Luxury hotel brands try to differentiate themselves in all kinds of ways. One (arguably) minor way they do so is by partnering with other luxury brands on their toiletry and skincare lines. While I’m not suggesting that you should pick a hotel brand because of the toiletries that they offer, I think I’m not alone…
Continue reading: My 8 Favorite Hotel Toiletry Brands, From Aesop To Le Labo, And More
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I think Ben's photos of Le Labo are "vintage" ones. 🙂 All hotels I've visited in the past two months, including Park Hyatt Melbourne and Park Hyatt Sydney, have the large refillable Le Labo bottles as well, now.
You’re missing a very important point - many (not all) of these formulations are just watered down scented variants of the originals, usually by La Bottega. For example Le Labo is really not great quality wise however some such as Aesop stay true to their original ingredients and therefore much much better
Bulgari and Le Labo products have aggressive scents that aren't always appealing.
Give me Amanjena's Nectarome products any day.
Didn't you enjoy Bliss at one point?! I remember you staying at the W Taipei back in the day and they were using Bliss toiletries!
Which are horrible since they are not transparent and I had times I went to shower and they were empty. I cannot imagine the housekeepers having to go through every bottle every day to check their levels.
Lucky - seeing that you listed Le Labo as one of your favorites (mine too) made me think about Fairmont Hotels. They have their own line of Le Labo (a rose scent) which I actually don't care for. Nonetheless, do you ever review Fairmont Hotels? I can't remember you ever writing about Fairmont Hotels. I could be wrong. Generally speaking, it's my favorite hotel chain. The one in Austin, TX is especially nice. I live in Dallas and much prefer the Austin location over the Dallas location. Just curious why we don't hear more about Fairmont Hotels from you??
Well, cross your fingers. Aesop was acquired by L'Oreal 1 year ago so hopefully they will keep it the same way but I doubt.
I was in this industry for a long time and yes, the versions you get at the hotels isn't necessarily made with the same ingredients and processes. The brands often license their logos and their signature scents and the hotels have white label manufacturers actually produce the stuff you get in your room.
The Steinberger Icon hotels in Germany generally have Acqua di Parma - quite lovely.
"...the versions you get at the hotels isn't necessarily made with the same ingredients and processes."
Great point - some of the Acca Kappa soaps I've seen in hotels are actually made in China - it's quite literally labeled as such.
Andaz Tokyo has Aesop products, including the really unique (and hilarious) "Post-Poo Drops."
I love Le Labo's Neroli shower gel and body lotion. The shower gel I buy at Le Labo's boutique stores is thick and concentrated, and a small amount goes a long way. At a recent stay at the Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront, the Le Labo Rose Bath Gel was thin, and the scent was barely noticeable.
The Andaz Vienna recently changed to Byredo which I was happy to see when I stayed there 2 weeks ago.
Stayed at the Westin Josun Seoul a few weeks ago and to my great suprise they had BYREDO Bal D’Afrique toiletries instead of the standard Westin White Tea (which I actually also quite like).
Ben — 1 Hotels partner with Bamford. Certain of their hotels (Brooklyn Bridge, South Beach, etc.) even have Bamford-branded spas.
Rose 31. I discovered it at Fairmont in Dubai while nursing a nasty Emirates hangover. But I loved the scent so much that it fixed my misery and quickly became my go-to. Candles, body wash, all of it. It's one of Le Labo's core scents, not just for hotels. They even had it as laundry detergent lol
Originally, years back, it was Molton Brown Orange & Bergamot. Then, for years, it was Le Labo all the way. But a few months back, I stayed at The Manner, an Unbound Hyatt in NYC. Without doubt, Costa Brazil is my new favorite.
Le Labo Bergamote 22 @PH. Always tip maid extra to get extra soap to bring home.
The first time I stayed at the Conrad Nashville, I experienced their Byredo Mojave Ghost. That scent was everywhere through the hotel, if “wealth” had a scent it would be that.. good memories.
The article is vintage. He's just republished it, and deleted the old one.
Of course, it is a bit sad that I pay close enough attention to know that.
No disrespect intended, Ben. We'll see if this comment makes it past the pending stage
You nailed my latest favorite used by Conrad and Waldorf Astoria: Byredo Bal D’Afrique and Mojave Ghost.
I just bought a robust set of silicon toiletry bottles to fill while traveling next week. The first night will be at a WA, which will come in handy the next four nights at an inferior Hilton Garden Inn.
To the person who posted about the empty pump bottles in their bathroom… sorry, blame me.
The first time I stayed at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, I grabbed the Byredo Le Chemin lotion on my out the door after the long plane trip dried out my skin on my way to hike Muir Woods, and spent the next 8 hrs running around the city. I thought I would have smelt like ass, but 2-3 people at bars I visited asked me what fragrance I was wearing because they liked it. The next day I went to the Byredo counter at the Barney’s down the street, and when I pulled out the bottle and asked if they carried it, the woman laughed and said that they got at least 3 people a week coming from the Palace asking about it, but that it was formulated specifically for the Luxury Collection hotels and they therefore would never sell it. She tried to get me to buy Bal d’Afrique and Mojave Ghost to layer them saying it was similar, but it wasn’t. I was delighted to find out the Luxury Collection website sells it. I’ve been buying it regularly (when it is in stock, as it goes out of stock often) for 4 years now.
I clearly have no taste but only request that hotels dump the communal dispenser & revert back to the politically incorrect individual sealed containers.
I don't like using a container that has been touched by thousands of the unwashed (pun intended) before me. Also the inconvenience of having to monitor fluid levels upon check-in versus taking your chances while dripping in the shower is a PITA. Finally I don't trust either style container to necessarily exactly contain what it implies on the label. Hotels & airliners are all Petri dishes ...
The only time I've loved hotel toiletries enough to take the little bottles home was at the St. Regis Amman. The brand was Trinitæ, and featured Dead Sea minerals and a nice scent that wasn't too overpowering. The brand is produced in Jordan, and that local element was a nice touch.
Mālie's Koke' at the Prince in Honolulu. After bringing some home, I am immediately transported to Hawaii after using it.
In time for the weekend I’m going to be a slight party pooper. It took me years to make the correlation, but I am super sensitive (=allergic) to practically all these heavily scented toiletries and cosmetics. For years I blamed the rich food and indulgent drinking at luxury hotels for me feeling so ill within a day. Now I know it’s the over the top perfuming.
Not a massive drama- I just buy a simple Dove bar where I go, but thought I’d add that perspective.
Intercontinental hotels in Mexico use a local brand called Izaba, it smells amazing and better than the usual Byredo
Exactly. But many people can’t tell the difference, the same way they apparently can’t tell the difference between a Ritz-Carlton and an actual luxury hotel by or ultra-processed garbage and actual food.
Not true with the Le Labo scent that’s exclusive to The Edition, which might just be their best.
Rose is far to strong for a hotel. Smell it all day, and overpowers anything else.
The Andaz Ottawa was using Byredo when I was there in January 2024 (though I wasn't a fan - can remember what the specific scent was).
I work for an airline as a flight attendant and one of the hotels I regularly stay in when working stocks Le Lobo products.
They are large bottles fixed in place in holders. Every time I go, my partner has me go to 7-11, buy small bottle of water, empty them, fill em up with the Le Lobo products and drag them thousands of miles back home 🙁
That is... quite something. No shots but I think that qualifies as pretty damn tacky.
Personally I think Le Labo is super overrated. Aesop all day. Before I met my better half, I was on a date and espousing the virtues of the Camellia Nut Hydrating Cream that I got in Cathay Pacific's amenity kit.
The woman put her drink down, said "who are, you Patrick Bateman or something?" and stormed out.
Pretty cool. Some scents are super captivating. I remember when Bond No. 9 was very IYKYK in NYC circles. Personally I'm an Old Spice kind of guy and it never did me wrong in college or in my 20s when I was single. So it's all academic.
Totally agree. Couldn't wait to wash off the Bulgari lotion after I applied it post-shower in EK F. Weird, off-putting mix of floral and dairy.