From Estate to Lab
Botanicals we grow and work with on our estates
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Hibiscus
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
Source: Estate-grown, ORGANIC
Location: Pinesough Estate
Cultivated on our Himachal estate and valued for its naturally rich colour and long association with botanical hair and skin preparations.
Why we grow it:Naturally rich in mucilage and polyphenols, Hibiscus is used in hair preparations to support conditioning, softness and manageability. Its extracts are also relevant to antioxidant and soothing skincare formulations.
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Lemongrass
Cymbopogon flexuosus
Source: Local cultivation partnership, ORGANIC
Location: Nadaun, H.P.
Sourced through a local cultivation partnership of small cluster of local farmers, and selected for its fresh, distinctive aromatic character.
Why we source it: Valued for its fresh citrus aroma, lemongrass is used in cleansing, deodorising and scalp-care formulations. Its essential oil can contribute purifying and antimicrobial activity when formulated within appropriate dermal and fragrance limits. -
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis L.
Source: Estate-grown, ORGANIC
Location: Pinesough Estate
Grown at our estate in Dharamsala and observed across the seasons before being considered for suitable hair, scalp and skincare formats.
Why we grow it: Rosemary is widely used in scalp oils, shampoos and tonics to support a refreshed scalp and healthy-looking hair. Its antioxidant and aromatic properties also make it relevant to purifying skincare and body-care formulations. -
Rose Geranium
Pelargonium graveolensL’Hér.
Source: Estate-grown, ORGANIC
Location: Pinesough Estate
Cultivated for its green, floral aromatic character and its relevance to the sensorial design of botanical formulations.
Why we grow it: Rose geranium is valued for its distinctive green-floral aroma and is frequently used in cleansing, deodorising and sensorial skincare formulations. Its essential oil has demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. -
Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera (L.)
Source: Estate-grown, ORGANIC
Location: Pinesough EstateA foundational Ayurvedic botanical cultivated on our estate and evaluated according to the technical requirements of each formulation.
Why we grow it: Ashwagandha extracts contain withanolides and other phytochemical constituents with antioxidant potential. In topical formulations, it is used in products designed to support stressed-looking skin, scalp comfort and an overall sense of restoration. -
Himalayan Wild Jasmine
Jasminum officinale L.
Source: Native-Estate flora, ORGANIC
Location: Pinesough Estate
One of the fragrant native plants that forms part of the living botanical landscape surrounding our estate.
Why we source it: Himalayan jasmine is valued primarily for its delicate fragrance and sensorial character. Its flowers and aromatic extracts may be used in facial oils, body care and hair preparations to create a refined botanical experience.
Understanding Botanicals at their source
Proximity to cultivation gives our team a closer understanding of plant identity, seasonal variation, appropriate harvesting stages and post-harvest handling.
Before a botanical is selected for a formulation, we consider the form in which it will be used such as an extract, oil, hydrosol or powder along with its compatibility, stability, documentation and suitability for the intended market.
Not every plant grown on the estate enters every formulation. Maintaining this distinction between botanical provenance and technical suitability is central to responsible product development at Nesta.
From Field to Formulation
the nesta advantage: own herbs and botanicals are truly organic for consistent purity and efficacy markers
Step 1: Cultivate and harvest
Selected botanicals are cultivated on our estates or sourced through trusted local partners, with attention to plant identity, season and appropriate harvest stage.
processing of herbs and botanicals, as laid out in ayurvedic texts and ayurvedic pharmacopoeia of india
Step 2: Prepare and Process
Harvested botanical materials are sorted, cleaned and prepared according to the form required for further processing. The method depends on the plant and its intended formulation.
empirical ayurveda, scientific evidence for formulation
Step 3: Formulate and Validate
Botanical materials and functional ingredients are evaluated for compatibility, stability, sensorial performance and regulatory suitability before a formulation is approved.
in our ISO-9001 QMS certified and gap certified facility, documented sops drive processes
Step 4: Manufacture and Document
Approved formulations are manufactured under documented procedures, supported by in-process checks, batch records and finished-product release documentation.
Manufactured under Licensed & GMP-certified Facility
our facility is Ayush-licensed, with a pharma-like approach to systems and manufacturing practices to ensure our clients get consistent, reliable, efficacy-driven results.
AYUSH-licensed manufacturing
Nesta operates an AYUSH-licensed manufacturing unit in Himachal Pradesh for eligible Ayurvedic proprietary skincare formulations. Licensing and product-approval requirements are reviewed according to the formulation and intended market.
nesta was awarded gmp certification by the ministry of Ayush and we remain committed to executing best practices.
GMP certification
Our manufacturing procedures address personnel hygiene, material handling, equipment cleaning, process controls and batch traceability within the applicable GMP framework.
with quality management systems certifications and documentation of sops guarantees consistent quality in all batches.
ISO 9001:2015 & ORGANIC certified
Our quality management system is certified to ISO 9001:2015, supporting defined processes, controlled documentation and ongoing review. Organic claims and documentation are used only where the relevant materials, processes and products fall within the certified scope.
with certified ayurvedic formulators, cosmetologists, botanists, microbiologists, our team has your back.
In-house Formulation and R&D services
From product-brief evaluation and ingredient selection to prototypes and refinements, our team develops formulations around technical feasibility, sensorial performance, stability and regulatory requirements.
our qc and qa departments take the guessing out of the equation to give you products that are consistent, stable and scalable.
QA/QC and microbial testing
Raw materials, in-process samples and finished products are evaluated against defined specifications. Microbial testing is conducted according to the product type and applicable release requirements.
we follow regulatory standards and best practices for continued stability monitoring as per Ayush guidelines and drugs and cosmetics act & rules, 1945.
Stability assessment
Formulations undergo structured stability observation and, where applicable, accelerated assessment to examine physical integrity, pH, appearance, odour and packaging compatibility over time.
committed to keeping your brand safe, regulatory compliant, and market-ready.
Batch documentation and export-supporting documents
Manufacturing is supported by batch records and relevant product documentation. Depending on the formulation and intended market, documentation may include a Certificate of Analysis, INCI declaration, SDS, IFRA or allergen statements, Free Sale documentation and other export-supporting records.
Bring your Product Brief to Nesta
People & Partnerships
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A Family Beekeeping Tradition
In Nagrota, Himachal Pradesh, we work with a family whose beekeeping practice dates to 1992. This relationship supports the considered sourcing of honey and beeswax for formulations in which they are technically and regulatorily appropriate.
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Cultivation Partnerships through Farmers
We collaborate with small growers and cultivation partners for selected botanicals, creating a more direct understanding of origin, seasonal availability and post-harvest handling. The emphasis of purity and supporting small matters to us.
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The People who Care for the Land
Our estates are sustained by people who understand the land through daily work such as tending plants, managing seasonal tasks and preserving the practical knowledge on which responsible cultivation depends not just for current generations but for posterity.
