Travelers tend to have some strong feelings about hotel toiletries, so here’s an interesting shift for a popular luxury hotel brand.
In this post:
Waldorf Astoria partners with Aesop for toiletries
A new partnership has been announced between Waldorf Astoria and Aesop. Going forward, Aesop products will be used as the in-room toiletries at Waldorf Astoria properties worldwide. This collaboration marks the first and only global hospitality brand with which Aesop has partnered to provide its products at this scale.
You can expect that this shift will happen at all Waldorf Astoria properties worldwide over the next year, so this won’t be happening everywhere overnight. Waldorf Astorias will have the same formulations available at Aesop’s retail stores globally, including the Classic Hair Shampoo and Conditioner, Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, and Rind Concentrate Body Balm.
For context, historically Waldorf Astoria has offered guests Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries. Personally I’d consider Aesop to be a significant upgrade — I love Aesop toiletries, and just about consider them to be on par with Le Labo, which is otherwise my favorite hotel toiletry brand.
It’s funny, because when it comes to travel, I can’t help but associate Aesop with Cathay Pacific. The airline has historically used Aesop products in its lounges. Sadly it’s just another reminder of how little of Cathay Pacific I’ve experienced in recent years, as I haven’t flown with the airline since the start of the pandemic.
Aesop toiletries will be in reusable containers
There’s another major shift happening as Waldorf Astoria changes its toiletry brand. We know that most major hotel brands are moving to reusable containers for toiletries, in order to be a bit greener.
As Waldorf Astoria shifts to Aesop, the brand will also switch from individually sized toiletries to reusable ones. Waldorf Astoria properties will offer full size in-room toiletries in 500mL bottles.
I know many people were skeptical of the shift to reusable toiletry bottles, especially at luxury hotels. However, personally I’ve been impressed by the execution of this at most brands. That even applies at luxury properties that now have Le Labo toiletries in reusable bottles.
Assuming the bottles are well maintained and clean, remain fairly full, and dispense liquids well, I consider this to be an improvement, as you don’t have to worry about running out of products. I’ve found Aesop bottles to be pretty easy to use, so I’m happy to see this shift.
Bottom line
Waldorf Astoria and Aesop have entered into a partnership for in-room toiletries. You can expect that Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries will be replaced by Aesop toiletries over the coming year. As part of this change, we’ll also see Waldorf Astoria transition from single-use toiletry bottles to reusable ones.
I’m excited about this change, because I love Aesop products.
What do you make of Waldorf Astoria shifting to Aesop?
Not Happy. I love the SF hair wash.
It sounds like this means there will be no real soap, only the liquid crap.
Funny how this is going to work... rather than putting ~fluids~ into the reusable containers, people are going to drain those into their own bottles to take home.
Use points at a cheaper WA and get a couple hundred worth of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion.
Rinse and repeat... happy cost cutting, hotel industry :)
Time to bring your own big bottles to take all shampoo, conditioner, and lotion home since they are expensive at retail stores.
So … I am both a road warrior and a hotel management executive on the franchisee side of the coin. FACT: Yes, it is likely there will be financial savings. FACT: Guests have regularly commented on the waste and lack of green awareness continuing to offer the individual use items. FACT: There products are sanitary. The bottles lock and in another luxury brand houskeeping is not even allowed to re-fill them in the room, they...
So … I am both a road warrior and a hotel management executive on the franchisee side of the coin. FACT: Yes, it is likely there will be financial savings. FACT: Guests have regularly commented on the waste and lack of green awareness continuing to offer the individual use items. FACT: There products are sanitary. The bottles lock and in another luxury brand houskeeping is not even allowed to re-fill them in the room, they must be filled in a specially designed filling station in Housekeeping. FACT: There is significant one time costs for brands that are placing these in a secured brack. Some luxury brands are leaving the ‘free to remove’ with a subtle or not so subtle notice your welcome to purchase a fresh bottle at the desk or gift shop. FACT: I will miss my at home drawer filled with bottles of favored products I stick in my suitcase both at my hotels and others at which I stay. BOTTOMLINE: This is a positive change provided the new product is good or better than what is replaced. That my two cents,
Aesop and cost-cutting? Ho-ho. I must say that Aesop shaving gel is fantastic and also very expensive. Doubt if that item is on the Waldorf list.
Cost cutting ... absolutely. I'd also rather use toiletries no one else has used AND if the hotel is going to use the full size jars make the shower brackets they sit in easier to manage. And what if you wanted to take a relaxing bath instead of a shower, I have never seen the full size bottles at any of the hotels alongside the bathtub. At the Continental Hotel in Oslo I got them...
Cost cutting ... absolutely. I'd also rather use toiletries no one else has used AND if the hotel is going to use the full size jars make the shower brackets they sit in easier to manage. And what if you wanted to take a relaxing bath instead of a shower, I have never seen the full size bottles at any of the hotels alongside the bathtub. At the Continental Hotel in Oslo I got them to undo the bracket holding the Molton Brown products so it was easier to use in the shower.
ALSO, please stop with the annoying video pop ups. It's been requested often by your readers.
CX have dropped Aesop in favour of Bamford; a British bodycare and clothing brand.
Bamford's stuff is great but, like you, I've always associated Aesop with CX.
Except even in first on CX it was a bit of a letdown. They didn't include Aesop toothpaste and they didn't include Aesop deodorant and they didn't include Aesop mouthwash and worst of all they didn't include the brilliant Aesop resurrection rinse-free hand wash, a no-brainer for an airline, but they did include the pretty mediocre Aesop lip balm, which was liquid-y and off-putting. At best it was a partial Aesop partnership.
Just stayed at a Waldorf a week and a half ago and they already used the Aesop 500ml bottles. It was great, but hopefully they clean after every guest!
I love Aesop products as well, however, I don't think this is a good brand fit. I think Aesop would be best for a brand that is focused on style and design. Waldorf is crusty old luxury, and I feel the Farragamo products are a better fit.
Waldorf now, however, seems to be the brand which is the most focused on interior design among other classic old luxuries like Ritz Carlton and st. Regis, take a look at how fancy and great design that Waldorf Xiamen, Kuwait, Beijing and Bangkok are.
Another cost-cutting measure. I hate reusable toiletries, and I am going to miss Ferragamo.
“ This collaboration marks the first and only global hospitality brand with which Aesop has partnered to provide its products at this scale.”
What a funny way to say this stuff is already in lots of hotels
The switch already happened at the Waldorf Versailles when I stayed in March. I do think the products are an upgrade, even though I liked the Ferragamo. However, the lotion was basically empty. I called down to ask them to refill it, and they said they would, but no one ever did. I prefer toiletries I can use over empty bottles of nicer ones.
That's interesting that the lotion was also in a "big/re-useable" bottle. I'm finding more and more hotels with shampoo/conditioner/body wash in the showers in the big pumps, but still having small bottles of lotion on the vanities.
Agreed, Aesop is great. Some of the older Waldorfs used to have Bvlgari. Just stayed at the Park Hyatt DC who have swapped out all their Le Labo for Pharmocopia other than the bar of soap, a significant downgrade
The Ferragamo toiletries smell nice, but Aesop products are probably higher quality / better for skin, so it could bs seen as a win regardless of cost cutting motives.
If you guys enjoyed bringing home hotel toiletries, just start bringing empty travel containers with you and filling up. I'm sure you can find some on Amazon.
Sad to read that . . .
shows how different tasts are!
While some Hessen born Guy likes Aesop products i can't say NO or YES, as i have seen it around Munich stores, but never tried.
Will be interesting to find out, but still . . . i'm hooked to Salvatore Ferragamo / Tuscan Soul, so far, MY best toiletries at any Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
Only one that might be better, EDITION / Le Labo Shampoo!
. . . perhaps the different taste, as i am from Bavaria :-) :-) ;-)
I'd consider Le Labo to still be one step above Aesop if i'm being honest. I have both at home and we find Le Labo to amost always feel more special.
Le Labo is a fragrance brand. Their products certainly smell better than Aesop (as they should), but I find Aesop to be better for the skin and hair. I like and use both brands, but find them hard to compare beyond similar styles in terms of packaging.
WA has been using this in some hotels for a few months. The switch is old news.
I love it. I bring empty bottles and fill them up. Before I could take home maybe 50-100ml, now I've got a product that lasts me weeks. In suites there are multiple dispensers too. It's a win-win for me.
Have not stayed there in a few years, but Park Hyatt Tokyo used to use Aesop. In the early 2000's it was where I first learned of them as at that point they were just a small boutique brand out of Melbourne. Been using their face products for years ever since.
Seems too much of a juxtaposition of brand images.
Park Hyatt Tokyo uses Aesop, and their image of clean lines, Organic living, simplicity and aromatic scents works together.
Waldorf used to use Ferregamo AFAIK, not a great image either really, Tuscan rugged leather scents with some Tuscan herbal aromas, not really a match for chandeliers, and suited and booted UES types.
Byredo, although Scandinavian would be a better match, particularly some of their stronger scents,...
Seems too much of a juxtaposition of brand images.
Park Hyatt Tokyo uses Aesop, and their image of clean lines, Organic living, simplicity and aromatic scents works together.
Waldorf used to use Ferregamo AFAIK, not a great image either really, Tuscan rugged leather scents with some Tuscan herbal aromas, not really a match for chandeliers, and suited and booted UES types.
Byredo, although Scandinavian would be a better match, particularly some of their stronger scents, Guerlaine also makes more sense. It’s actually quite hard to suggest for Waldorf, but even Bond No. 9 harks of old school NYC, which actually would work very well.
Interesting note: the Waldorf in Amsterdam and Guerlain have a partnership regarding their spa. So that brand is definitely fitting Waldorf too.
The Waldorf Astoria hotels in Berlin, Edinburgh, Versailles, and Jerusalem have long had Guerlain spas, too. But the partnership has never extended to in-room amenities, so far as I know.
Conrad, Hilton's other luxury brand, recently switched to Byredo toiletries, also in full-size containers.
Come on.
"There’s another major shift happening as Waldorf Astoria changes its toiletry brand. We know that most major hotel brands are moving to reusable containers for toiletries, in order to be a bit greener."
That is fake news. You know that isn't true.
This is 100% about cutting costs. Period.
agree 100%
. . . except for the EDITION Le Labo Canadian toiletries, in my opinion when i had my first ever Salvatore Ferragamo at a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, i was HOOKED!
After experiencing the Burj Al Arab with there spectacular and Arabian scent HERMES brand, WA was my TOP toiletries, WORLDWIDE.
Longh lasting, amazing manly and woody. GERAT
The aspect of switching to reusable full size containers and wall mounts...
agree 100%
. . . except for the EDITION Le Labo Canadian toiletries, in my opinion when i had my first ever Salvatore Ferragamo at a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, i was HOOKED!
After experiencing the Burj Al Arab with there spectacular and Arabian scent HERMES brand, WA was my TOP toiletries, WORLDWIDE.
Longh lasting, amazing manly and woody. GERAT
The aspect of switching to reusable full size containers and wall mounts is good, . . . but as you can read from one comment above . . .there is people, who are cheap and would take even the toiletpaper home.
With not the best housekeeping, that could produce MORE waste then ever before with individual, small containers.
The COST for the properties might go down, but i doubt it's that "GREEN" after all!
Can’t help but note the immediate triggering of a climate denier…god forbid one can cut costs and be more environmentally sound at the same time.