Fads

I don't feel synthetic brushes are a fad, they're the future(especially if you want wet shaving to go mainstream)

Possibly just as synthetic oil has replaced real oil for cars. But synthetic oil is much more expensive, last longer, and has better performance characteristics.

But for the collectors, the badgers will not go away. The hobbists will treasure their Plisson HMW and Simpson Manchurians leaving synthetics as a workhorse daily driver.

OTH I think scents are most definitely fads. When consumers get sick of "walking through a spring rain after a hot day, at night, where the deer and antelope play" scents, they will go back to the mainstream (i.e., lavenders, rose, citrus, leather).

I find new razor releases to be like the people who line up around the block for the newest iPhone. There are certain thing that get more hype than others.

Let me see if I am getting this right. I believe the main theme of this thread “Is wet shaving a fad”? While it certainly has nothing to do with shaving, bread makers are a good tool to make an example. I have been cooking for decades and I have never owned or used a bread maker. However, I do know several people who owned one. Many of whom were given them for gifts. I believe bread makers are or were a fad because everyone who I know who received them as gifts have no idea where they are. Products like bread makers are the things you see advertised during Christmas. They also make good wedding and anniversary gifts for those who can’t think of anything else to give the recipient. I agree that you can make inexpensive bread but I live near many artisanal bakeries where I can get any type of great bread. Another thing that falls into this category is beer making equipment. Need I say more. Just watch TV and in the next couple of weeks you will see a number of products that will become a fad by February.

However, shaving products are a necessity at least with the majority of men. That makes me believe that you have to purchase shaving products but you don’t have to purchase bread makers. There is an individual that posted a reply here saying when people start wet shaving they buy an excessive amount of products then learn that that is not necessary. Still not a fad. Yes there are several new companies producing all types of products which is good for the wet shaving enthusiasts. And yes several will fail for various reasons. I always thought shaving was a necessary evil. I did not like to shave. Now I do. So no fad a necessity yes and I like doing it.

I don't feel synthetic brushes are a fad, they're the future(especially if you want wet shaving to go mainstream)

Possibly just as synthetic oil has replaced real oil for cars. But synthetic oil is much more expensive, last longer, and has better performance characteristics.

But for the collectors, the badgers will not go away. The hobbists will treasure their Plisson HMW and Simpson Manchurians leaving synthetics as a workhorse daily driver.

OTH I think scents are most definitely fads. When consumers get sick of "walking through a spring rain after a hot day, at night, where the deer and antelope play" scents, they will go back to the mainstream (i.e., lavenders, rose, citrus, leather).

So complex scents are a fad? Let's take a look at some classic, timeless scents:

Old Spice:

Top notes: nutmeg, lemon, orange, star anise and aldehydes
Middle notes: carnation, jasmine, geranium, cinnamon, heliotrope and pimento
Base notes: ambergris, benzoin, cedar, vanilla, tonka bean and musk

Brut:

Top notes: lemon, bergamot, lavender, anise and basil
Middle notes: geranium, jasmine and ylang-ylang
Base notes: sandalwood, oak moss, vetiver, patchouli, tonka bean and vanilla

Aqua Velva Blue:

Top notes: bergamot, lavender, peppermint, petitgrain, lemon
Middle notes: clary sage, jasmine, vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood
Base notes: labdanum, musk, amber, moss, leather

I find new razor releases to be like the people who line up around the block for the newest iPhone. There are certain thing that get more hype than others.

Or the latest Barrister and Mann soap release...

So complex scents are a fad? Let's take a look at some classic, timeless scents:

I was talking soaps, not aftershave and think Old Spice and Tabac were about it at the time.

Yes, a fad for soaps. Its a matter of time, IMO, that consumers get sick of "rain where the deer and antelope play" in soaps.

Let me see if I am getting this right.

Eating is a necessity for man. I guess people were making bread long before they shaved everyday.

Breadmakers, and making bread by hand today, IMO are fads

The fact that you can buy artisan bread just means its convenient, which is exactly what I said. Its too convenient. Its also convenient to buy shaving gel and use a cartridge, hence its mainstream

they are BOTH mainstream, buying bread and using shaving gell and cartridges.

Making bread at home from scratch and wet shaving are both niche.

So complex scents are a fad? Let's take a look at some classic, timeless scents:

I was talking soaps, not aftershave and think Old Spice and Tabac were about it at the time.

Yes, a fad for soaps. Its a matter of time, IMO, that consumers get sick of "rain where the deer and antelope play" in soaps.

At what time? Aqua Velva came out in 1935 and Brut in 1965. (Tabac was 1959)


We'll see. I don't think you can say that definitively based solely on a whimsical line of copy about a deer.

If every company makes scents that smell the same, then there is no differentiation. Brands thrive on differentiation in their products, especially in a crowded marketplace. There's a reason why Sealy makes different mattresses for each retailer.

[ At what time? Aqua Velva came out in 1935 and Brut in 1965. (Tabac was 1959)


We'll see. I don't think you can say that definitively based solely on a whimsical line of copy about a deer.

If every company makes scents that smell the same, then there is no differentiation. Brands thrive on differentiation in their products, especially in a crowded marketplace. There's a reason why Sealy makes different mattresses for each retailer.

I was talking soaps, not aftershave. Never saw an aqua velva soap or brut shaving soap.

the mainstream companies sell Lavender, Rose, a citrus, etc. The Artisans seem to need the differentiation to compete. Granted Eucris is complex and old

MdC sells .. Lavender and is doing just fine.

C&S sells a Lavender and is doing just fine

Boellis sells Almond

ABC sells Almond

Tabac sells ... Tabac

These companies seem to be doing just fine but don't see a need to sell the flavor of the day. So yeah, the artisans need to find something to grab your attention. Why? To compete. I don't see MdC creating the flavor of the month. Nor do SMN, ADP, or ABC make the flavor of the month.

They sell ONE flavor and done. The flavor of the month is a technique to get you to buy. The "fad" thing is when you get tired of the game, you stop and just use what makes you happy day in and day out. And these companies have been around a LONG time and succeeded. Maybe they know something and base their success on product performance?

[ At what time? Aqua Velva came out in 1935 and Brut in 1965. (Tabac was 1959)


We'll see. I don't think you can say that definitively based solely on a whimsical line of copy about a deer.

If every company makes scents that smell the same, then there is no differentiation. Brands thrive on differentiation in their products, especially in a crowded marketplace. There's a reason why Sealy makes different mattresses for each retailer.

I was talking soaps, not aftershave. Never saw an aqua velva soap or brut shaving soap.

the mainstream companies sell Lavender, Rose, a citrus, etc. The Artisans seem to need the differentiation to compete. Granted Eucris is complex and old

MdC sells .. Lavender and is doing just fine.

C&S sells a Lavender and is doing just fine

Boellis sells Almond

ABC sells Almond

Tabac sells ... Tabac

These companies seem to be doing just find but don't see a need to sell the flavor of the day. So yeah, the artisans need to find  something to grab your attention. Why? To compete. I don't see MdC creating the flavor of the month.  Nor do SMN, ADP, or ABC make the flavor of the month.

They sell ONE flavor and done. The flavor of the month is a technique to get you to buy.  The "fad" thing is when you get tired of the game, you stop and just use what makes you happy day in and day out. And these companies have been around a LONG time and succeeded.

Okay, so mainstream companies don't offer complex scents or a wide variety. You'll see that I've never disputed this fact. I thought we were talking about artisans, because you said there was a fad of complex soaps. So do you think artisanal soap is a fad? Because you admit that they need complex scents to survive, so therefore if there are no more complex scents to differentiate themselves, then all that will be left are the legacy brands.

Edit: And to clarify, neither MdC Original nor C&S Oxford and Cambridge are lavender soliflores. Both use a range of scent notes to create their unique scents. \

Also, Tabac is a complex scent. Not sure how that supports your argument.