Unilever Ventures strengthens its India beauty bet by investing in clean fragrance brand Secret Alchemist and skincare label SkinInspired, backing innovation, R&D, and the next wave of homegrown beauty brands. Read along to know more.
Unilever Ventures has invested in two fast-growing Indian beauty brands: Secret Alchemist and SkinInspired. The investments highlight the global major’s continued focus on India’s evolving beauty and personal care market.
Both brands operate in the indie beauty space and cater to modern, ingredient-conscious consumers.
Secret Alchemist raises $3 million in seed funding
Clean fragrance brand Secret Alchemist has raised $3 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by Unilever Ventures with participation from DSG Consumer Partners. The funding includes both primary and secondary capital.
Ankita Thadani, Akash Valia, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu are the founders of the brand. It positions itself as India’s first clean perfume brand with a strong focus on ingredient transparency and wellness-led formulations.
Secret Alchemist previously raised capital from IPV. The latest round signals growing institutional confidence in the brand’s long-term vision and category-building potential.
From aromatherapy to modern perfumery
Secret Alchemist began as an aromatherapy-led wellness brand offering ailment-focused solutions. Over time, it evolved into a fragrance-first brand.
Today, it blends aromatherapy science with modern perfumery. Its fragrances are emotion-driven, lifestyle-led, and designed for everyday use. The brand aims to bridge wellness, scent, and self-expression for contemporary consumers.
Funding to drive R&D and expansion
The fresh capital will be used to expand Secret Alchemist’s clean fragrance portfolio. It will also strengthen formulation depth and R&D capabilities.
The brand plans to invest in leadership hiring, core team building, and wider distribution. Scaling brand presence across channels remains a key priority as it builds an India-first brand with global ambitions.
Unilever Ventures invests in SkinInspired
Unilever Ventures has also invested in SkinInspired. The investment was made alongside Lotus Herbals through the Lotus Innovation Fund and Spring Market Capital.
The move reinforces Unilever Ventures’ strategy of backing promising Indian beauty brands with strong science, innovation, and growth potential.