8 foreign perfume brands to hit India

It is raining international perfumes and cosmetics in the country. After the recent launch by French perfume and cosmetics company Christian Breton in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, two French brands, another two from Italy, a British one, a Japanese one, an Australian one and a German perfume company would make their first foray into Indian market this year.

The major groups to enter the country include Britain's European Designer Parfums, Italian Eurocosmesi Group, Elite Model Look Parfums and Jean Charles Bosseau Parfums from France among others.

Owing to tremendous response to its brands in the country, Hugo Boss, Gucci, Mont Blanc, and Alfred Dunhill are planning to introduce new products shortly.

The market for international fragrances in India is estimated to be around Rs 350 crore, which has grown at a steady rate of 20 per cent every year.

Naresh Gurnani, group general manager for MKP Distributors, the sole distributors of international fragrances and cosmetics in India, believes that the market for international fragrances and branded cosmetics would record a growth of 30 per cent in the next one year.

After acquiring distribution rights for around 44 international brands, MKP has divided its business portfolio into five separate divisions namely prestige, semi-prestige, mass, skin care and cosmetics, and retail to cater to the growing market.

The company is also in the process of expanding its "Parfum Boutique", a retail chain of boutiques by 2008. The cities where the boutique is set to be launched include Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Ahmedabad and Goa.

The Parfum Boutique in Bangalore and Mumbai would start functioning by July, said Gurnani.