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Kohl-herbal cosmetics: Bareilly to enter global market
by Vineet Singh

          Bareilly: The trend is to use herbals for beauty treatment. Manufacturers and exporters of kohl in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly District are entering the market of medicated cosmetics across the globe. The export of kohl manufactured in the city has crossed the figure of rupees 40 crore expanding its domain from Arab countries to the European markets. "We make medicated kohl here. Our annual turn-over is around rupees seven crore. Our kohl is exported mostly in Saudi Arab and other Islamic countries. The demand is increasing in European countries also," said Ravi Bahar Hashmi, a kohl manufacturer and exporter. After importing different types of raw kohl stones, the manufacturing process takes couple of days, which include grinding the raw stones, mixing medicinal herbs with kohl powder and packaging. "The best quality of kohl stone comes from Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Ordinary kohl stones cost rupees 100 per kilogram, whereas, the Mecca stones cost from 200 to 300 rupees per kilogram. The whole process of preparing one kilogram of kohl, which includes mixing of various medicated herbs, costs anywhere from 3,000 to 15,000 rupees," said Virendra Arora, a trader. The market of personal care and cosmetics in India is worth more than rupees 167,636 million. Currently, the global market for cosmetics and toiletries ingredients is estimated to be over 14.7 billion dollar. Kohl has been the most common article in the vanity box of women since the medieval period, when they used it to darken their eyelids.
- February 5, 2007