Brands · Sri Lanka
Cliara took Sri Lankan essential oils and skincare to eight countries
Heshan Edirisinghe left a bulk cinnamon business in 2011 to make finished products from Sri Lanka's raw ingredients. Cliara now sells plant-led skincare and aromatherapy in Australia, the UK, Canada, Italy, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal and Dubai.
In short
Cliara Essential Oils is a direct-to-consumer beauty and aromatherapy brand founded in Colombo in 2011. It started with 12 oil warmers, grew into a supplier to supermarkets, hotels and spas, then expanded into skincare and haircare. More than 90% of its products are sourced or produced in Sri Lanka, more than half its customers buy again, and it now ships to eight overseas markets.
The story
Sri Lanka has always exported its raw ingredients. Cinnamon, coconut and spices leave the island in bulk and come back as somebody else's branded product. Heshan Edirisinghe was part of that trade, running a successful bulk cinnamon business, when he decided in 2011 that there was more value in making the finished product himself.
Cliara began with essential oils and oil warmers. The company says it started with 12 warmers and became the largest supplier of aromatherapy oil warmers in Sri Lanka, stocked in supermarkets, restaurants, hotels and spas. From there the range moved into everyday beauty: rosehip oil, clay masks, and plant-led skincare and haircare.
The brand made one unusual choice for a beauty business. Instead of launching products constantly, it kept the range small and kept improving what it had, using customer feedback to change formulations. Cliara sells directly through its own website, on Daraz, and at a Product Experience Center in Colombo City Centre. The company reports that more than 50% of its customers purchase again, and that it holds thousands of verified reviews.
The pandemic pushed the business online, and that is where it scaled. Today Cliara products reach Australia, the UK, Canada, Italy, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal and Dubai. The next ambition, in the company's words, is to build a globally recognised beauty brand out of Sri Lanka's natural advantage.
Timeline
- 2011Heshan Edirisinghe founds Cliara, moving from bulk cinnamon trading into essential oils and oil warmers.
- 2017Heshan is named first runner-up for National Young Entrepreneur of the Year and wins the Western Province award at the FCCISL awards. Cliara wins the Export Market Place Award for Best Export Strategy in its category.
- 2020 onwardsCovid-19 forces the business online. Cliara scales its direct-to-consumer sales through its website and Daraz.
- Colombo City CentreThe Cliara Product Experience Center opens in the mall, giving the online brand a physical home.
- 2026Products reach eight overseas markets.
Cliara in numbers
Questions people ask
Who founded Cliara Essential Oils?
Heshan Edirisinghe, in 2011, after running a bulk cinnamon trading business.
What does Cliara sell?
Essential oils and oil warmers, rosehip oil, clay masks, and plant-led skincare and haircare. The range is deliberately small.
Where can you buy Cliara products?
On cliaraessentialoils.com, on Daraz, and at the Product Experience Center at Colombo City Centre.
Which countries does Cliara export to?
Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal and Dubai.
Are the products made in Sri Lanka?
More than 90% are sourced or produced in Sri Lanka, according to the company. Some ingredients are sourced from India and Bulgaria.