jja34-1

Was at the Westin Fairfax last weekend. At check-in, the great Molton Brown toiletries in both bathrooms. When they finally replaced the toiletries (After much prodding) on the second day, no more Molton Brown, but a mix of some Botanicals and generic Westin. Is Molton Brown being phased out? This was actually a huge reason for my visits to Westin hotels!

Starwood Lurker

Sorry, jja34-1, the head housekeeper at The Westin Fairfax confirms that they had run out of the Moulton Brown toiletires during your stay. The order for them had been placed, but had not yet arrived. They are now fully stocked and do not anticipate changing brands. She took your name and says that she will strive to see that you receive these coveted toiletries on your next stay.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

jja34-1

William,

Quick response! Hope you don't think I'm overly spoiled and require only certain toiletries to remain loyal to Starwood. I just would have been sorry to see the Moulton Brown go!

btw - the HK staff was wonderful...I left my watch (a college graduation gift that was highly prized) in the suite when i checked out and it was fedexed back to me.

Shareholder

From your description of the replacements it sounds as if they really dug around the basement to come up with the Garden Botanica, which are coveted by some who miss this brand that was standard prior to the generics. But like you, I really do like the Molton Brown items, and was pleased to see them start showing up at a couple -- but not all yet -- Westins I stayed at since the new year. If you really like MB, you must check out their two spas at BA's T4, one in the Arrivals Lounge and at the renovated First and Concorde Lounges complex. BA uses these same products in their showers.

jja34-1

This probably belongs on the BA board, but yes, I have hit the BA first and business class spas. Amazing! I have been hooked on the Moulton Brown toiletries since first finding them at the Essex House about two years ago. Now I carrry bags of them back from London every time I'm over there.

ldsant

Garden Botanika has gone out of business - they do have an online business only but as of now it's not up and running (according to a friend who used to manage two of the stores here in Seattle).

rocky

Many hotels these days are replacing MB with the newer Heavenly Bath line. (Got mixed sets of both at Westin Bonaventure and La Cantera.)

I really, really dislike the feel of the Heavenly Bath soap bar. First time I saw the shampoo bottle, I thought it was the type you'd stick a syringe in the top.

jetsethotel

I thought MB products were exclusive to Westin Grands or the newer Westins. The latest Westin I stayed at in California had the generic Westin toiletries only.

I thought that Westin was supposed to launch their Heavenly Bath line in conjunction with their Heavenly Showerhead. HOw do they differ from MB? Is this supposed to replace MB and/or the generic Westin toiletries? So, who carries what and where? I don't see much consistency at the moment.

jja34-1

Perhaps MB toiletries are limited to "flagship" properties? I agree it doesn't make much sense. The Fairfax had the Heavenly shower, but no "Heavenly"-designated toiletries. I think it would have been a real laugh had they thrown those in, too...I could have sampled all four product ranges!

Shareholder

Hmmm. Let's see if there is any pattern to where MB products can be found, the new Heavenly Bath line, or the old fashioned generic Westin brand. First came across the MB branded items at the Vancouver Westin Grand and the Westin Portland [where the Garden Botanika shop appeared to be open at least back in July], but at no others I have stayed at in the past year. Haven't come across the Heavenly Bath anywhere, but have a limited sample to draw from in my travels.

PLangian

At Westin Crown Center/Kansas City, MB are found in the suites and on the Club Level. Generic on all other floors.

Personally, I loved the GB and hoarded tons...still using the mint shampoo and down to my last two bars of oatmeal/peppermint

ThisFlightNoFuel

Is the MB line different to the bottles that say "Westin Heavenly Bath"? I thought there was something special about the new "Heavenly Bath" bathroom amenities. Are they not MB? If they're not, then I've never seen MB anywhere. Where can you get these. William, do you have a list? From the sound of the raves, they must be great products, and I'd love to try them. Do the Westin Copley in Boston or the Westin Providence have them?

jetsethotel

Molton Brown is a British line of cosmetics and bathroom accessories that is a solid "good" or "very good". You can purchase them in full home-use sizes at upscale department stores (forgot which ones carry them specifically). Those Westins that I've seen carry them, actually have them in the exact same packaging (same formulation), but in mini-sizes.

My favourite line is AVEDA which some of the specialty hotels used to carry. These too were miniature versions of the REAL thing (eg. Rosemary Mint Shampoo, etc.) unlike the watered-down, drugstore-like consistency of the generic 'W' amenities which they just slapped on the word "Aveda" on them.

The Westin Grand in Vancouver does indeed carry the MB line, however, the Westin Whistler (though a newer property) doesn't (they carry the generic Westin amenities instead). What do the NEW "heavenly bath" amenities look like? Are they any different/better than MB or old generic ones?

I haven't experienced the Garden Botanika brands yet.

ldsant

Stayed at the Westin Portland this past weekend. Heavenly amenities. They seem fine - nothing spectacular. Garden Botanika (whose corporate HQ is based in Redmond WA - near Seattle) went out of business (closed all retail stores) in late July. Someone else bought the name.

You can order molton brown through websites e.g., sephora I believe carries it or in many stores in London and New York.

Kitty Hawk

Most Neiman Marcus stores carry a good selection of the Moulton Brown toiletries, and at prices comparable to the ones in London. NM don't carry the cosmetics any longer, for those who are interested. The Town and Country Pharmacy in Ridgewood, New Jersey (an easy train ride from Manhattan) does carry a full range of MB products.

I personally find the MB toiletries rather too aromatic (no point in overpowering the scent of my perfume with the scent of my hand lotion!), but I'm very fond of their old "London Brick" lipstick, which is no longer made. I'm saving my last tube for very special occasions.