Mysore sandal soap: A story of 'Aatmanirbhar' India by Neha Tyagi


KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • King Krishna Raja Wodeyar and Diwan M. Vishweshwaraiah, set up the Government Sandalwood oil factory in 1916
  • First Mysore Sandal Soap was produced in the year 1918
  • Mysore Sandal has diversified into several categories and is exported to   over 25 countries today

Mysore Sandal Soap has held a very special place in the hearts of Indians for more than a century now. All across the country it is known for its unique oval shape, the green and red box packaging and the sweet sandalwood fragrance. Not only is Mysore Sandal said to be the only soap in the world that contains 100% natural sandalwood oil. It is also 100% made in India, making it a great example of 'Aatmanirbhar' India.

Mysore Sandal soap was born in the middle of world war I in 1916 when the Kingdom of Mysore couldn’t export its sandalwood to Europe. The king at the time, Krishan Raja Wadiyar IV and Diwan M. Vishweshwaraiah set up the government Sandalwood oil factory and the rest is fragrant history.

Two years later, when the Maharaja received a rare gift pack of soaps made using sandalwood oil produced in India from France, he decided to make the soaps in India as well.

Sri S.G. Shastri, who was a qualified Industrial Chemist, was sent to London for an advanced training on Soap & Perfumery technology.

On his return, the first indigenous sandal soap was produced and introduced in the market under the brand name of Mysore Sandal in the year 1918.

The soap quickly became popular with the public, not just within the princely state but across the country. By 1965, the soap was being exported to several countries. The Government soap factory was converted into a public enterprise in 1980 and re-named Karnataka Soaps and Detergent Limited (KSDL).

The company did face tough competition from multinational companies in the 1990's leading to a decline in demand and piling up of losses. However, in 2003, with State government help, the company was able to wipe out its losses and restart.

Mysore Sandal became a 100-year-old brand in 2016. Today the company boasts of a wide variety of portfolio that includes handwashes, liquid detergents, talc, baby powders and agarbattis. They are working on launching fresheners, deodorants, perfumes, shaving gels, body wash gels, and herbal products.

Mysore Sand today is exported to over 25 countries including the US, Europe and middle-east. In FY 19, the company recorded it's highest ever turnover of Rs 672 Cr and is likely to close FY20 at around ₹800 crores.

KSDL has also launched the "Grow More Sandalwood" scheme to encourage commercial cultivation of Sandalwood in order to promote rural economic empowerment through the creation of employment that is large scale and also conserve the species that are threatening to become extinct.


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