7 months ago
Santoor Soap Becomes India's Top-Selling Soap
Santoor soap, made by Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, has become the top-selling soap in India.
It makes a lot of money, even more than big brands like Lifebuoy and Lux.
Santoor has been around for 40 years and is known for its orange color and ingredients like sandalwood and turmeric.
It's popular because it's affordable and promises to make your skin look younger.
The company has been smart by focusing on small towns and rural areas, and by not changing its main product too much.
Experts say Santoor's success comes from understanding what Indian women want and staying true to its brand.
However, the company needs to keep innovating to stay on top.
Santoor soap has surpassed Lifebuoy to become India's top-selling soap with 2,850 crore in 2025 revenues.
WCCL's CEO Vineet Agarwal attributes Santoor's success to deep consumer understanding and disciplined execution.
Santoor's pricing strategy and cultural relevance have made it a reliable choice for middle-class and rural consumers.
The brand's success is credited to its slow burn strategy and timeless proposition of younger-looking skin.
Santoor has expanded into higher value offerings like hand wash, shower gels, and body lotions to build equity and attract younger users.
- Who
- Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting (WCCL)
- What
- Santoor soap becomes India's top-selling soap
- Where
- India
- When
- 2025
- Why
- Deep consumer understanding, disciplined execution, and consistent value creation
Key facts
- Brand
- Santoor
- Company
- Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting (WCCL)
- Revenue
- 2,850 crore (2025)
- Competitors
- Lifebuoy, Lux
- Market Share
- Largest-selling soap in India
- Key Ingredients
- Sandalwood and turmeric
- Target Market
- Middle-class and rural consumers
- Advertising Strategy
- Timeless proposition of younger-looking skin
Quotes
Nisha Sampath
Managing partner at Bright Angles Consulting
“Its success comes from owning an insight, which is deeply aspirational to the Indian woman. Its youthful beauty proposition feels more credible for the mass Indian consumer, especially in South Indian states which have been the traditional stronghold of the brand.”
financialexpress.com
“These expansions have helped the brand build equity in a category that is prone to consumer flirtation, while also building a bridge with younger users.”
financialexpress.com
Ankur Bisen
Senior partner and head of consulting at The Knowledge Company
“This factor might have resulted in certain gaps in the market, giving Santoor an opening, allowing it to edge past Lifebuoy. Having said that, Santoor’s strong brand legacy, pan-India presence and ability to stay relevant by contemporising its communication, packaging and offerings have also helped it make serious gains.”
financialexpress.com
“The notion of brand equity in the consumer’s mind is becoming increasingly challenged. Emotive appeal is no longer a guarantee for loyalty, as consumers switch logos and brands for various reasons such as pricing, availability or convenience.”
financialexpress.com
Vineet Agarwal
CEO of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting (WCCL)
“Santoor’s journey has been shaped by deep consumer understanding, disciplined execution, and the belief that consistent value creation wins over time. We have worked to give great quality to the consumer, by constantly upgrading the product, be it in perfume, superior sensorial or performance in hard water, which combined with exciting advertising — have all helped shape the brand’s success.”
financialexpress.com
Ambi Parameswaran
Brand strategist and founder of Brand-Building.com
“The company took a steady, measured approach, staying rooted in the small towns and rural markets and with the middle-class consumer with attractive pricing, including `10 packs.”
financialexpress.com
Rutu Mody Kamdar
Founder of Jigsaw Brand Consultants
“It took ingredients already present in Indian homes, part of beauty rituals passed down through generations, and packaged them with modern credibility. For consumers navigating the desi-global juggle, Santoor offered permission to choose familiar over foreign without feeling regressive.”
financialexpress.com
