For anyone living far away from a place they call home, the feeling of nostalgia and longing for that place or the memories associated with it are all too familiar. When geographic distance is our reality, there are other ways we seek proximity and comfort. Maybe it's replicating a family dish that was passed down through generations. Maybe it's a piece of art or a framed photograph of a distant memory. Or maybe it's a scent that takes us somewhere else. Mother-daughter duo Parul and Anjalee Patel sought to translate the notion of fragrance as a journey and create Ehsaas, a brand that takes a little piece of home in South Asia and brings it to you. We spoke with Anjalee about the inspiration behind Ehsaas, how her and Parul choose and create their scents, and the passing down of stories and traditions through generations.
To start, what does ehsaas mean?
Ehsaas means a feeling, an emotion, an awakening of the senses. Our candles are inspired by the scents of South Asia, each one designed to transport you to a time, place, or memory. At its core, Ehsaas is a story of a mother sharing the fragrances of her childhood with her daughter—preserving moments, traditions, and the emotions they carry, just like a letter sent across time.
You and your mother created the brand to tell the stories of South Asia. How did you get started and when did you know that candles were the medium through which you wanted to do so?
Ehsaas began with my mom’s love for candle-making. It was her creative escape—she would spend hours crafting unique scents that reminded her of home, blending fragrances and continuously iterating. Every time someone walked into our home, they would ask where they could get the candles for themselves. That’s when we realized we had something special, and Ehsaas was born.
But from the start, we knew this had to be more than just a candle brand—it had to make an impact. My mom was a teacher for 25 years, and education has always been deeply important to her. That’s why we donate a portion of our proceeds to support girls’ education in India. We’re excited to keep growing Ehsaas, not just as a candle brand, but as a way to share our culture and give back in a meaningful way.
What’s your favorite ingredient you’ve used to date to create your candles?
Mogra is one of my favorite ingredients we’ve used. Its delicate, floral scent instantly takes me back to South Asia—it’s unmistakable. Mogra trees were in the backdrop of so many of mine and my mom’s memories in India. It reminds me of jasmine garlands at weddings and the way women in South India elegantly weave them into their hair. Before my mom started making her own candles, the only ones she ever bought for our home were jasmine-scented. So when we started planning our first collection, including mogra in a candle wasn’t even a question—it just had to be there.
Let’s talk about the logos for your candles. What was the inspiration behind the postage stamp design?
The postage stamp design was inspired by the idea of scent as a journey—just like a letter or package sent across the world, fragrance has the power to transport you to a different time and place. We wanted each candle to feel like a little piece of South Asia, delivered through scent.
Baarish is one of my personal favorites in the collection. How did you manage to so accurately capture and emulate the scents of rainfall and petrichor in that candle?
It was a lot of trial and error. Baarish was all about nailing the scent of the first monsoon rain—that moment when water meets earth, and the air is instantly filled with that fresh, unmistakable smell. We went through a lot of testing to get it right, making sure the scent truly captured the distinct, familiar feeling of that first downpour.
We’d love to get a sneak peak into what’s next for ehsaas. What’s currently inspiring your team as you explore new scents or opportunities?
We’re getting really creative with our next scents, experimenting with unique blends to bring nostalgic South Asian memories to life in a way that hasn’t been done before. Whether it’s everyday moments or deep-rooted traditions, we’re pushing ourselves to capture scents that feel both familiar and unexpected.
As an impact-conscious business, we’re also focusing on how to make our packaging and vessels more sustainable. We’re exploring ways to reduce waste, use eco-friendly materials, and create designs that can be repurposed—so that Ehsaas isn’t just about meaningful scents, but also about building a brand that lasts in the right way.
See the full Ehsaas collection here.
