Our Notes on Scent and Ingredients

When I first started Caftari, people would always ask: “Are your scents 100% natural?” I’d say something like: “We use a high % of essential oil compared to other brands but no, they are not 100% natural” As if they caught me in some lie.

There’s a common belief that natural always means better. But that’s not true. Some naturals come from sources we’d never use (like sperm whale extract). Others, like sandalwood, are taken from wild trees in rainforests—harming the ecosystems they come from. That’s not what we stand for. Our goal is to preserve nature, not deplete it.

Of course, there are naturals we love and use with intention. Rose essential oil is one of them—timeless, calming, and even linked to serotonin support. It’s the hero in our Dolce Far Niente candle, created to evoke presence and ease.

On the flip side, synthetics have been unfairly villainized. But not all synthetics are bad—many are safer, more sustainable, and avoid allergens found in naturals. To me, “synthetic” just means a perfumer has seasoned what nature gave us. Think of it like food: would you eat something straight from the forest floor, or would you bring it home, add seasoning, and enjoy it? That’s what we do with fragrance—refine nature into something more beautiful, balanced, and wearable.

Man-made doesn’t always mean “not clean.” Just like seasoning—there’s the high-quality kind made with real, thoughtful ingredients, and then there’s the cheap stuff filled with things you don’t want in your food. Fragrance works the same way.

We’re proud that every formula at Caftari meets Credo Clean Beauty standards—the strictest standards in all of beauty. It’s our way of making sure that whether an ingredient comes from nature or science, it’s safe, thoughtful, and always high-quality.

Our stance is simple:

• Use naturals when they add quality and don’t harm ecosystems.

• Always stay vegan and cruelty-free (impossible to do if you are “100% natural).

• Never sacrifice on quality—whether it comes from nature or science.

Building Caftari over time has taught me a few things.

1. The simple answer is usually the best one.

2. Be proud of your product—and the ingredients you’ve chosen to put into it.

3. Don’t try to squeeze into a mold that isn’t yours.

The truth is, the customer who only wants “100% natural” probably isn’t our customer—and that’s okay. You can’t be everything to everyone. What matters is staying true to our philosophy: thoughtful ingredients, clean standards, and fragrances built on the core philosophy that scent is not only an accessory but rather a powerful tool for our wellbeing.

-Shreya