The well-known Ayurvedic brand in luxury skincare, Forest Essentials, was founded in 2000 by Mira Kulkarni in New Delhi. It is an online platform that offers luxury Ayurvedic skincare and other products blended with modern innovations and ancient Indian traditions. And central to the brand identity of Forest Essentials is its logo, which has evolved over the years to reflect the brand’s growth and commitment to natural beauty. This article explores the changes to the Forest Essentials logo over the years.
The Genesis of the Forest Essentials Logo (2003-2020)
The original Forest Essentials logo featured the brand name encircling an emblem of a tree, which is further enclosed within a thin gold circle. This design emphasised luxury and elegance and was aligned with the brand’s image as a provider of high-quality Ayurvedic products.
The tagline “Luxurious Ayurveda” in a title case and in golden letters were placed beneath the emblem to reinforce the commitment of the brand to traditional Indian beauty practices. Also, by placing the wordmark below the emblem, the brand allowed the tree to take centre stage. This reflected a trend towards minimalism in branding while still conveying luxury through its gold accents.
(2020-Present)
As Forest Essentials celebrated two decades in business, the logo was updated to enhance its contemporary appeal. Consequently, the font used for “Forest Essentials” was modernised, but the elegant serif style was retained, which echoed traditional typography. The circular tagline was removed, and the tree and its background have been reversed.
So, the golden tree now appears white, while the white background has turned golden. The brand name in capitals is placed below the emblem in golden capitals, followed by the tagline “LUXURIOUS AYURVEDA” in the next level, but in a smaller size. Thus, although the tagline has been removed from direct visibility, it continues to remain integral to brand messaging across platforms.
Here, the pale, luminous trunk and branches stand in stark contrast to the rich golden backdrop to evoke an enchanted atmosphere. This tree appears to be a silent sentinel that safeguards the mysteries of the natural world. The warm, golden colour infuses the scene with a sense of serenity and grandeur. It subtly emphasises the premium quality and refined luxury that are associated with the brand’s products.
The Elements of the Forest Essentials Logo
Symbol
The logo features a stylised image of a tree to represent the Tree of Life. This emblem is encircled to symbolise the interconnectedness of all life. Besides it shows the brand’s dedication to organic and natural beauty products. The tree imagery connects to the brand’s Ayurvedic roots and serves as a visual representation of growth and vitality.
Font
The logo’s wordmark features two lines in contrasting styles, both in gold. These two have harmoniously balanced each other and the brand symbol. The primary text, “FOREST ESSENTIALS,” appears in larger, all-capital letters. It uses a modern serif typeface, which is reminiscent of Grad SC OSF or Century Schoolbook. It is a font designed by Morris Fuller Benton for textbooks in the 1920s. This elegant typeface, with its distinct, elongated serifs, evokes a timeless aesthetic of classic design.
Below, the tagline “LUXURIOUS AYURVEDA” is rendered in a thinner, sans-serif font, also in capitals. This choice introduces a contemporary, robust element to the logo and emphasises quality and innovation.
Colour
The logo uses two colour schemes, gold and white. The use of gold symbolises nobility, warmth, and tranquillity. It reflects the premium nature of the brand’s offerings and emphasises its commitment to quality and effectiveness.
On the other hand, the colour white complements gold by adding a touch of purity and simplicity. It reinforces the brand’s ethos of using natural ingredients in its products.
The History of Forest Essentials
Forest Essentials was founded in 2000 by Meera Kulkarni in New Delhi, India. She had a vision to merge India’s rich heritage of beauty rituals and Ayurvedic practices with modern production methods. Kulkarni’s passion for ancient wisdom led her to personally create natural skin and hair care formulas by using organic ingredients sourced from across India.
Initially, Forest Essentials operated as a small business that offered a limited range of Ayurvedic-inspired body oils and creams. Besides, the products were available only in select stores in Delhi and Mumbai. However, in 2003, a significant milestone was achieved when the company opened its first branded store in New Delhi. And by 2005, the brand had expanded its product line to include a broader selection of body, face, and hair care items. It also began experimenting with aromatherapy by infusing its products with essential oil-based fragrances.
A major turning point came in 2008 when Estee Lauder, one of the world’s leading cosmetics companies, acquired a minority stake in Forest Essentials. This partnership facilitated global expansion and provided access to advanced production techniques. Over the decade, the company grew rapidly and opened new stores across major Indian cities like Bangalore, Chennai, and Mumbai in 2010. It also launched its own spa by featuring its signature products. In 2012, the brand introduced a collection inspired by royal Indian court recipes, which included scrubs, masks, and oils that quickly gained popularity.
The company made strides in digital innovation in 2014 by launching its online store, which allowed it to reach customers nationwide. In 2016, Forest Essentials ventured into men’s grooming with a specialised product line that was tailored to men’s skin and hair needs.
The year 2018 marked the first steps the company took into international markets, with the opening of its first store in London. And despite challenges in 2020, the brand adapted by enhancing its online platform. It offered virtual skincare consultations and improved its digital shopping experience. In 2021, it launched an Ayurvedic-inspired product line that was focused on boosting immunity, including herbal teas, massage oils, and aromatic blends.
The global expansion continued in 2022 with the introduction of Forest Essentials products on popular online platforms in Europe and the United States, thereby significantly increasing its international reach.
By 2023, Forest Essentials had firmly established itself as a leading premium natural beauty brand in India with a growing global presence. Throughout its journey, the brand has remained dedicated to using natural ingredients, supporting traditional crafts, and promoting sustainable agriculture by partnering with local farmers and suppliers.
Interesting Facts About Forest Essentials
- The journey of Forest Essentials began from a garage in Delhi. She started the business with an initial capital of Rs. 2 lakhs.
- The founder, Mira Kulkarni, started making candles and then graduated to making soaps.
- The first big order for the brand came from the hotel Hyatt Regency in Delhi, which gave an order of soaps for its rooms.
- The motto of Forest Essentials is “If you cannot eat it, do not use it on your skin.”
- The primary ingredients of Forest Essentials products are clarified butter, coconut milk, and turmeric.
- The first international store opened by Forest Essentials is in London. It was opened in December 2022.
- Forest Essentials offers job opportunities for women in rural areas and empowers them.
- It has started the “Yuvati initiative” to support underprivileged children.
- Forest Essentials uses 100% natural ingredients.
- Forest Essentials utilises enfleurage, an ancient technique to capture the essence of flowers.
- Forest Essentials has appointed Maleesha Kharwa, a 13-year-old girl from Dharavi in Mumbai, as its brand ambassador. Earlier, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the brand ambassador.
- Forest Essentials has won several awards, such as Elle beauty awards, Vogue beauty awards, Geo Asia Spa awards, Grooming awards, Cosmopolitan beauty awards, Harper’s Bazaar awards, and others.
Finally
The Forest Essentials logo reflects the growth of the brand and its dedication to Ayurvedic principles and natural beauty. From its original design in 2000 to its current modern iteration, the change in logo has been thoughtfully made to resonate with consumers while honouring traditional values. The Tree of Life remains a powerful symbol within the logo, which encapsulates the commitment of Forest Essentials to authenticity, sustainability, and luxury rooted in nature.