Bathing is something we do every day. And in a hot country like India, many people bathe more than once daily, especially in the summer months. And while bathing, the soap is a must-use item. We have listed India’s top 15 most popular soap brands in India.
There are many benefits of bathing soap. The soap is a potassium salt or calcium salt of fatty acids. The bathing soap is an emulsifier. Through the process of saponification, it cleanses the body.
Some common benefits of bathing soaps are:
- It cleans the skin – this is the major function of bathing soaps. It removes dirt & oil from the skin, thereby keeping it clean & healthy.
- It keeps the skin free of corrosive acids – high pollution content in the atmosphere brings our skin in contact with such acids. These damage our skin and can also cause dermatological diseases. Soaps remove these acids and ensure skin health.
- Soaps have anti-bacterial properties – dry winds and dust deposit harmful bacteria on our skin. The anti-bacterial constituents of bathing soaps help remove these bacteria.
- Prevents pimples and acne – by removing the oil and dirt from the skin surface, bathing soaps help to keep the skin free of acne and pimples.
- Removes impurities – a good quality bathing soap will eliminate the various impurities from the skin and prevent them from entering the body through the skin’s pores. Thus, bathing soaps also help to keep the body healthy.
The soap market in India
In India’s FMCG sector, the soap manufacturing industry is among the oldest. It accounts for more than 50% of the country’s consumer goods segment. Under soap & detergent, toilet soaps, laundry soaps, and synthetic detergents are covered. Bar soaps are of three types – premium, popular, and economic.
The rural market in India has seen good growth in soap usage. Increasing awareness about health & hygiene habits are the reasons behind this. Soap manufacturers are introducing different variants of particular soaps keeping in mind the different income segments. Rural India has more than 3.7 million outlets that sell soaps.
Herbal soaps are also witnessing rapid growths, backed by their medicinal properties. Neem-based soaps are among the high growth ones. India also exports soaps to various countries, key among them being the UAE, Nepal, and the USA.
There are more than 700 companies engaged in soap manufacturing in India, with combined annual revenue of almost $17 billion. The industry is a key contributor to India’s economic kitty and will play a more prominent role in the days to come. Increasing awareness about health & hygiene and deeper penetration in the interior locations will fuel this growth.
Here are the top 15 soap brands of India:
Lifebuoy
Among the most loved and trusted soap brands in India, Lifebuoy is available in every corner of India. It is also among the oldest, having arrived in India almost 125 years ago – just a year after its launch in the UK. It is available in various shapes and sizes, with prices starting from as low as Rs 10. This soap claims to kill almost all types of germs and microbes in your body.
Dettol
For years, Dettol has been the most popular antiseptic liquid in India. It can be found in countless homes across the country. The Dettol soap also claims to have similar antiseptic properties. Available in different fragrances, the soap is also easy on the pocket. The company also produces health and household products like Lysol, Vanish, and Strepsils.
Lux
For years, female film stars from Bollywood have endorsed this soap. And it became known as the “beauty soap for film stars.” Lux came to India in 1929. Thereafter, it steadily rose in popularity and held the top spot until the mid-1980s. it comes in regular and a high-priced luxury variant. Very few people know that Lux belongs to Hindustan Unilever Company that is originally a British-Dutch company.
Cinthol – Godrej
Manufactured by the renowned Godrej Group, Cinthol is another extremely popular soap in India. Widely available, the sturdy soap comes in different variants. It has a great fragrance and keeps the skin fresh throughout the day. Cinthol was India’s first germicidal and deodorant soap brand. Apart from the Original version, it comes in Confidence +, Cool, and Deo variants.
Patanjali
Patanjali Soap is an Indian brand that is counted among the leading Soap manufacturer. A late entrant, but riding high on the “ayurvedic” wave, Patanjali has become quite popular in the soap market. Made from a variety of herbs, these soaps promise to be among the most skin-friendly & healthy. Patanjali soaps are among India’s most economically-priced and come in 17 variants.
Liril Soap
A highly popular soap in India and also in some parts of Asia & Europe, Liril contains lemon & tea tree oil extracts that provide a long-lasting fragrance. They are also good for the skin and ensure that the skin stays healthy for a longer period. The blue variant, Icy Cool Mint, is also a well-known soap that’s quite popular with youngsters.
Pears Soap
This is among the best soaps in India for dry skin. Pears soap contains glycerin that is an extremely important antidote for dry skin. The soap was invented abroad almost 250 years ago. Unilever took over the brand and brought it to India. The fragrant soap is quite long-lasting and provides the required moisture to the skin. It comes in 3 variants – Pure & Gentle, Clear & Glow, and Soft & Fresh.
Dove Soap
Essential cleansers present in Dove soap clean the skin without stripping it of essential nutrients. The Dove beauty bar keeps the skin fully hydrated, smooth, and radiant. While the Original Dove Beauty Cream Bar is highly popular, Dove has come out with more variants like Dove Go Fresh Moisture Beauty Bathing Bar and Dove Pink/Rosa Beauty Bathing Bar. Dove products are among the fastest-growing in its segment in India.
Hamam
The Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO) had launched Hamam soap back in 1931. Unilever acquired the brand later. But Hamam has always been positioned as the perfect soap for the entire family. Even children could safely use it. Hamam soaps are priced quite reasonably. Slightly higher-priced variants like Aloe Vera, Tulsi, and Neem are also available.
Medimix
The Medimix is among the few vegetarian soap brands in India. The Ayurvedic Medimix soap is a perfect blend of the pure and premium quality vegetable glycerin and Ayurvedic Lakshadi oil. It keeps the skin moisturized and soft, reducing itches and cracks that dryness causes. All skin types are appropriate for using this soap. Medimix also protects the skin against rashes, boils, pimples, and other skin ailments. It also helps to fight body odor. It comes in several variants like Classic 18 herbs, natural glycerin, sandal, and turmeric.
Santoor
Sandalwood paste and oil have been key ingredients for skincare and beautification in India since the Vedic ages. It was a common ritual in rich families to rub sandalwood oil on their bodies after bathing for its fragrance and medicinal qualities. And in this day and age, the Santoor Sandalwood soap allows you to enjoy this luxury. And you can do so at a highly reasonable price, starting from Rs 20 per bar. The soap also contains turmeric – another skincare ingredient.
Margo – Henkel-SPIC
Originally manufactured by the Calcutta Chemical Company, Margo enjoyed a market share of almost 9% in the late 1980s – making it among the top 5 brands then. Made from pure and original neem extracts, Margo helps fight a wide range of skin ailments. It also allows the skin to stay soft & smooth.
Mysore Sandal Soap
Made in India, Mysore Sandal Soap is among the popular company in South India. Containing the exclusive and much-coveted sandalwood extracts, a bath with the Mysore Sandal Soap would be a royal experience for you – at a price that is well within the reach of common people. This soap was the first sandalwood extract soap that was marketed commercially. Available across the country, Mysore Sandal Soap has held on to its premium position for the last seven decades.
Himalaya
The reputed Himalaya group manufactures a wide range of Ayurvedic products, including soaps, cosmetics, and medicines. All its products are entirely herbal. For its signature soap products, Himalaya uses ingredients like almond, turmeric, neem, and rose, among others.
Godrej No. 1
Another premium product from the Godrej stable, this soap keeps your skin soft and glowing. The natural ingredients nourish and cleanse the skin without causing any damage. By volume, Godrej No. 1 is India’s third-largest soap brand. It is also among the top-selling soap brands of the country.
List of Top 15 Popular Soap Brands in India
| Sl. No. | Company | Customer care | Head office | Website |
| 1 | Lifebuoy | 1800 102 2221 | United Kingdom | https://www.lifebuoy.in/ |
| 2 | Dettol | 8000009845 | Gurgaon | https://www.dettol.co.in/ |
| 3 | Lux | 1-800-1022-221 | Kolkata | https://www.lux.com |
| 4 | Cinthol – Godrej | 1800 209 551 | Mumbai | https://awesomemen.cinthol.com/ |
| 5 | Patanjali | 1800 180 4108 | Haridwar | https://www.patanjaliayurved.net/ |
| 6 | Liril | 1800 102 2221 | Mumbai | https://www.hul.co.in/brands/personal-care/liril.html |
| 7 | Pears | 1800 102 2221 | Mumbai | https://www.pearspuresince1807.com/us/products/pears-pure-and-gentle-soap |
| 8 | Dove | 1800 102 2221 | Mumbai | https://www.dove.com/in/washing-and-bathing/beauty-bar.html |
| 9 | Hamam | 1800 102 2221 | Mumbai | https://www.hul.co.in/brands/personal-care/hamam.html |
| 10 | Medimix | 1800 103 1282 | Chennai | https://www.cholayil.com/ |
| 11 | Santoor | 6291633469 | Tumkur | https://www.nykaa.com/brands/santoor/ |
| 12 | Margo – Henkel-SPIC | +91-8048707004/ +91-8048876216 | Delhi | N/A |
| 13 | Mysore Sandal Soap | 1800-1039-073 | Bengaluru | https://www.mysurusandal.co.in/ |
| 14 | Himalaya | 1800 208 1930 | Bengaluru | https://himalayawellness.in/ |
| 15 | Godrej No. 1 | 1800-266-0007 | Mumbai | https://www.godrejno1.com/ |
Other brands:
