Chandanalepa Kesharaja Ayurveda Shampoo is a rinse-off hair cleanser built around a formulation whose roots reach back through generations of Sri Lankan Ayurvedic practice. The name Kesharaja is itself a Sanskrit term meaning 'king of hair', which is also an Ayurvedic designation for Keekirindiya — the small, creeping herb with white daisy-like flowers whose oil sits at the centre of this shampoo's botanical blend.
The shampoo brings together four botanical oils alongside its cleansing base: Keekirindiya (Eclipta prostrata) oil, which gives the product its name and its Ayurvedic identity; Nelli (Phyllanthus emblica) oil, better known internationally as Amla or Indian Gooseberry; Welmee (Glycyrrhiza glabra) oil, the Sinhala name for liquorice root; and Sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil, a long-established carrier in Ayurvedic preparation. The recipe draws on a traditional formula passed down through the Chandanalepa family and adapted for modern use — a lineage the brand traces to an Ayurvedic physician's practice in Veyangoda, Gampaha District, in the mid-twentieth century.
Chandanalepa is a Sri Lankan Ayurvedic cosmetics brand manufactured by Sanjeewaka Ayurvedic Products (Pvt.) Ltd. in Veyangoda. Its products are exported to multiple countries, and the Kesharaja shampoo is one of the range's established lines, available in both a standard and a smaller travel-friendly size. The dark label carries a botanical illustration consistent with the herb at the product's core, and the green flip-top cap makes for straightforward dispensing in the shower.
The full ingredient list reads: Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Eclipta prostrata (Keekirindiya) Oil, Phyllanthus emblica L. (Nelli) Oil, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Welmee) Oil, Sesamum indicum (Sesame) Oil, Allantoin, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, NaOH, Cocamide MEA, CI 77266. The product is for external use on hair only; use should be stopped if irritation or allergy occurs.
