cathyr19355: Stock photo of myself (Default)
2006-05-14 01:47 am
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What Happened to 99 and 44/100 ths percent pure?

I was in a local supermarket last night, and a quick look at a random display in the drug store aisle showed me that Ivory soap now comes in flavors.

I don't mean that you're supposed to *eat* the soap. No, I mean that Ivory now comes in two different varieties (in addition to the blocky white "99 and 44/100 ths percent pure" bar I've seen in stores since childhood, and that the company's website claims that they've been making and selling for 125 years). There's a light green variety that claims to be made with aloe vera and a lavender-colored one that's scented with (surprise!) lavender.

I don't understand this. Every company and its mascot has been engaged in coming up with an endless variety of different soaps, toothpastes, shampoos, conditioners, and other cleansing items for more than a decade now. Ivory soap had made itself *distinctive* by not playing the "more varieties" game. Why on earth have they changed now?

Although I have to admit that the idea of lavender-scented soap at Ivory soap prices is kind of neat.