Mysore Sandal:The Millennium Soap Challenge

Here’s a challenge for you. Next time you go to a store to buy provisions for your home, pick up one of the Mysore Sandal Soaps. Presently the Sandal range has four main products – Super Premium, Gold, Baby soap and the normal Mysore sandal. The Latest product which was released in 2012, was the Mysore Sandal Millennium which is a 150g bar of soap which costs a whooping Rs 720. Mind you, people do spend good money for these MS products as they value and trust the brand. http://www.flickr.com/photos/78168947@N08/with/7589116162/#photo_7589116162

Mysore Sandal is yet to have a dissatisfied customer. These lovely bars of soap have been often described by many users to have a mild aroma and creamy texture which enrich the bathing experience triple fold. These products come highly recommended in India and across the world, the Middle East and even from the royal family of Great Britain!

Do not be fooled by the simple and old-fashioned packaging. Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KS&DL), originally believed to be a South-Indian Brand is now worldwide.

Google any site that reviews home care products. Mysore Sandal will undoubtedly pop up with high star ratings and not less than a page long worth of praises on how the product has revolutionized the bathing experience. It is important to be aware of the amazing qualities of Sandalwood oil so as to understand why there is such a high demand for this quality product.

Sandalwood oil acts as an anti-septic which prevents skin rashes. Its astringent qualities helps maintain even structure of skin and prevents dehydration keeping skin soft and supple. The brand is unique due to their use of 100% pure sandalwood oil for their soaps which naturally accounts for its huge consumer base.
So once again, I challenge you. Do pick up that bar of Mysore Sandal and find out what the big deal is. Do also log on to https://www.facebook.com/The.Millennium.Soap and post your views on the product.

What exactly is Soap?

What exactly is Soap? We all use it but what is it? In chemistry we study that it is the salt of a fatty acid. We can use it when we get stung by an ant as it neutralizes the effect of the acid in the ant bite or bee sting.
So where did Soaps originate from? Who made the first ‘Soap’?

Apparently back in 1,000 BC in Rome (Cause everything history and old originates in Rome! Right?), on Mount Sappo , a group of women realized, while doing their daily washing, that the fat of animals when they come in contact with water on clothes, get cleaned. The animal sacrifices that were taking place uphill , from where the daily washing occurred, mixed with ashes from the same sacrifices  seemed to have produced a type of soap.

Later Romans started making soap-like substances from urine! (does this STILL happen? I certainly HOPE not! :S) In 1550 BC , Egyptians were believed to have bathed regularly by combining animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts to create a soap-like substance.

The Celts were the first to give the name ‘Saipo’ from which the word ‘Soap’ was derived.

The Greeks believed it to have medicinal purposes so was used to cleanse the body.

Even Arabs around the 8th Century mention soap as cleansing agent. The Arabs made the soap from vegetable oil like Olive oil or some more aromatic thyme oil. (that sounds SO much better!!) Over time Arab soaps became perfumed and coloured. Some were made hard and some in liquid form.

 

Soaps were historically made by mixing animal fats with caustic lye. In some homes caustic lye was replaced with ashes as the reaction was far safer. The exceptionally finer soaps were later produced in Europe around the 16^th Century using vegetable oils as opposed to animal fats.  Over time soaps became more popular as people started to understand the correlation between cleanliness and health.

Until the Industrial Revolution, the soaps were mostly home-made or at a small-scale level. The technique was exclusive to a small group of soap makers. This product was often rough and over time soap powders and liquid soaps became more popular. A Frenchman in the 1700’s realized the relationship between glycerine, fats and acids which revolutionized soap making and made the cost inputs even cheaper. By the mid-nineteenth century, soap for bathing became separate from laundry soap.

Which finally brings us to the product in hand – the Mysore Sandal Soap.

This product contains one of the oldest known perfumery materials – Sandalwood, as its main ingredient. The oil of Sandalwood is recommended in ancient ayurvedic texts for skin care. It is an excellent antiseptic. It soothes prickly heat and many skin rashes too. This soap is made from pure vegetable ingredients – a completely vegetarian Soap.

Once you know the history, you truly appreciate the work that goes into making an everyday product that we so easily take for granted.

Mysore Sandals Millennium

 

“This is undoubtedly the best soap ever made by mankind”

“This is undoubtedly the best soap ever made by mankind” – a statement from a user of The Mysore Sandal Soap. He goes on to say –“there are soaps and soaps. Some are harsh on the skin and make it dry but not this one”.

This statement justifies how Mysore Sandal does not need a celebrity or ambassador to promote the product. The statement might feel biased and exaggerated considering the fact that he has been using the product for a span of over 10 years but this one of a kind slab of wonder has many customers who would swear by the product’s qualities. Even Queen Victoria would vouch for it as it is one of her favourite skincare products!

Despite the sandalwood tree becoming endangered, Mysore Sandal invests a lot into importing the oil from various states and abroad to provide the best quality of oil in its soap products. Presently the Sandal range has four main products – Super Premium, Gold, Baby soap and the normal Mysore sandal. In 2012, Mysore Sandal launched its Millennium Soap. These soaps offer the right balance between oil and vegetable fat providing the refreshing creaminess of the soap.

Presently this product is in great demand in countries like the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and many South East Asian countries. Mysore Sandal Soaps have been seen on the shelves in North and South America as well.

The unique offerings of the product include relief from prickly heat and protection from skin rashes. The fresh aroma of sandalwood has been deemed sensual since the time of Cleopatra who had an intoxicating perfume made from Sandalwood oil which had a great effect when seducing Caesar and Mark Anthony.

Over the past 20 -30 years, Mysore Sandal has not seen much change in its packaging which goes to say that such a product doesn’t need to ‘show off’ to bring in consumers for the product speaks  for itself.

 

 

Millennium Soap of Mysore Sandal – The History

Mysore Sandal Soap owes its origins to Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, then, the King of Mysore. India being one of the largest producers of sandalwood in the world, was exporting it to European nations even during the 1900’s. However the import was curbed during the First World War. This encouraged the King of Mysore to order the set- up of the Government Soap Factory in Bangalore in 1916 which gave birth to the only soap made of 100% pure sandalwood oil – The Mysore Sandal Soap. This soap factory and several local sandal oil factories later came together to bring about the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KSDL).

The company decided on the creature known as ‘Sharabha’ – with the head of an Elephant and body of a Lion as its logo. This logo represents courage, strength and wisdom which are the virtues the company lives by. Over time, Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KSDL) also came out with other products such as talcum powders, detergents and incense sticks apart from just the Mysore Sandal Soap.
KSDL wanted to step out of being primarily a South Indian brand and become a world renowned brand. After three years of research, in 2012, KSDL launched their most indigenous and expensive Millennium Soap. This 150gm product contains 3% pure sandalwood and costs Rs 720. There are many who are amazed and appalled by the cost of this product, however one must realize that sandalwood itself is becoming a rare species and the oil is becoming far scarcer. And since KSDL uses the best oils of the sandalwood forests go to making the Mysore sandal soap, it is now also being imported from Tamil Nadu and other states. Presently, sandalwood costs almost Rs. 2.1 Lakhs for one liter of pure sandalwood oil!
The Mysore Sandal Millennium Soap also boasts that unlike other skin care products it is a completely ‘vegetarian’ soap using no animal fats. This brand doesn’t really need a model to endorse it as the quality of the product speaks for itself. Every customer to have ever used it can vouch for its excellence.

‘Mysore Sandal Soap’ a household name for years

‘Mysore Sandal Soap’ has been a household name for many years. It owes its origins to the Southern State of Karnataka. Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KS&DL) didn’t want to stay labeled as a South Indian product and wanted to be perceived as what they actually were, a brand which provided their customers with this high quality product using sandalwood – from the land of sandalwood.
In January, this year (2012), Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KS&DL) launched their ‘Mysore Sandal Millennium Soap’.
Two years in the making, the Millennium Soap contains special ingredients with conditioners and moisturizers which boast to improve complexion and retain your natural glow.
It contains pure Sandalwood oil which is what makes it is one of the most expensive soaps available in the market (costing almost 10 times more than the average Indian soap!). Sandalwood oil has been used for many generations to moisturize skin, keeping it supple and young. This trait of Sandalwood puts it on the most wanted list for the cosmetic industry. However, the Sandalwood tree itself being endangered makes it difficult for many to access it, in turn making the Mysore Sandal Soap unique on its own.
Sandalwood is not the only ingredient that makes this product special. It contains Jojoba-Mimosa and Vitamin E. Teamed with Hydrolyzed Milk Proteins (HMP) high in amino acids the product hydrates and maintains elasticity of skin. Topped with Glycerin, like the cherry on the top for an ice-cream sundae, which maintains even structure of skin and prevents dehydration, keeping it soft.
The Millennium soap is available at Five-Star Hotels, all major stores including Hyper-malls and super bazaars. At a later stage, Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KS&DL) proposes to launch their new product in International Markets like in the United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia and parts of West Asia where there is much demand for the finest indigenous cosmetics. In India, the Millennium Soap is sold for Rs 720 for a 150grams bar.
KS&DL has its roots in Karnataka and being pioneers in the creation of this unique product have un-matched customer loyalty and also the added advantage of the know-how to create this blend of sandalwood oil to soap. Here’s to the product from Karnataka aimed at beautifying the world.

How it started ?

In the year 1916, Maharaja of Mysore, His Highness Nalwadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar and Diwan, Sir M. Visvesvaraya, launched India’s most expensive soap at Mysore. This soap was manufactured with the pure and natural sandalwood oil, which has been extracted from sandalwood. The whole idea of launching this soap was to introduce Natural Sandalwood Oil and keep Mysore State in the Global Map. The fragrance of this oil has become the ambassador of India.

If you are interested to explore more about Mysore Sandal Millennium Soap, you can visit http://mysoresandal.co.in/.

The ingredients used in this soap are extracted from the nature such as Vegetable oils, special conditioners, moisturizers, Vitamin-E, Jojoba-Mimosa, natural sandalwood oil and hydrolyzed milk. Each and every ingredient is pure and unique in its own way. In order to protect the skin from dehydration, glycerin is also used. Prior to the manufacturing of the product, the ingredients are thoroughly checked in order to maintain the original aroma and quality in the soap.

Mysore Sandal Millennium Soap was launched by the Honorable Chief Minister Shri D V Sadananda Gowda on 25th January, 2012. Along with him Energy and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Smt. Shobha Karandlaje, Ports and Fisheries Minister Sri Krishna Palemar and other senior officials were also present in the launch of this soap.

You can find more information on http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2832047.ece

Though the cost of Mysore Sandal Soap is high, it is enriched with the nature’s quality and gives positive effect to the skin. This soap includes the secret ingredients used by the Rajas and Maharajas’. In ancient times, Rajas and Maharajas’ used to believe the best way to maintain the softness of their skin was to use natural ingredients. They used the extract of flower, pure milk and various other natural sources, which are not only unique because of aroma but also their hidden qualities.

Super Natural Super Premium

Launched in the year 1916 by Maharaja of Mysore His Highness Nalwadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar and Diwan Sir, M. Visvesvaraya, Mysore Sandal Soap has got global recognition and demand. This is also reckoned as Super premium soap. Mysore Sandal Soap has been honored  with various awards, like the “Export Award” for the year 2006-07 for Excellence in Exports Market; “National Award for Excellence in Cost Management” & Good Performance for the year 2008; “Chief Minister’s Rathna Award” for the year 2009-10.

Mysore Millennium Soap is enriched with the ingredients extracted from the nature, which are skin friendly and enhances the quality of the skin. Vegetable oils, special conditioners, moisturizers, Vitamin-E, Jojoba-Mimosa, natural sandalwood oil and hydrolyzed milk. All the ingredients undergo stringent quality tests, supervised by experienced and highly qualified professionals. This team has years of expertise in R&D and production and their mission is client satisfaction.

The Mysore Sandal company has planned to export this super premium soap to UK, US, Malaysia, West Asia and various other parts of the world. It is natural and maintains the elasticity of the skin without any side-effects. Mysore Sandal Millennium Soap has received a huge recognition nationally as well as internationally, because of its natural quality and pure ingredients. It costs Rs. 720 per 150 gram.

Although it is extremely expensive, the soap has received positive feedback and is in high demand across the globe. The motive of introducing this soap by the Maharaja was to keep the Mysore State in the Global Map. His dreams were fulfilled when the Govt. Sandalwood Factory introduced Natural Sandalwood Oil, the fragrance of which has become the ambassador of India. This fragrance has spread across the world and has been appreciated by people.

India’s most expensive soap launched

On 25 January, 2012, India’s most expensive soap, Mysore Sandal Millennium Soap was launched by the Honorable Chief Minister Shri D V Sadananda Gowda. Energy and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Smt. Shobha Karandlaje, Ports and Fisheries Minister Sri Krishna Palemar and other senior officials were also present in the launch of this soap. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article2832047.ece

The Government Sandalwood Oil factory was  established in the year 1916 by Maharaja of Mysore, His Highness Nalwadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar and Diwan, Sir M. Visvesvaraya at Mysore, to extract Sandalwood Oil from Sandalwood. Today after crossing 97 years of a glorius journey, the factory has produced another miracle – the Millennium soap. Aggressively priced at Rs. 720/- a piece, this is the first time that KSDL (Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd.) has produced and successfully launched such an expensive soap. If you are interested in the legacy of KSDL, read more here http://mysoresandal.co.in/

The soap is enriched with extensive and pure quality vegetable oils mixed with special conditioners, moisturizers, Vitamin-E, Jojoba-Mimosa and natural sandalwood oil. All the ingredients  are well tested and purified prior to the manufacturing of the soap. http://mysoresandal.co.in/product_details.php?pid=37

The sandalwood soap factory is backed by experienced professionals, who  are trained to deliver the best. One 150 gram bar of the Millennium soap costs Rs. 720.  The soap  is augmented with natural ingredients, which cause no harm to the skin and enhances the softness without any side effect – Natural essential oils like – Vetivert Oil, Patchouli, Geranium, Cedarwood, Clove, Guaiac wood, orange etc. The aroma of sandal is natural and soothing. The natural vegetable oil improves the skin quality and smoothen it more and more after every bath. Mysore Sandal Soap is also enriched with Hydrolyzed milk, which includes amino acid. Amino acid maintains elasticity and hydrates the skin.

This super premium soap has –  drawn exciting responses fromthe clients’ and customers’ across the globe. Due to its purity and natural value, this soap has started developing a big client base all over the world.

The Millennium soap is an experience to be enjoyed and shared. When are you buying?