City-based Sonia Dhawan has a world full of beeswax, natural oils and a treasure trove of her grandma's recipes for balms that heal and nourish

Her Grandma's little home remedies paid off for this Bangalore-based Geneticist Sonia Dhawan who now makes her own line of balms. Reminiscent of familiar home remedies and fragrances from the hills, the line of balms, six kinds to be precise, come packaged like little gifts wrapped in printed paper under the Granny Greg's tag.


Pics/ Satish Badiger

"We come from a way of living where natural home remedies were the first resort. My grandmother used beeswax for balms, rose petals and glycerin for a hair spray. The original recipes came from her and her last name was Gregory, so I decided to label it Granny Greg's," says Dhawan.

Choose from Wintergreen Warmer and Eucalyptus for your aching nerves, pamper yourself with Happy Feet (with rose and camphor) or Happy Hands (a Marigold balm) or go lavish with a Peppermint or a luscious Chocolate Lip Balm. Also available are Citronella and Lemongrass Insect repellants called Bug Off. We sampled the Eucalytpus stress buster and came back feeling rather relaxed and well-slept.

All the balms come in a beeswax base with infused natural oil. "I source the beeswax from bee farms where you get the unadulterated darker version that actually smells of honey. The natural oils I source from Shimoga which is our getaway from the city," Dhawan says. However, the chocolate one is made out of real chocolate and cocoa butter.

Started couple of years ago, it was all about opening her treasure trove to the elders in the family. She then set out to create her first batch of balms that friends and relatives, including an enthusiastic 15-year-old nephew heartily sampled. The exercise has continued and she now makes a new lot almost every month and takes orders.

"I had never thought of retailing until I exhibited my products at an exhibition by a hundred hands in November last year. I got a few offers from retail stores and I am planning to give them a serious thought," says Dhawan also admitting that the commerce part of a business actually scares her. Though a store may still be a distant dream, she has other plans on the cards, that include using oils like Patchouli and Lavender for her products.

Call: 98807 14405
Email: grannygregs@gmail.com, a100hands@gmail.com
For: Rs 60 onwards