IMPERIAL GROUPAMONG THE TOP 5 COMPANIES IN THE INDIAN FRAGRANCE INDUSTRY
Global Demand Rising for India’s Traditional Fragrances:
Imperial Group, one of the top five companies in the fragrance industry, is a well-known name in India and abroad. Exporting premium-quality products to more than 30 countries in the field of perfumery. The company’s Head, Mr. Mrinal Naik, believes that global demand is steadily increasing for India’s traditional fragrances such as rose, sandalwood, mogra, juhi, oud, bakhoor and mukhallat.
Global Demand Rising for India’s Traditional Fragrances : Mrinal Naik
Imperial Group, one of the top five companies in the fragrance industry, is a wellknown name in India and abroad. Exporting premium-quality products to more than 30 countries in the field of perfumery. The company’s Head, Mr. Mrinal Naik, believes that global demand is steadily increasing for India’s traditional fragrances such as rose, sandalwood, mogra, juhi, oud, bakhoor and mukhallat.
Traditional Fragrances Are India’s Identity in the Global Market
Advising manufacturers associated with the agarbatti and fragrance industry, he said that Imperial Group’s recognition in India and overseas is the result of consistently promoting India’s traditional fragrance heritage. This is why not only Imperial, but several other Indian companies have also become popular in international markets. He added that global demand for Indian fragrances is growing rapidly. Countries like China are also active in this trade, but while their products may be cheaper, they often fail to meet the quality expectations of markets such as the US, Europe and Dubai. Therefore, it is important to work on new fragrances preferred by the younger generation while continuing to focus on traditional scents.
A Legacy of 100 Years
Imperial Fragrances has been associated with the fragrance industry for nearly a century. Mr. Mrinal Naik shared that the business was started by his grandfather, who came to Kolkata in 1920 and began working at a perfume shop. During the Partition in 1947, when the shop owner was leaving Kolkata, he offered to sell the shop to Mr. Khandubhai Naik, who is the grandfather of Mr. Mrinal Naik. In 1948, the family formally started its own perfume business from that same shop. Later, his father took over the operations. After completing his graduation in 1993, Mr. Mrinal Naik joined the business and established a manufacturing facility. Therefore Mr. Amish Naik, brother of Mr. Mrinal Naik in 1999 joined the company. The company’s first product was launched in 1996. He said that with the blessings of his grandfather and father, the business has continued to grow steadily & both the brothers have worked to take the company to the next level.
Moving Towards Becoming One of the World’s Top Fragrance Companies
He said that his personal objective was to make the Imperial Group recognized among the world’s top ten fragrance companies. While the company has achieved this goal to a large extent, the team continues to work with the same passion and focus on innovation and development.
Over 1000 Products and a Strong International Network
Mr. Mrinal Naik explained that Imperial Fragrances primarily focuses on developing fragrances for attars, fine fragrances, perfumes and the agarbatti industry. In addition, the company also supplies fragrances for cosmetics, creams, soaps and detergents. Currently, the company offers nearly 1000 different products in different parts of the world. Today Imperial Fragrances is a global name.
Strong Position in the Agarbatti Segment
Mr. Naik stated that Imperial has built strong expertise in Arabic notes such as sandalwood, oud and mukhallat for the agarbatti industry. These fragrance profiles have become the company’s signatured and have helped to establish a quality benchmark in the market.
He also added that younger consumers are attracted to fruity notes like pineapple and mango and prefer experimenting with new fragrances.
In-House Technology Ensures Better Performance
Mr. Naik explained that fragrance in agarbatti is released after burning, and Imperial has developed this technology in-house. Special techniques are used to ensure that the fragrance after burning remains close to the original perfume profile, resulting in better performance and higher customer satisfaction.
Right Product at the Right Price Is the Key to Success
Addressing the issue of price competition in the domestic market, he said that India’s market continues to grow year after year and is unlikely to decline in the future. However, India has consumers across all income segments, each with different budgets. If a customer wants a ₹20 pack, manufacturers must deliver a good product at that price. Companies that offer the right quality at the right price are the ones that succeed in the market.
IFRA Standards Must Be Followed — No Compromise on Safety
Speaking about IFRA standards, Mr. Naik said that if certain chemicals are considered harmful in European or US markets, they should not be used in India either. Imperial strictly follows IFRA guidelines, and many manufacturers now actively check whether their products contain any restricted substances before proceeding with production.
Rising Export Demand for Indian Fragrances
Discussing future plans, he said that the company is focusing on both domestic and international markets. Mukhallat and bakhoor, which were earlier popular mainly in Gulf countries, are now gaining strong demand in Europe as well. Therefore, the company plans to further strengthen its work on traditional fragrance profiles.
India’s Strength Against Multinational Competition
He emphasized that India possesses deep traditional knowledge in fragrance creation. If Indian companies work together, the country’s position in the global fragrance market can become even stronger despite competition from multinational corporations.
Teamwork Is Imperial Group’s Greatest Strength
Talking about the company’s growth journey, Mr. Naik said that Imperial strongly believes in teamwork. His brother, Mr. Amish Naik, heads the agarbatti division and has helped to establish new trends in this segment, making Imperial the third-largest supplier in this category. His son, Mr. Raghav Naik, has also joined the company after completing his education in 2022.
Additionally, Mr. Jatish Seth is a Director and manages operations across India & overseas. While the company’s base is in Eastern India, its products now reach markets across the world, driven by a strong and united team.
