Unilever Ventures led the Secret Alchemist seed funding round with participation from DSG Consumer Partners.WHO: Secret Alchemist was founded in 2022 by Akash Valia and Ankita Thadani, with actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu joining the brand as a co-founder in 2024. Started as a wellness concept focused on solutions rooted in aromatherapy and essential oils, the brand pivoted to focus on clean fragrance in mid-2025. The products aim to redefine Indian perfumery with clean, ingredient-led fragrances for modern conscious consumers. The products are available on the company’s direct-to-consumer website, ecommerce platforms such as Amazon, and on quick commerce apps, including Blinkit.WHY: The brand will use the fresh capital to expand the product portfolio, strengthen R&D, and scale distribution.IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Ankita Thadani, co-founder of Secret Alchemist, said, “Globally, ‘clean’ has become a baseline in beauty and personal care, and fragrance is naturally moving in that direction. With Secret Alchemist, our focus is on building perfumes that are ingredient-led, well-formulated, and uncompromising on quality. We are among the first in India to openly publish full ingredient and allergen disclosures in perfumery, because for us, clean means being honest. This investment allows us to deepen product innovation and strengthen our R&D capabilities in line with that belief.”Samantha Ruth Prabhu, co-founder of Secret Alchemist, added, “As Secret Alchemist evolves, this feels like the right moment for us.