When you step into one of the exclusive Himalaya Herbals stores, you're half expecting to see the elderly lady that featured in their popular ad campaign, advising you to buy the products.

Previously named Himalaya Ayurvedic Concepts, it's the first ayurvedic brand to open four stores in Mumbai (Colaba, Byculla, Thane and Borivali), stocking their entire product range. From protein shampoos, hair oils and conditioners to nourishing skin creams and anit-wrinkle formulations, they also have body care products (lotions and pain reilef balms) and medicinal supplements.

The idea behind these stores (there are 36 all over India) is to give customers the option to leisurely browse through all the products and ask the trained staff for information and advice on any ingredients or fomulaton. In case of any technical queries, the customers' questions are answered via e-mail within 24 hours.

The packaging has a spiffy new look as well. Sleek bottles with forest green caps are the way the company plans to woo foreign markets as well. The company retails in the US, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. All the products contain active ingredients that are 100 per cent ayurvedic.