Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO) develops a range of industrial hemp and medical cannabis products, ranging from nutrition to beauty and wellness.
The company sources its raw materials from approximately two Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and 500 farmers. FPOs are supported by National Association for Farmer Producer Organisations (NAFPO), a non-profit that drives the interests of small and marginal farmers of India.
A year ago, BOHECO expanded into personal care with a cannabidiol (CBD) facial oil, CannaReleaf Skin Health CBD Oil, to tap into the increasing interest in hemp and cannabis beauty.
“It’s really catching on because people are opening up to the idea of hemp. Not only is it good for you, plant-based and sustainable, it’s also new and people are always looking towards something new and experimenting. Yes, CBD is still very niche, but people are very open to trying it,” said Anna Dias, marketing and communication manager of the brand.
Furthermore, the company, which was established in 2013, has been very active in its education efforts through pop-ups and farmers markets.
“We’ve been on the ground meeting and speaking to a lot of people before the pandemic. Now we are using social media… all avenues of education, even more, traditional media,” said Dias.
The company had observed the interest in skin care first-hand with its bestselling Hemp Seed Oil, a multifunctional product that can be consumed and applied topically.
“Hemp Seed Oil is our bestselling product and we know that people have actually been buying it more for their skin and their hair,” said Dias.
The interest has been accelerated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased consumer awareness of the benefits of the ingredient and raised its profile.
“People are taking care of themselves more and I guess that has been good for us because our products are very mental health-related,” said Dias.
New products in the pipeline
With more people becoming more receptive to the idea of using hemp and the relaxing of regulations in India, the company believes it is only scratching the surface.
Dias told CosmeticsDesign-Asia that its first CBD beauty oil has been very well-received by its customers.
Its success has prompted the company to expand its skin care line. It is currently working on the development of a facial serum, which is expected to launch in the next couple of months.
“It's going to be a game-changer because it's very different from the products that we have right now, so we believe it's going to do well,” said Dias.
Furthermore, it is looking to launch more products in different formats, such as balms and lotions.
Moving forward, BOHECO is focused on expanding its product range. Aside from skin care, it is also developing more targeted medicinal products, such as a CBD oil for menstrual pain.