Teach Soap

I have been making shampoo (syndet) bars for a long time, but have now decided (read: been bullied into it my family members!) to add them to my product line.
My first major markets are still a month or so away, and I am playing around with options.

For my own personal use, I make my shampoo bars in a coconut scent, and my conditioner in a lime/margarita. But that is just me.
What I am trying to figure out is for the "seller" ones. Here are a few questions running through my mind. Please comment on any or all

1. I could just make them all the same. I know there are some liquid shampoo brands that do this, like Aveda. Here is what our stuff smells like, period.

2. Normal hair formula has X scent, dry hair has Y, oily hair has Z.

3. Shampoo and Conditioner bars have the same/matching scents.

4. Shampoos are one scent, conditioner is a different one. Either within the 3 categories, or overall.

Just for reference - All of my lotions and creams are unscented... except for cp soap, I have always shied away from selling things with a fragrance, because I fear the "once you make one fragrance, you have to make 50" scenario. That is not so hard to do with soap, because I use the same formula for 80% of my soaps. But with 3 different shampoo bars, I would like to avoid the situation where everyone wants THIS fragrance but in THAT formula.

I looked around at salons and department stores, and there seems to be a number of brands following 2 and 3, above, and a few follow 1. Nobody does 4, that I could find. Not sure why.

TIA all thought and help.

I make syndet bars. The most popular seems to be Citrus, followed by Patchouli, then Pink Sugar. I don't differentiate between dry, normal or oily hair. I don't make a conditioner.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks for the response, Irena! It is really helpful...adding it to the Think Pot and stirring....

And I am the only person in the entire B&B world who has no idea what Pink Sugar smells like ...

I don't care for Pink Sugar as I find it overly sweet. Think of cotton candy, caramel, fruity sweet jam, baby powder, sweet figs and baking sugar.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

so... Pink sugar smells like a diabetic coma??

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I've never tried a shampoo bar, but my typical favorite scent for hair is a coconut-like scent. I think if you want to keep it simple, just offer the same one or two scents in each type you have. To me it would seem confusing to have a different scent depending on the category - dry, normal, oily - and would almost ensure customers will want a dry shampoo with the oily shampoo scent, or vice versa.

And for what it's worth, I have never smelled Pink Sugar either. I know people rave about it in reviews, but I've always just passed it by. Maybe I'll get it as a sample some day.

For myself, I can't stand overly floral, fruity, tropical or sweet/foody shampoo scents. Just give me nice clean, neutral scent!

_________________
Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Scent preferences seem to be regional. Where I am citrus and herbal scents, like mints and rosemary, usually outsell florals. Lavender is the exception. I roam the aisles of stores looking at what scent types are popular in my area.
Rosemary has been big, along with grapefruit. But your local tastes may differ!

_________________
***************
Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

_________________
Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!