Utama Spice is an Indonesian natural skincare and wellness brand headquartered in Ubud, Bali. The company specializes in handmade skincare, body-care, aromatherapy and related natural products inspired by Balinese herbal traditions and the use of botanical ingredients. Utama Spice describes its products as being made from 100% natural ingredients and places particular emphasis on traditional knowledge, small-batch production and the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana. 1

The company traces its origins to 1989, when Melanie Templer and Dayu Suci began making natural remedies and beauty products in Bali. Their original objective was not simply to create commercial skincare, but also to preserve traditional Balinese knowledge of herbs, plants and natural remedies that they believed was being displaced by modern products. 2

Today, Utama Spice remains a family-oriented business and continues to manufacture its products in Bali. The company has expanded from its original handmade remedies into a broader range of skincare, body care, essential oils, incense, soaps, balms, oils and other natural-living products. In 2026, the company identifies Ria Templer, Melanie Templer’s daughter, as its founder and brand director.

Origins

Utama Spice was established in 1989 in Bali. According to the company’s history, Melanie Templer developed an interest in Indonesian plants and traditional remedies after moving to Bali. She subsequently worked with Dayu Suci, who possessed extensive knowledge of Balinese herbal medicine and traditional remedies.

The two women began experimenting with natural ingredients and essential oils, initially producing remedies for themselves, their families and friends. One of the earliest products associated with the company was Temple Spice, a natural incense made from flowers, herbs, barks, oils, nuts and spices. The company says that Temple Spice took approximately two years to develop and became its first product.

The early business operated on a small scale, essentially beginning in a household kitchen. Interest from customers outside Bali eventually encouraged the founders to commercialize the products. One early turning point came when a visitor from California became interested in Templer’s natural massage oil and subsequently ordered products for a shop in California.

Development of the Brand

During its early years, Utama Spice developed from a small producer of traditional remedies and incense into a wider natural skincare business. Its products came to include massage oils, balms, soaps, body butters, essential oils and other personal-care products.

The company subsequently expanded its presence beyond Bali. In a 2017 statement, Ria Templer described the company’s move from being a local family business toward serving an international market.

According to the company’s account, Ria Templer later became involved in management and helped shift the business from its earlier dependence on bulk spa sales toward a stronger retail-oriented brand. This included changes to packaging, retail development and expansion of the company’s international presence.

A central part of Utama Spice’s identity is the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, a Balinese concept concerning harmony between people, nature and the divine. The company uses this philosophy as a framework for its approach to employees, suppliers, production and environmental responsibility. 3

Utama Spice says it aims to support local communities and natural-resource-based livelihoods, including initiatives involving organic farming, beekeeping and seaweed farming. The company also describes itself as a small family-oriented enterprise rather than seeking to become a large industrial manufacturer.

The company’s philosophy is also reflected in its frequently stated principle that products intended for the skin should be made from ingredients considered sufficiently natural for the body. Its Singapore operation summarizes this philosophy as making products simple enough that they could, metaphorically, be considered “food for your skin.” 4

Utama Spice’s product portfolio has expanded considerably from its original incense and remedies. Its current range includes several broad categories:

• Face care, including facial oils and serums
• Body care, including body oils, balms and body butters
• Bath and shower products, including liquid soaps
• Essential oils and aromatherapy products
• Hair care
• Natural insect-repellent products
• Incense
• Lip-care products
• Natural wellness and lifestyle products

One of its longstanding products is Temple Spice Incense, which the company identifies as its first product. The incense is made using locally sourced herbs and spices and is hand-rolled in Bali.

Another recognizable product is Begone Bug, a plant-based insect-repellent spray formulated with essential oils including citronella, clove and cajeput.

Utama Spice emphasizes the use of natural botanical ingredients, including plant oils, essential oils, herbs, spices, flowers, coconut oil and plant-derived butters. The company’s official materials state that it does not use synthetic fragrances, artificial colorants, chemical binding agents or synthetic preservatives in its core product philosophy.

Virgin coconut oil is particularly important to the brand’s formulation philosophy. The company’s Singapore operation states that cold-pressed virgin coconut oil is used in many of its products. 4

An example is the company’s Natural Face Serum, which currently lists ingredients including argan oil, jojoba oil, virgin coconut oil, cocoa butter and several essential oils.

Utama Spice describes its manufacturing facility in Bali as being more similar to a kitchen than a conventional factory. Production workers are characterized as functioning like chefs, with ingredients measured, blended and processed in small batches.

The company says that production areas and equipment are maintained under strict hygiene procedures to reduce cross-contamination. Raw materials and finished products are checked throughout the production process as part of its quality-control system.

Hand production is an important part of the brand’s identity. The company continues to describe its products as handmade and small-batch rather than mass-produced. In a September 2026 reflection, Utama Spice stated that its small-batch approach has remained a defining part of the business since its beginning in 1989.

Utama Spice places particular emphasis on employing people from the communities surrounding its production operations in Bali. The company says that a large proportion of its workforce consists of local women, many of whom have developed extensive experience with the company’s products and Balinese herbal techniques. 5

The company’s Singapore operation describes Utama Spice as a small social enterprise that provides employment opportunities for women in the local Ubud community and supports selected community and sustainable-farming initiatives.

One of the defining characteristics of Utama Spice is its attempt to connect contemporary personal care with traditional Indonesian and Balinese herbal knowledge.

The company was founded partly in response to concerns that traditional knowledge surrounding herbs and spices was being lost as modern commercial products became more widespread. Dayu Suci’s knowledge of traditional remedies provided an important foundation for the company’s early formulations.

Consequently, Utama Spice positions itself not merely as a cosmetics manufacturer but as a business connected to Bali’s broader traditions of herbalism, natural remedies and ritual.

Environmental and social considerations form another component of Utama Spice’s corporate philosophy. The company says that it seeks to minimize its environmental impact and works with local agricultural communities. It has specifically mentioned support for organic farming, beekeeping and seaweed farming.

The company’s products also make use of recycled or recyclable packaging in some cases. For example, its Temple Spice incense is described as being wrapped in recycled paper.

Utama Spice also states that it does not test on animals and has been pursuing vegan certification for its products.

Although its roots remain in Bali, Utama Spice has developed an international customer base. The company launched a dedicated international website in the 2010s and has subsequently marketed its products outside Indonesia.

Its products are also distributed in markets outside Indonesia, including Singapore, where a dedicated Utama Spice Singapore operation promotes the brand and lists selected local stockists.

The company continues to operate dedicated stores in Bali, with its Singapore operation referring customers to locations in Ubud, Sanur and Seminyak.

Utama Spice has retained a strong family-business character throughout its development. Melanie Templer was one of the original founders, while her daughter Ria Templer subsequently became involved in the management and development of the company.

Current company publications identify Ria Templer as Founder and Brand Director, describing the business as having passed from mother to daughter. 6

This generational continuity is an important part of Utama Spice’s current brand story: the company presents its development not as a replacement of its original philosophy but as an attempt to carry its founder’s approach to natural, handmade production into a contemporary market.

Utama Spice can broadly be characterized as a Balinese natural skincare and wellness brand built around four interconnected ideas:

1. Traditional knowledge — drawing on Balinese and Indonesian herbal practices.
2. Natural ingredients — emphasizing plant oils, herbs, spices and essential oils.
3. Handmade production — maintaining relatively small-scale, hands-on manufacturing.
4. Social and environmental responsibility — reflecting the Balinese principle of Tri Hita Karana in relationships with people, nature and the wider community.

The result is a brand positioned between traditional Balinese herbal culture, modern natural skincare and lifestyle/wellness retail.

Utama Spice is a Bali-founded natural skincare and wellness company established in 1989 by Melanie Templer and Dayu Suci. Its origins lie in an effort to preserve Balinese herbal knowledge and transform traditional botanical remedies into contemporary personal-care products. From its beginnings in a small kitchen, the company has developed into an international natural-beauty brand while retaining a strong emphasis on handmade production, botanical ingredients, local employment and the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana.

1. About Us – Utama Spice
2. Utama Spice Bali: Natural Skin Care & Aromatherapy
3. Shop the Best in 100% Natural Beauty – Utama Spice
4. About Us – Utama Spice Singapore
5. Our Story – Utama Spice
6. UTAMA SPICEの歴史 – UTAMA SPICE