Shri B.R. Betaiah Setty just in his teens, began selling fragrant dreams. In 1928, at an young age of 17, along with his father and brothers, he started manufacaturing and selling incense sticks under the banner of Ananda Perfumery. But life was not a bed of roses. It was 3 decades of treading on thorny roads before the first taste of succes, whey Shri Betaiah Setty indentently founded MAHENDRA PERFUMERY WORKS in 1961. Taking off with a hand full of brands, like Mahendra No.24, Mahendra Gulabi and Kashmiri Rose, he found welcoming in the state of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Fascinatingly even after four decades, these vintage fragrances continue to be the hot favourites of the masses at home and abroad.The hands of founder were reinforced seven years later, when his sons Shri B. Krishna Kumar, with an engineering background and Shri B. Surya prakash with commerce backgrouond joined the firm. With their expertise in engineering and commerce, they were able to apply the latest techniques in blending of ingredients, for authentic quality and give a new fillip to their fragrant legacy. They were also able to stretch the strings of their business, to penetrate nooks and corners of the Indian sub-continent and add new fragrances to the array of existing brands.
It was in 1981 that Shri B. Srinivas Murthy, with his chemical engineering background joined his family run business to give a new dimension to the concept of incense sticks. Enchanting aromatic compounds were sourced from across the globe, to add an international touch of quality to the incense sticks. New fragrances had extended the spectrum of brands to 25. These rare new fragrances opened avenues for fresh markets and intensified the business. Founding of Betco Enterprises was not merely to augment the production of Mahendra Perfumery, but also cater to the characteristic needs of the eastern states.
The year 1999 saw the addition of the youngest member of the echelon to the family enterprise. Shri. B.K. Mahendra, grand son of the founder, with his commerce background is all set to delve in to newer horizons.
Exotic fragrances immersing our epic lords in to a divine trance, or driving them in to an amorous ecstasy, is not just a myth. There have been several episodes where rare fragrances have inspired great poets to compose timeless poetry and legendary musicians to recite mellifluous tunes. Such is the magic of fragrance.
