Distil develops high-performance specialty chemicals for cosmetic formulations, helping brands move from lab validation to commercial scale with stronger control over texture, stability, sensory feel, and UV performance. Backed by R&D, flexible manufacturing, and supply chain coordination, the team supports faster development cycles while protecting formulation data and maintaining consistent quality across every batch.
R&D, ingredient systems, scale-up, and manufacturing support for modern cosmetic and personal care formulations.
Specialty chemicals for cosmetic and personal care products, including mineral UV protection, cosmetic esters, and mild sugar-derived surfactants engineered for performance, stability, and sensory appeal across skincare, color cosmetics, and cleansing systems.
Application-specific chemical development led by an experienced technical team. Distil supports formulation tuning, trials, and validation to help brands refine product performance before moving confidently toward commercial production.
Aroma chemicals, essential oils, naturals, and carrier systems designed for fragrance compatibility, solubilization, and stability in personal care and cosmetic formulations requiring precise sensory performance.
Flexible, asset-light manufacturing enables cosmetic brands to scale production without heavy capex, while unified quality systems help maintain batch consistency and reduce process drift.
Integrated logistics and execution provide a single point of contact from development through delivery, improving visibility into batch yields, timelines, and commercial scale-up readiness.
Permission-based access, process fragmentation, and customer-owned data help protect proprietary cosmetic formulations while enabling secure collaboration across development and manufacturing workflows.
Distil helps cosmetic brands develop specialty chemical systems that perform in real formulations, not just on paper. From mineral UV dispersions and lightweight esters to mild surfactants and fragrance carriers, the team supports formulation accuracy, sensory optimization, and commercial readiness. With integrated R&D, manufacturing flexibility, and supply chain visibility, brands gain a practical partner for faster launches, protected IP, and dependable batch consistency.
See how brands benefit from expert-led formulation, scale-up support, and reliable specialty chemical execution.
Distil combines technical depth with scalable execution for cosmetic formulation programs.
Dedicated scientists manage application-specific tuning, trials, and formulation refinement for demanding cosmetic performance targets.
Customer data ownership and permission-based controls help safeguard proprietary formulations throughout development and production.
Asset-light manufacturing through 20+ suppliers supports commercial growth without compromising quality consistency.
One point of contact streamlines the path from lab work to supply chain execution.
Experienced leaders across R&D, operations, and personal care.
Co-founder & CEO
Atanu Agarrwal is the Co-founder and CEO of Distil, the Mumbai-based specialty chemicals platform he helped launch in 2024. An IIT Bombay alumnus, Atanu brings deep expertise as a seasoned private equity professional with significant experience managing control deals at a $1 billion New York-based fund. At Distil, he leads the company's strategic direction, investor relations, and North America expansion, having helped secure a $3 million seed round and a $7 million Series A. Atanu is committed to enabling global brands to diversify production and accelerate sustainable sourcing while protecting intellectual property. His financial acumen and global perspective are central to Distil's mission of delivering high-performance specialty chemicals engineered at scale.
Co-founder & COO
Viraj Shah is the Co-founder and COO of Distil, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company's operations and growth since its founding in 2024. An IIT Bombay alumnus, Viraj is a consummate operator with a proven track record of scaling high-growth technology and supply chain ventures. At Distil, he oversees day-to-day operations, supply chain execution, and partner network management, helping build a base of 20+ suppliers and 100+ customers within the company's first year. Viraj's hands-on expertise ensures seamless delivery from lab to commercial scale, embodying Distil's commitment to end-to-end partnership and flexible, asset-light manufacturing for global specialty chemicals clients.
Head, Personal Care
Kiro Rizk serves as Head of Personal Care at Distil, leading the company's specialty chemicals offerings for the personal care segment. With deep domain expertise in personal care formulation and application-specific chemical development, Kiro is responsible for driving customer engagement, technical solutions, and product innovation within one of Distil's core verticals. He works closely with the R&D and operations teams to ensure that brands receive tailored formulations that meet their precise performance and sustainability requirements. Kiro's industry knowledge and customer-focused approach reflect Distil's broader commitment to delivering high-performance specialty chemicals through an integrated, expert-led platform that scales reliably from development to commercial production.
Vice President, R&D
Dr. Leema Joseph is the Vice President of R&D at Distil, where she leads the company's research and development function across its specialty chemicals portfolio. With advanced academic credentials and industry expertise drawn from a team background spanning organizations such as Dow, BASF, L'Oréal, Huntsman, and Reliance Industries, Dr. Joseph oversees application-specific formulation, technical trials, and innovation pipelines for segments including personal care, advanced polymers, and flavours and fragrances. She ensures that every product is engineered to meet precise customer specifications while maintaining the highest quality standards. Dr. Joseph's scientific leadership is central to Distil's R&D-led value proposition and its mission to deliver specialty chemicals that perform at commercial scale.
Vice President, Operations
Raghunath V Iyer is the Vice President of Operations at Distil, overseeing the end-to-end execution of the company's asset-light manufacturing and supply chain model. With extensive operational experience in specialty chemicals and industrial supply chains, Raghunath ensures that production quality, batch consistency, and logistics performance meet the exacting standards of Distil's global brand customers. He manages Distil's network of 20+ manufacturing partners and coordinates seamlessly across the company's facilities in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Raghunath's systematic approach to eliminating process drift and enabling scalable production without capital expenditure is a cornerstone of Distil's promise to deliver high-performance specialty chemicals reliably and efficiently.
In the United States, most cosmetics do not require FDA pre-approval before sale, but the products and ingredients must still be safe for intended use and properly labeled. Color additives are a key exception and may require approval. Manufacturers are responsible for substantiating safety, maintaining quality controls, and ensuring claims do not cause the product to be regulated as a drug.
Speak with Distil about ingredients, scale-up, and technical requirements.
Leadership rooted in strong technical pedigree.
Deep combined expertise across global chemical leaders.
Processes designed to reduce drift and variability.
Share your formulation goals, ingredient needs, and scale-up requirements. Distil's team will review your project and help outline the right technical and manufacturing path.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +91 7902 101 101. You can also send us a quick email at contact@distil.market.
For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +91 7902 101 101. You can also send us a quick email at contact@distil.market.