In November 2023, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts launched a sustainability initiative that embodies the brand’s unwavering commitment to both luxury and environmental stewardship. ‘Leela Ke Phool’, in collaboration with Phool.co, is a unique project that transforms the flowers adorning the properties of The Leela into exquisite incense sticks and cones. This collaboration offers not only sensory indulgence but also an opportunity to engage with the values of sustainability, social impact, and conscious luxury.
The essence of ‘Leela Ke Phool’ lies in its transformation of discarded floral material into luxurious, toxin-free incense products. Through Phool’s cutting-edge Flower cycling technology, fresh flowers from select Leela properties are upcycled with care and precision. This innovative process ensures that no charcoal or harmful chemicals are used, delivering incense products that are as eco-conscious as they are refined. Infused with Tishya by The Leela, the signature fragrance of the brand, these incense sticks and cones evoke the elegance and tranquility of India’s most cherished blossoms: the lotus – India’s national flower, and the rare Neelakurinji, which blooms only once every 12 years.
This initiative serves to create a lasting and meaningful experience for guests while making a profound environmental and social impact. Each flower is carefully collected from the elegant spaces at The Leela and sent to Kanpur, where Phool’s artisans bring them to life as sustainable fragrance products. Through this process, guests are not only offered an experience that captures the essence of India’s natural beauty but also one that plays a vital role in reducing waste, supporting the preservation of the Ganges, and empowering over 300 women from marginalized communities in Uttar Pradesh.
The impact of ‘Leela Ke Phool’ is as much about people as it is about the planet. This initiative empowers women by providing them with training and employment in the delicate art of incense-making, offering them sustainable livelihoods and a sense of purpose. The programme also plays a crucial role in the preservation of the Ganges by preventing flowers from being discarded in the river, a practice that often leads to environmental degradation. Through this, ‘Leela Ke Phool’ contributes to both a circular economy and the well-being of the communities it serves.
Through ‘Leela Ke Phool’, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts offers a rare and refined opportunity for guests to engage in a truly meaningful experience, where every element—from the fragrance in the air to the stories behind the flowers—is imbued with elegance, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability.
