Because they are a local company, and a soap company, they interest me - despite the fact they don't make their own product. So, I hope you can see my opinion was just about preference, not a criticism - like talking with my neighbor about why I buy eggs from a local, rather than buy pasture eggs from a store.
I'm a bit confused here. Does one have to physically make their product in order for it to qualify has 'their' product? Does it cease to be 'your' product if an employee (or manufacturing company), following your recipe, physically makes the product?
Even more confused when you use the eggs analogy, because the only difference (IMHO) between pasture eggs you purchased direct from the farmer or from the egg aisle is the cost. But that's another subject.
But pulling the wool over people's eyes is what a lot of marketing is about.
I agree/disagree. (disagree) Marketing is about presenting a product in the best possible light (aka perception). Would you rather buy soap that contains Adeps Suillus or Lard (rendered pig fat)? How about a soap made with canola oil vs extra virgin olive oil or palm oil vs babassu oil? If we are honest with ourselves, Lard + Lye makes a good soap...are we really making a 'better' soap when you use a half dozen or more different oils and butters? Is EVO pressed by real virgins 'better' than the olive oil I get from Costco? Are soaps make with EOs 'better' than soaps made with FOs? Is a colorant I made from spinach 'better' than a green oxide pigment 'better' than a green mica? Is CP 'better' than CPOP 'better' than HP 'better" than MP?
(agree) Marketing is also about selling. Best marketing gimmick ever: "Lather, rince, repeat." Billions of dollars in shampoo has been sold because of those three little words. Along with billions of dollars conditioners and condition products because you have completely stripped your hair of natural oils. You want to talk about 'wool"? Claus Porto Banho 'premium' soap, 5.2 oz bar sells for $20.00. The description:
"Claus Porto is a leading soap brand that comes from Portugal. Its label has created an empire on handcrafted soaps boasting of the most elite scents, created with traditional artisanal methods, and packaged uniquely with original artwork."
They are in Portugal and they do appear to use original artwork (which honestly doesn't mean anything as I have same on my frig from my 3-year granddaughter), but the 'handcrafted' and 'traditional artisanal methods' are a joke. You have only to read the ingredient list to know that they use the Continuous Process to break down vegetable oils (shea butter, palm oil and palm kernel oil) into fatty acids and glycerin and then mixed with salt. Some of the glycerin is added back in and after solidifying, the soap is then milled several times at which point color, fragrances and other assorted chemicals are added (like Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde), turned into noodles and machine pressed into bars.
Oh dear...gone off on a bit of a tangent here. Interesting discussion though.
