When I was in college in the mid-1980s, I took a course in rural economics at an institute out in the country outside of Bangalore, India. It was a beautiful place. Our simple but comfortable quarters had private bathrooms, but no running hot water. Each morning, I would carry a large bucket to a central outdoor tap, fill it with hot water and return to our rooms to bathe, a ritual that I grew to enjoy.
Our rooms didn’t have all the mod cons, but they did have one luxury — Mysore Sandal Soap, a creamy, fragrant soap made at the State of Karnataka’s Government Soap Factory from real sandalwood oil. The scent is woody and just slightly sweet, but still fresh and clean. Since then I’ve loved the scent of sandalwood, and I tried every sandalwood soap I could find, but none could compare to my memory of that soap from my college days.
A decade later I ran across the bright boxes of Mysore Sandal Soap at an Indian grocer in Berkeley, California. One whiff took me back to India. I would have paid almost anything for a bar, but the price was $1. I’ve stayed well-stocked since.
Mysore Sandal Soap is available at Indian grocers for around $1-2 dollars for a hand size bar and $2-3 dollars for a bath size. You can also buy a 12-pack of the smaller size for $16.99 at www.amazon.com. To learn more about Mysore Sandal Soap and Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (A Government of Karnataka Undertaking), check out their website at www.mysoresandal.co.in.
While we’re on the topic of sandalwood, I’ve also found a sandalwood scented candle that I really like. The Votivo Pondicherry Sandalwood candle has the same clean woody scent as the soap, at least to my nose. While I still think that France’s Diptyque sets the standard for scented candles, I think this one compares favorably to Diptyque’s “Santal,” and for less than half the price. The Votivo Pondicherry Sandalwood candle is available though www.amazon.com for $25, or consult www.votivo.com to find a store.
