01 May Perfume industry similar to fashion industry : Mrinal Naik
The perfume industry is also like the fashion industry. Changes keep happening in it all the time. Similarly, the perfumer also needs to modify the product to stay in the market. Those who fail to do so will definitely be out of the market. Perfume is in every aspect of life. Nowadays, youth does not commit to a perfume for long. They like new things. They want to experiment. In such a situation, it is necessary that it is the responsibility of the perfumers to provide the youth with the perfume of their choice. Says, Mrinal Naik, director of Kolkata-based perfumery house Imperial Fragrances & Flavours Pvt. Ltd..
Established in 1998, the company is run jointly by Mr. Naik and his brother. In an exclusive conversation with Sugandh India, Naik says that he has inherited the perfumery business. His grandfather, Shri KD Naik, started the perfume business under the name National Perfumery House in 1948. After him Naik’s father Mr. Subhash Naik took over the firm and now Naik and his brother have turned it into a special identity in the perfumery industry through manufacturing. He told Sugandh India that along with Imperial Fragrance, the original shop started by grandfather is also running. The only difference is that National is a perfumery trading firm and Imperial is a fragrance manufacturing company. Replying to another question from Sugandh India, Mrinal Naik says that the scope of the agarbatti industry is continuously expanding. The reason for this is the increase in the use of incense sticks. He says that not only the mindset of the people is changing but their choices are also different now.
This is the reason that now along with flowers, flavored and fruity incense sticks are also getting a good acceptance in the market. Incense sticks were earlier used only in worship, but now it is not so. From aromatherapy to spa centers and room fresheners, incense sticks are being used indiscriminately today. Along with natural, other fragrances are also being used extensively. Now fruity incense sticks are also being sold along with flowers. Fruity items like Pineapple, Strawberry, Orange etc. are being liked by the new generation. This trend has even reached the villages. However, the formulation of this fragrance used in incense sticks is chemical rather than natural. Another special thing he said is that the natural aroma is making a return in Pan Masala, Zarda and Mouth Freshener too. Keeping in mind the preferences of the customers, pan masala manufacturing companies are diverting from chemical to natural. Kevda and sandal are mostly used in pan masala. Claiming that the Russia-Ukraine war would have a serious impact on the perfumery industry, Naik told Sugandh India that the rates of raw materials have gone up. Giving the example of incense sticks, he said that the major compound used in it is DEP. Its prices have increased almost one and a half times since the start of the war.
Naik’s company supplies incense sticks, pan masala and zarda perfume compound. He told that the season of flowery incense sticks is still there, but now the demand for fruity items is also increasing continuously. Keeping in mind the increasing demand of incense sticks and the changing thinking of the people, the players of the agarbatti market are now engaged in doing new experiments.
People are also liking these experiments, such as incense sticks with aromas of chocolate, lavender etc. are also preparing their own market. Naik, a member of the France-based International Fragrance Association(IFRA), wants the branch of IFRA to be established in India as well. It has only three members in India including Imperial Fragrances. He says that after the arrival of IFRA in India, a law will be made which will stop mal-practices. If this happens, the perfume industry will get its direct benefit.
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