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Key people at Esscent by Arpan.
Esscent by Arpan is a New Delhi, India-based social enterprise that manufactures incense sticks, cones, and candles by upcycling flower waste instead of utilizing traditional charcoal. The organization operates on a social entrepreneurship model that employs and trains women and specially-abled individuals to facilitate their transition into financially independent entrepreneurs. The company distributes its products across the hospitality, corporate gifting, spa, and household sectors through direct e-commerce channels and physical retail outlets. Esscent by Arpan sells its merchandise through a network of more than 30 online storefronts and retail partners, including recognizable entities such as Amazon, Purple Turtles, and the Connecting Dreams Foundation-SRCC Chapter. A portion of the generated revenue directly supports its workforce, while the remainder is reinvested into operational expansion and product research. The organization was founded in 2019 by Gautam Bhansali and Rakshita.
Key people at Esscent by Arpan.
Esscent by Arpan is a social entrepreneurship venture that produces premium incense sticks, cones, and candles made from 60-100% dried flower waste, replacing traditional charcoal to create eco-friendly, non-toxic products.[1][2][5] It serves consumers seeking sustainable home fragrance options, corporate gifting, retail outlets, and online shoppers via platforms like Amazon, while solving environmental issues like floral waste pollution (responsible for 16% of India's river pollution) and supporting women entrepreneurs and specially-abled workers through revenue sharing and employment.[1][5] The initiative, started by Shri Ram College of Commerce students under Connecting Dreams Foundation, has gained traction in 30+ online stores and retail partners, emphasizing social impact alongside product quality and variety like Lemongrass scents.[1]
Esscent by Arpan emerged in 2019 from New Delhi, India, founded by students at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) as part of the Connecting Dreams Foundation-SRCC Chapter.[1][5] Key co-founders include Gautam Bhansali (CEO, B.A. Economics Hons.), Rakshita Janjire (CTO, B.Com Hons.), and Sneh Dhanuka (CEO, B.Com Hons.), who identified the massive global flower waste problem—88 billion pounds annually, heavily polluting Indian rivers with pesticides and chemicals.[5] After research, including tests at Patel Chest University, they developed a process to upcycle flower waste into incense, substituting charcoal (a carcinogen in traditional 75% sawdust-charcoal sticks).[1][5] Early validation came through product diversification into sticks, cones, and candles, with revenue reinvested for expansion and a major share supporting underprivileged women and specially-abled workers for self-reliance.[1]
Esscent by Arpan rides the global sustainability trend in consumer goods, particularly upcycling agricultural waste amid rising eco-conscious demand for non-toxic home products.[1][5] Timing aligns with India's floral waste crisis—exacerbated by temples and markets—and growing niche incense market, where consumers shift from polluting traditional options.[3][5] Favorable market forces include e-commerce boom for green products and corporate ESG mandates for gifting, enabling scalability from student project to multi-channel presence.[1] It influences the ecosystem by modeling social entrepreneurship, inspiring youth-led ventures in circular economy solutions and empowering marginalized workers, thus blending environmental cleanup with inclusive employment in developing markets.[1]
Esscent by Arpan is poised for expansion through product innovation (e.g., more scents, candles) and deeper retail penetration, leveraging its proven waste-to-value model.[1] Trends like zero-waste consumerism and social commerce will accelerate growth, potentially attracting impact investors for scaling production and national distribution.[5] Its influence may evolve from niche player to category leader in sustainable incense, amplifying social empowerment while reducing floral pollution—transforming student ingenuity into a blueprint for compassionate, green business.
