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Today, whenever there is talk of old and reliable soaps, names like Lux, Lifebuoy or Cinthol come to people’s mind. But very few people know that India’s first indigenous soap was not prepared by any foreign company, but by an Indian princely state. It was not just a soap, but a combination of Indian fragrance, royal heritage and indigenous skills, which created its own special identity from villages to big cities.

We are talking about Mysore Sandal Soap, whose fragrance still reminds people of the old times. The history of this soap made from sandalwood is more than 100 years old. There was a time when wearing it was considered a royal hobby. Its discussion had reached not only India but also many royal families of foreign countries. The special thing is that this soap was not started with any business plan but from a difficult period.

When there was a pile of sandalwood

The First World War was going on around the year 1916. At that time the princely state of Mysore was famous for sandalwood, but due to the war its trade got affected. The situation became such that a huge stock of sandalwood started accumulating. Then Mysore ruler Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and his dewan Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya discovered a new path. It was decided to extract oil from sandalwood and make products from it which would be in demand all over the world. This is where the story of Mysore Sandal Soap began.

Soap making technology learned from England

At that time, it was not easy to make soap in a modern way in India. Therefore, a young Indian chemist was sent to England, so that he could learn the technique of making soap from there. When he returned after taking training abroad, he started making indigenous soap in Mysore. Gradually this soap started becoming popular among the people due to its different fragrance and quality. At that time the market was dominated by foreign products, but Mysore Sandal Soap created its own identity.

There was splendor everywhere from village to city

Mysore Sandal Soap was not limited to big cities only. The news of its fragrance and purity reached the villages. People used it on special occasions. In many homes, by keeping it in the cupboard, the scent of sandalwood would permeate even the clothes.

At that time, this soap was also promoted in a very unique way. A procession of camels was even taken out for its promotion in Karachi, which was much talked about at that time.

Luck shines again after difficult times

With time, the entry of foreign companies in the market increased and in the 1990s the demand for this indigenous soap started decreasing. Mysore Sandal Soap had to struggle between big advertisements and new brands. However, later the company changed its marketing strategy and made this historical brand popular among the people again. Even today this soap is considered a symbol of luxury and tradition. Its sandalwood fragrance still reminds people of old India.