The list of these shopping chains include Gallerie La Fayatte, Printemps, Sephore, Marianoud, Le Samaritan, Perfume D Femne, Patchouli and Saresco. The group, through its marketing wing Gandh Sugandh, is also negotiating with leading international carriers Air France and SwissAir for marketing Urvashi on-board and at their offices.

The group, which has recently introduced `Lata', a perfume in honour of Lata Mangeshkar, has also planned a massive advertisement and public relations campaign for Urvashi. It has already appointed leading agencies Aviano and Manning Selvage & Lee for this. The group has appointedMedia Top for space buying in press and media in France, while Viveka Bawa, of Kamasutra-fame, has been selected as the model and ambassador for Urvashi.

Urvashi is a combination of the creamy scent of sandal with the soft aroma of mogra flowers, and is evocative of all the sensuality and mystery of eternal India, according to the group chairman Deepak Khanegaonkar. The product would be sold in a cadeau containing a sovereign silver falcon along with a glass bottle. The glass and silver falcons would also be sold separately.

Positioned as a product to welcome in the next Millennium, Urvashi would be sold at $80 in the silver bottle, $60 in a glass bottle and $110 in a gift pack comprising both silver and glass bottles. Nearly two lakh silver bottles would be produced at Jaipur.

The potential Urvashi consumer has a clear profile: she belongs to a comfortable earning group; is in the age bracket of 20-40 years; uses Christian Dior, Chanel and Cartier; and lives in cities with a population of over onelakh. According to Khanegaonkar, the group has identified 500 outlets in France for the display and sale of Urvashi.

Khanegaonkar said that Urvashi-which will be a 100 per cent export-oriented product-has undergone the necessary toxological tests and has met the necessary standards pertaining to irritation and sensatisation. ``I am optimistic that the group will breakeven after the sale of 10,000 bottles in France,'' he opined. Khanegaonkar said that Urvashi would be later sold and marketed in EU countries and the USA with a view to capturing the Millennium market.

Aviano chief Karin Hautecouer said that Urvashi would be advertised in leading French magazines like Elle, Gala, Biba, Marie-Claire, Vogue, DS, Marie-France, Cosmopolitan, Elle Decoration and Marie-Claire Maison. ``Women's magazines are very effective vehicles for launching a product such as a fragrance, because they reach readership that is on the lookout for what's new in beauty in a highly favourable setting for the product,'' she added.