Anyone know the scents used to create the Kiehls "Ultimate Man" Body Scrub Soap?

June 21, 2009 9:20 PM

Calling all sniffers, Does anyone know the different smells that go into getting Kiehls wonderful scent for their "Ultimate Man" Body Scrub Soap?

I know that I can definitely detect Grapefruit, and some mint, but I know its more complex that.

I am making up some of my own shampoo for my girlfriend and she loves the scent, and I would like to approximate it as much as possible, so has anyone else also pondered this, or came across it somewhere?

posted by Mesach to home & garden (9 answers total)

Two things.

One, those recipes are pretty closely-guarded trade secrets most of the time. Anyone who does know is going to be contractually obligated not to tell you. You're welcome to figure it out on your own, but that's probably the best you're going to be able to do.

Two, the fact that your girlfriend likes the sent on you may not necessarily mean she wants to smell that way herself.
posted by valkyryn at 4:49 AM on June 22, 2009

No offense but thats kind of a worthless response. Of course I know its a closely guarded trade secret, I'm asking to see if anyone else has the nasal chops and tried to figure it out, not for someone who works at Kiehls to give up the recipe so that I may make my own, although that would be OUTSTANDING.

I have been to Basenotes.com but there apparently isn't much of a call for the Kiehls perfume or cologne because people are not talking about the particular "fruitiness, with hints of Grapefruit and mint... etc" that i am looking for and I was wondering if anyone knows of another source where someone might have been talking about it.

And ever think that my girlfriend likes to steal my soap and use it herself? and at $12.50/bar it does quickly that way.

After showering this morning, I think I detect Cinnamon, VERY slightly though.
posted by Mesach at 5:26 AM on June 22, 2009

I'm guessing the ingredients list on the box just says "fragrance" or something like that. I'd try calling Kiehl's as if you were going to order over the phone, but ask them the scents of the soap. You could just say that you're sensitive to certain smells. Then just say you'll either call back to order or will just order online. I'm sure a company like Kiehl's will be more helpful than others - If their customers pay $12.50 for soap, they probably have excellent customer service!

The grapefruit/cinnamon/mint scent sounds pretty nice to me, and I'm a girl. Reminds me of some "unscented" oatmeal soap I've had from the Vermont Soap Company. It also had aloe in it.
posted by belau at 6:07 AM on June 22, 2009

I'm sure a company like Kiehl's will be more helpful than others - If their customers pay $12.50 for soap, they probably have excellent customer service!


Owned by L'Oreal. So no probably not. And Kiehl's themselves don't make the fragrance so even if you could get their product development people on the phone you are likely to get an answer that sounds good rather then one that would lead you creating the chords you would need.
posted by JPD at 6:32 AM on June 22, 2009

Have not used that particular Kiehl's product, but have wondered the same thing about other products. I suspect your mystery ingredient could be bergamot. After accidentally stumbling upon the bergamot citrus perfume at Fresh, I finally figured out that bergamot is in basically everything I love. I don't usually think of citrusy as manly, but bergamot is definitely both and it just smells "clean" to me. I would describe it as a spicy, clean and sorta orange -- the spicy could be that "very slightly cinnamon" smell you detect. Oh, and I'm a girl, and anyway, bergamot is in a lot of unisex things, so I totally understand your girlfriend stealing your soap!

You can sniff around the essential oils section at Whole Foods, they usually carry bergamot oil. You can also sniff around at a Fresh store if you live near one, they're very open about their ingredients and I think even let you mix your own perfume. Bond No. 9 (either stores or at Saks) is another great place to do scent exploration.

I have always wanted to make my own shampoo. Can you post the recipe if you're successful? Thanks!
posted by booksandwine at 10:45 AM on June 22, 2009

Try to buy it from a European website labeled to European requirements. As of late it is mandated that European manufacturers are required to disclose all ingredients on HBC (health, beauty, cosmetics) packaging (This is not the case in the rest fo the world including the US and Canada) much to the dismay of perfumers and other olfactory scientists. This a seachange. Perfumery ingredients have long been sacred and immune from labeling laws.

Don't be surprised if there isn't a single natural aroma ingredient on the list of your favorite.

Perfumery is one of my greater interests. Top brands like Kiehls have access to what are known in the indutry as captives. Captives are aroma molecules that are proprietary and unavailable to the public or even other industry formulators. Captives are prized for their ability to scent a product in a way that is not reproducible. Captives are basically designer aroma molecules that are developed by chemists, marketed to formulators and purchased to one up the competition and provide distinction in the marketplace.
posted by Muirwylde at 12:59 AM on June 23, 2009

Are you sure the ingredients aren't listed on the box? I was thinking about this a little more, and I am pretty sure the comapny has to list them. You might have to buy a new one or go to a store, but I believe that you'd be able to see everything in detail on the back of the box.
posted by belau at 5:49 AM on June 24, 2009

Its just listed as "fragrance"
posted by Mesach at 10:16 AM on July 2, 2009

Captives are prized for their ability to scent a product in a way that is not reproducible. Captives are basically designer aroma molecules that are developed by chemists, marketed to formulators and purchased to one up the competition and provide distinction in the marketplace.


This BTW is complete hype. The only IP on the fragrance side is about how the fragrance releases itself over time. Yeah guys have proprietary notes but everyone else just rips the good ones off with a gas chromatograph and call its something else.
posted by JPD at 12:02 PM on July 2, 2009