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The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
We took Samantha Ruth Prabhu's new perfumes for a test run. Here's what you can expect
There is a subtle shift happening in India's fragrance culture. Clean perfumes, formulated without phthalates, parabens, synthetic dyes, or chemical fixatives, are becoming increasingly popular among conscious consumers who are just as invested in what goes into their fragrance as they are in how it smells. According to a 2023 Mintel report, more than 60% of Indian consumers now actively check ingredient labels when purchasing personal care products. Enter Secret Alchemist, a holistic wellness brand with over three decades of credibility behind it. Founded by Sumi Thadani, the brand has long created essential oil-led remedies and rituals that blend healing with heritage. In 2024, actor and wellness advocate Samantha Ruth Prabhu joined the brand as co-founder, bringing her personal ethos into the fold. Together with Ankita Thadani, Sumi's daughter and now the business's driving force, they launched clean perfumes — a category that balances botanical depth with skin-conscious formulation. 'For me, fragrance has always been part of my personal ritual,' says Samantha. 'A certain scent can ground me before a shoot or help me reset after a long day. That's self-care. But when a scent feels aligned with who I am — that's personal power. It becomes your invisible signature.' As she became more conscious of what she was putting on her skin daily, her relationship with fragrance evolved. 'With Secret Alchemist, it was about crafting something beautiful, but also clean, honest, and safe, perfume that makes you feel as good as you smell.' Ankita echoes this ethos: 'Our formulations are rooted in the belief that well-being isn't a luxury; it's a daily ritual. Each product is a sensorial journey, crafted to align with modern lifestyles while honouring the age-old wisdom of my mother and her 35 years of research and love. I'd like to say we're modern-day alchemists, using Nature's most potent ingredients to help you feel more balanced and alive.' Secret Alchemist's Clean Perfumes are made with therapeutic-grade essential oils, balanced with nature-identical aroma compounds only when required. These compounds are carefully vetted under IFRA safety guidelines, ensuring the result is kind to both skin and senses. Clean perfumes do not rely on heavy musks or synthetic fixatives. Instead, they are meant to evolve gently on the skin, changing with your body's chemistry, temperature, and even mood. But do they hold up in India's heat, humidity, and real-life conditions? Test drive To answer that, we put two of the three perfumes across two days through a real-world test in Mumbai. We gave Rose Oud (₹999 for 100 ml) a real-world test — think humid afternoon errands, a packed Mumbai local, and getting caught in the rain without an umbrella. The scent itself has a bold opening of pink pepper and Turkish rose, grounded by smoky oud. The top and heart notes stayed for two hours before drying down into something softer and more resinous. While the drydown felt a little quicker than expected, especially for a scent built around oud, it never turned sharp or sour, which is impressive for a clean perfume navigating Mumbai monsoon. Madurai Jasmine (₹999 for 100 ml) was saved for a sticky evening dinner out. It is a quieter scent — a creamy blend of orange blossom, Indian jasmine, and a hint of vanilla. This one sat closer to the skin but did not disappear entirely. If anything, the humidity helped the jasmine bloom in a lovely way. It did not project across the table, but leaned in gently every now and then, especially when you moved. Even hours later in the cab, it was still lingering. Both scents hold up surprisingly well in heat and humidity. They feel fresh, do not clash with your natural scent, and will not turn cloying or chemical. That said, if you are someone who likes a fragrance that announces your arrival, these might feel a bit too subtle. They are not here to overpower. Note: Indian skin, on average, tends to be oilier, particularly in tropical and coastal regions like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, due to higher sebaceous activity triggered by warm, humid climates. According to a study published in Skin Research and Technology, heat and humidity significantly increase sebum production, especially on the face and upper body. This effect is further amplified in men, who produce more sebum than women due to higher levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), as noted in dermatological research from Dermato-Endocrinology. This excess oil can dilute the top notes of perfumes more quickly, especially in clean formulations that avoid synthetic fixatives and rely instead on volatile essential oils.
Fashion Network
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Secret Alchemist expands into personal care market with perfume launch
Aromatherapy-led wellness brand Secret Alchemist has expanded into the personal care category with the launch of its new Clean Perfumes range. The collection marks the brand's first foray into fragrance, reinforcing its commitment to mindful, skin-conscious formulations. 'This foray marks a significant milestone for us, as we continue to redefine wellness and beauty through clean, conscious formulations,' said brand co-founder Ankita Thadani in a press release. Co-founder and Bollywood celebrity Samantha Prabhu added, 'It's been such a beautiful process creating scents that are thoughtful, layered, and timeless.' Developed by co-founders Ankita Thadani and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the Clean Perfumes are free from parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes, and animal-derived ingredients. Each scent is vegan, cruelty-free, and made in FDA-approved, GMP-certified facilities that follow IFRA and EU standards. Formulated using therapeutic essential oils, plant-based alcohol, and IFRA-compliant ingredients, the perfumes are designed to be both sensorial and safe. The launch includes three gender-neutral scents: Rose Oud, a bold blend of pink pepper, Turkish rose, and oud; Madurai Jasmine, a soft mix of orange blossom, jasmine, and vanilla; and Bergamot Nostalgia, a fresh fusion of citrus, cherry blossom, and sandalwood. Each 100ml perfume is priced at Rs 999.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Invest in the iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA)?
Looking for broad exposure to the Utilities - Infrastructure segment of the equity market? You should consider the iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 04/03/2018. An increasingly popular option among retail and institutional investors, passively managed ETFs offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; they are also excellent vehicles for long term investors. Sector ETFs are also funds of convenience, offering many ways to gain low risk and diversified exposure to a broad group of companies in particular sectors. Utilities - Infrastructure is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 3, placing it in top 19%. The fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $2.40 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Utilities - Infrastructure segment of the equity market. IFRA seeks to match the performance of the NYSE FACTSET U.S. INFRASTRUCTURE INDEX before fees and expenses. The NYSE FactSet U.S. Infrastructure Index comprises of equities of U.S. companies that have infrastructure exposure and that could benefit from a potential increase in domestic infrastructure activities. When considering an ETF's total return, expense ratios are an important factor, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts in the long term if all other factors remain equal. Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.30%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space. It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.93%. It is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis. This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Utilities sector--about 41.70% of the portfolio. Industrials and Materials round out the top three. Looking at individual holdings, Nrg Energy Inc (NRG) accounts for about 0.99% of total assets, followed by Compass Minerals International Inc (CMP) and Constellation Energy Corp (CEG). The top 10 holdings account for about 6.35% of total assets under management. The ETF has added about 2.99% so far this year and was up about 10.52% in the last one year (as of 05/26/2025). In that past 52-week period, it has traded between $40.97 and $51.71. The ETF has a beta of 0.98 and standard deviation of 18.81% for the trailing three-year period. With about 162 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk. IShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, IFRA is an excellent option for investors seeking exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well. IShares Global Infrastructure ETF (IGF) tracks S&P Global Infrastructure Index and the Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE) tracks INDXX U.S. Infrastructure Development Index. IShares Global Infrastructure ETF has $6.91 billion in assets, Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF has $8.16 billion. IGF has an expense ratio of 0.42% and PAVE charges 0.47%. To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA): ETF Research Reports NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) : Free Stock Analysis Report iShares Global Infrastructure ETF (IGF): ETF Research Reports Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE): ETF Research Reports This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BlackRock Plans Launch of New Infrastructure ETF
BlackRock Inc. (BLK)'s iShares is planning a fourth infrastructure ETF even as the Trump administration aims to cut government spending, the primary funding source for big transportation, energy and telecommunications projects. New York-based BlackRock, the world's largest exchange-traded fund issuer, plans to issue the iShares Infrastructure Active ETF to invest in securities of infrastructure-related companies. It will be managed by Balfe Morrison, head of listed infrastructure strategies within the Global Real Asset Securities Group, according to a filing last week that didn't disclose a ticker or planned launch date. The active fund would be launched into an increasingly crowded infrastructure field at a time when government spending is under scrutiny by the Trump administration and its Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency. Still, billions of dollars remain to be spent under the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed in 2021; the Biden administration in November said that it had issued $3.4 billion in grants under the law to fund rail projects, seaports, roads and sustainable transportation. It also comes as BlackRock has issued a handful of other infrastructure ETFs over the years. They include the $6.4 billion iShares Global Infrastructure ETF (IGF), the $2.2 billion iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA), and the $6.7 million iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF (EMIF). IFRA, its most recent product of the group, was launched in 2018. With infrastructure covered by the previous funds, BlackRock may be aiming for another option to add to its model portfolio business, Bloomberg Intelligence ETF Analyst Athanasios Psarofagis said in an email. 'Their model portfolio business is growing, so oftentimes issuers will launch these to have options for their own internal models rather than buy a competitor,' he wrote. BlackRock declined to comment through a spokesperson. The Top 5 Infrastructure ETFs—Source: The largest ETF in the group is the $7.9 billion Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE), which has dropped 6.1% this year and has had $622 million in outflows. Still, the fund has gained 24% over the past five | © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BlackRock Plans Launch of New Infrastructure ETF
BlackRock Inc. (BLK)'s iShares is planning a fourth infrastructure ETF even as the Trump administration aims to cut government spending, the primary funding source for big transportation, energy and telecommunications projects. New York-based BlackRock, the world's largest exchange-traded fund issuer, plans to issue the iShares Infrastructure Active ETF to invest in securities of infrastructure-related companies. It will be managed by Balfe Morrison, head of listed infrastructure strategies within the Global Real Asset Securities Group, according to a filing last week that didn't disclose a ticker or planned launch date. The active fund would be launched into an increasingly crowded infrastructure field at a time when government spending is under scrutiny by the Trump administration and its Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency. Still, billions of dollars remain to be spent under the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed in 2021; the Biden administration in November said that it had issued $3.4 billion in grants under the law to fund rail projects, seaports, roads and sustainable transportation. It also comes as BlackRock has issued a handful of other infrastructure ETFs over the years. They include the $6.4 billion iShares Global Infrastructure ETF (IGF), the $2.2 billion iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA), and the $6.7 million iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF (EMIF). IFRA, its most recent product of the group, was launched in 2018. With infrastructure covered by the previous funds, BlackRock may be aiming for another option to add to its model portfolio business, Bloomberg Intelligence ETF Analyst Athanasios Psarofagis said in an email. 'Their model portfolio business is growing, so oftentimes issuers will launch these to have options for their own internal models rather than buy a competitor,' he wrote. BlackRock declined to comment through a spokesperson. The Top 5 Infrastructure ETFs—Source: The largest ETF in the group is the $7.9 billion Global X U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE), which has dropped 6.1% this year and has had $622 million in outflows. Still, the fund has gained 24% over the past five | © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved
