Dr Blossom Kochhar, Founder, ERTH

For the amazing Dr Blossom Kochhar, beauty has never been merely skin deep. For more than three decades, she has pioneered and championed aromatherapy as a powerful meeting point of beauty, wellness and emotional wellbeing — long before holistic beauty became the conversation it is today.

With ERTH, her latest venture into professional men’s grooming, she is bringing that philosophy to a new generation of men who are increasingly looking beyond the traditional shave, haircut and skincare routine.

Combining pure essential oils, bioactive botanicals and professional formulations with immersive grooming rituals, ERTH is built on a simple yet powerful belief: when you feel good, you carry yourself differently.

In this exclusive conversation with Sumita Chakraborty, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, TheGlitz, Dr Blossom Kochhar, Founder, ERTH talks about the evolution of the modern man, why grooming is becoming an experience rather than a service, and her vision of transforming professional grooming into a personalised ritual of body, mind and emotion.

Over To Dr Blossom Kochhar, ERTH

Dr Blossom, you have spent decades championing aromatherapy and holistic beauty. What made you feel that the time was right to bring this philosophy specifically into professional men’s grooming with ERTH?

Aromatherapy is something that can be used by everyone, men, women and even children. When I first started I took it through the beauty line with women. Although I knew it could work on men too, I felt men were not ready since this was 35 years ago. Last few years, I’ve watched men getting very interested in skin care products and in grooming themselves. I really felt instead of them just taking on a chemical product, they could also benefit and use an aromatherapy based wellness product and that is why I started ERTH for them, as a special product only for men.

Men’s grooming has evolved dramatically from a basic shave and haircut to a much more considered approach to skin health and wellness. What shifts in the modern Indian man’s grooming mindset inspired the creation of ERTH?

For me, the shift was seeing how the modern Indian man’s relationship with grooming was changing. Traditionally, a haircut and a shave were considered the essentials, and when it came to skincare, men would often simply use products chosen or purchased by the women in the family. But that mindset was evolving. Men were becoming far more conscious of their appearance, skin health and overall wellbeing, and they wanted products specifically designed for their needs.

I also realised that, while men and women have many of the same skincare concerns, whether it’s oiliness, dullness, pigmentation or signs of ageing, men’s skin has its own characteristics and requires a more tailored approach. That growing desire among men to look good, feel good and take better care of themselves is what inspired me to create ERTH, a grooming range designed specifically for the modern man, making skincare and self-care feel both relevant and effortless.

ERTH brings together pure essential oils, bioactive botanicals and professional skincare formulations. How did you balance the therapeutic philosophy of aromatherapy with the performance and precision expected from a professional grooming brand?

I approached ERTH with the same holistic philosophy that has always guided me in aromatherapy but adapted it to the needs and expectations of the modern man. Aromatherapy is not just about how a product performs on the skin, it works across the body, mind and emotions, so I wanted that sense of wellbeing to be an integral part of the grooming experience.

At the same time, I understood that ERTH had to deliver on performance. The formulations needed to be effective, purposeful and professional, while still retaining the therapeutic benefits of pure essential oils and botanicals. For me, it was about bringing these two worlds together rather than choosing one over the other.

Ultimately, I wanted every ERTH product to do more than simply groom the skin. It should make a man feel refreshed, confident and good about himself like they could conquer the world because true grooming is as much about how you feel as it is about how you look.

The brand has been developed exclusively for salons and barbershops, with rituals such as Royal Shave, Alpha Shave and Express Shave. What role do you see the professional grooming space playing in making wellness an integral part of a man’s grooming routine?

I believe the professional grooming space has a very important role to play in making wellness a natural part of a man’s routine. Today, men are already investing in their physical wellbeing, whether it’s through fitness, sport or healthier lifestyles because they understand that feeling good has a direct impact on confidence, focus and how they approach the world.

I wanted ERTH to bring that same sense of wellbeing into the grooming experience. A professional treatment at a salon or barbershop can be much more than a haircut or shave; it can be a moment to pause, recharge and take care of yourself. Whether it’s the indulgence of a Royal Shave, the precision of an Alpha Shave or the convenience of an Express Shave, the goal is the same: for a man to walk out not only looking well-groomed, but feeling refreshed, confident and ready to take on the world.

Aromatherapy is often associated with relaxation and women’s wellness. How do you think essential oils and their therapeutic properties can transform the way men think about skincare, grooming and emotional wellbeing?

I think it’s important to move away from the idea that aromatherapy is only about relaxation or women’s wellness. Essential oils have always had a much broader role to play. They can energise, calm, sharpen focus and create a sense of confidence and wellbeing and these are universal needs, not gender-specific ones.

If we look back through history, essential oils were even used in the context of war. In ancient Rome and Greece, soldiers are believed to have used aromatic oils as part of their preparations before going into battle. That speaks to the fact that these oils have never been simply about beauty or relaxation; they have also been associated with strength, focus and mental readiness.

I believe the same principle applies to the modern man. Essential oils can be used in everyday situations to create the right state of mind. For example, geranium can be used when a man has an important meeting or document to sign. You can use it in a diffuser or even incorporate it into a potpourri, creating an environment that helps him feel calm, centred and focused.

So, it’s certainly not just about women’s skincare. Essential oils can complement a man’s skincare and grooming routine, while also supporting his emotional wellbeing. They can help him feel more refreshed, confident and balanced. That is really what ERTH is about the connection between body, mind and emotion.

As the founder of a pioneering beauty and wellness legacy, what do you believe today’s men are looking for beyond the traditional promises of grooming products… and how is ERTH responding to those expectations?

I think today’s man is looking for much more than the traditional promise of simply looking well-groomed. He is also looking for wellness, relaxation and a sense of being looked after. We are seeing men increasingly embrace spas and more indulgent grooming experiences because they want to take a moment for themselves. It’s no longer just about going in for a quick haircut or shave and leaving.

Men want to relax, they want to be pampered, and they want grooming to become an experience rather than a routine. That is where I see ERTH responding to the changing expectations of today’s man. We bring together professional grooming with the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy, creating rituals that allow a man to not only look his best, but also switch off, recharge and feel good.

For me, that is the future of men’s grooming less about a quick service and more about a complete experience of grooming, wellness and wellbeing.

Looking ahead, do you see men’s grooming moving further towards personalised, wellness-led experiences, and what would you like ERTH to contribute to the future of professional grooming in India and globally?

Absolutely. I believe men’s grooming is definitely moving towards more personalised, wellness-led experiences. Every individual is different, and today’s man wants to feel that a grooming experience has been created with him in mind. He wants to feel special, cared for and, yes, pampered.

Just as every person has a different skin type, different concerns and different needs, their grooming routine should be tailored to them as well. I believe the future lies in understanding those individual needs and creating experiences that are truly personalised, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

That is the direction I would like ERTH to take into the future not just creating products, but creating professional grooming rituals that can be adapted to the individual. We want every man to feel that the experience is designed specifically for him, whether it is addressing his skin, his grooming needs or simply giving him a moment to relax and recharge.

Ultimately, I would like ERTH to contribute to changing the way professional grooming is perceived not simply as a service, but as a personalised experience that brings together grooming, wellness and wellbeing. And I see that philosophy having relevance not just in India, but globally.

TheGlitz Take

Dr Blossom Kochhar is making a compelling case for a new kind of men’s grooming — one that goes beyond looking good to feeling good. With ERTH, she brings together aromatherapy, wellness and professional grooming in a more immersive, personalised ritual. And perhaps that’s the real luxury today: not simply grooming the face but resetting the man behind it.