroma. ‘Kerala Forest’ captures the essence of its namesake, creating a mysterious yet alluring scent with warm woods and jasmine. ‘Old Delhi Oudh’ takes Assam’s finest agarwood and elevates it with pink pepper, cedar, and mandarin. And lastly, ‘Bombay Fleur’ combines top notes of light citrus and florals with a musky base to make a fragrance as captivating as the city it's named after. 

Soma Ayurvedic’s homage to its Indian roots also extends past the olfactants in its fragrances. As seen in its name, the brand uses ayurvedic ingredients, farmed in Indian forests. Ayurveda has been used to prevent disease and maintain health for thousands of years, and– like the smells of sandalwood and jasmine– is something we all likely grew up with, in one capacity or another. These fine ingredients are then harnessed into skincare products, body oils, and perfumes made in India. 

Soma Ayurveda bottles nostalgia in a bottle through its olfactory brew of classic Indian elements. You can buy this Indian city-inspired fragrance set here.

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