Meet Suhana Chand | Teen Entrepreneur building a Brand

We had the good fortune of connecting with Suhana Chand and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Suhana, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
PURVedic Soap Kitchen started as a spark of curiosity—but quickly turned into a passion project rooted in culture, creativity, and purpose. Growing up in an Indian household, natural skincare was part of our everyday life. My mom would make homemade packs and oils using kitchen ingredients, and my brother and I saw firsthand how effective these traditional remedies were. We didn’t need store-bought products—our skin thrived on what was made with care, using timeless ingredients passed down through generations.

As I got older, I realized how much I valued those rituals. But I also noticed a gap: many products on the market lacked the authenticity, intention, and cultural richness I had grown up with. What began as kitchen experiments turned into something more meaningful. I found myself not only excited about formulating but genuinely fascinated by the process of building a brand—one that blended Ayurvedic wisdom with modern design and a personal story.

Starting PURVedic as a high school student has been incredibly empowering. It gave me a reason to use my time to learn, grow, and create something of my own. Beyond skincare, entrepreneurship taught me how to communicate, sell, and connect with people from all walks of life. Every interaction—whether at a market or online—has helped me build confidence, develop interpersonal skills, and understand the power of relationships in business.

What began as a love for natural ingredients turned into a journey of self-discovery, cultural pride, and entrepreneurship. PURVedic reflects who I am—and the kind of thoughtful, intentional business I want to keep building.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
PURVedic Soap Kitchen was born from my deep passion for natural wellness and creativity. Inspired by the timeless principles of Ayurveda and fueled by a desire to build something of my own, I set out to create a line of luxurious, handcrafted soaps that brings the power of nature into everyday skincare. With curiosity and determination, I began experimenting with Ayurvedic herbs and botanicals in my home kitchen—learning, researching, and testing every recipe, which soon started becoming my favorite skin care products too.

What sets PURVedic apart is its authenticity. Every product is handcrafted in small batches using traditional ingredients like turmeric, neem, sandalwood, and clays. But more than that, I focus on preserving the cultural meaning behind these ingredients. I want people to feel connected—not just to clean skincare, but to a story, a heritage, and a slower, more intentional way of living.

Business-wise, the journey has been anything but easy. As a student, I had to teach myself everything—how to formulate, brand, market, price, budget, and sell. I made plenty of mistakes early on, from packaging issues to underestimating demand. But I treated each challenge as a learning opportunity and stayed committed to growing step by step.

One of the most impactful parts of my journey has been selling at the North Scottsdale Farmers Market every Saturday. It’s become more than just a place to sell—it’s a place where I’ve built a community. I’ve formed real friendships with fellow vendors and regular customers who support me, mentor me, and believe in my vision. That connection fuels my motivation and reminds me that PURVedic isn’t just a business—it’s something bigger.

I’ve learned that entrepreneurship is not just about selling a product; it’s about storytelling, resilience, and human connection. What I want the world to know about PURVedic is that it’s rooted in tradition but driven by passion. It’s a reflection of who I am—a young entrepreneur honoring her roots, while carving her own path forward.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit Phoenix for the week, I’d want her to experience the perfect mix of nature, creativity, community, and of course—great food.

We’d definitely kick things off with a visit to the North Scottsdale Farmers Market, where I could show her my PURVedic Soap Kitchen booth and introduce her to the community I’ve built there. It’s such a fun and welcoming space that gives a real taste of the local vibe.

For outdoor adventures, Canyon Lake and Lake Pleasant are absolute musts. Whether we’re tubing, kayaking, or paddleboarding, those spots offer some of the best ways to enjoy the desert landscape while having a blast on the water.

We’d also make time for something creative—like a chill evening at As You Wish painting pottery, followed by plenty of cozy movie nights and crafting at home. It’s the perfect way to relax and catch up.

When it comes to food, we’d eat our way through some of my favorite local spots—from the bold, flavorful dishes at Thai Bistro Cafe (the portion sizes are no joke!) to the warm, laid-back energy of Mellow Mushroom, my family’s go-to for the best munchies on Sunday nights. A healthy stop at Flower Child would definitely be in the mix too.

Overall, I’d want her to leave feeling like she got a true feel for life in Phoenix—the beauty of the outdoors, the support of the local maker scene, and the comfort of meaningful moments shared over good food and creative fun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my mom. So much of PURVedic Soap Kitchen is inspired by the traditions she passed down to me—whether it was watching her mix fresh ubtans in the kitchen or learning how different herbs and oils could heal and nourish the skin. She never treated these rituals as just beauty routines—they were acts of care, love, and cultural connection. Her knowledge and hands-on approach not only gave me great skin growing up but also sparked the curiosity that eventually led me to start my business. Without her influence, PURVedic wouldn’t exist in the way it does today.

Website: https://purvedicsoapkitchen.com/

Instagram: @purvedicsk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suhana-chand-a88571278

Facebook: PURVedic SOAP Kitchen

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/purvedic-soap-kitchen-phoenix

Image Credits
These are all personal photos clicked by my parents and with permission from some of our customers to be used for marketing. They are good to be used and published anywhere