Written on: April 1, 2013 by Ava Caridad
Do consumers shop more in the good weather? Some analysts say yes. Warm weather prompts some very obvious purchases, such as sunscreen, lighter clothing, insect repellant, outdoor gear and sporting goods. One interesting consideration, however, is that shoppers like to get out early in the season to purchase products in order to get the most possible use out of them. In these tough economic times, that makes sense. While some warm-weather items may go on sale at the end of the season, many consumers are of the opinion that the best value is a purchase they can enjoy all summer long. Here’s a look at some of the latest Spring and Summer launches for 2013…
Bringing the outdoors indoors…
Indoor air fresheners are always a seasonal favorite. This year, Febreze Air Effects Alaskan Springtime celebrates the first days of spring with a delicate, watery fresh fragrance with hints of warm amber and sunshine. Beach Walk Concentrated Room Spray from Yankee Candle evokes refreshing salt water and sea musk warmed with sunny notes of tangerine and orange blossom, as well as a special odor eliminating agent.
This year’s Spring offering of Glade premium room sprays include Vibrant Bloom, a
delicate blend of camellia, gardenia and moss; Garden Sunshine with layered notes of gardenia, freesia and coconut; Spring Showers featuring scents of pink grapefruit, fresh rain and sandalwood; and Starlit Evening, a blend of green hyacinth, ylang ylang, and cedarwood.
Smells Begone Air Freshening Spray from Punati Corp. contains Ordenone, an 
ordorless deodorizing compound that permanently entraps odor molecules. When Smells Begone is sprayed in to the air or directly onto an odor source, odors are encapsulated and eliminated, leaving behind a fresh, clean scent. Available in Calming Rain, Lavender Vanilla and Fresh Cotton, the product is filled by Chase Products and the can is manufactured by DS Containers.
Of a personal nature
There is no shortage of exciting personal care products launched this season. Procter & Gamble (P&G) has added new body sprays to their Secret Clinical Strength product line: 
Scent Expressions Passion de Tango, Mean Stinks Fearlessly Fresh and Sport Marathon Fresh. The product line is packaged in aluminum cans sporting a Moritz Twist To Lock actuator from Aptar beauty + Home.
P&G’s Old Spice brand also launched the Wild Collection or The Gentleman’s Stockade (depending on the age group being
marketed to) featuring Wolfthorn (for nocturnal creatures), Hawkridge (for guys with swift minds) and Foxcrest (for cunning gentlemen). The Body Spray is joined by Antiperspirant/Deodorant and Body Wash, all in packaging reminiscent of a medieval manor house.
AXE has teamed up with famed moonwalker Buzz Aldrin to send 22 people into space, and make sure they smell nice doing it. Earlier this year, Unilever kicked off its new AXE Apollo Space Academy, an online contest that promises to send winners to the edge of space and back aboard a private spaceship. The adventure is designed to promote the new AXE Apollo Deodorant Body Spray. Comprised of sage, mandarin and sandalwood, Apollo also come in AP/DEO, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.
Vaseline launched the new Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer, a quick, continuous 360° spray lotion that moisturizes deeply and absorbs in seconds so consumers can put their clothes right on after use. Available in three variants—Total Moisture, Aloe Fresh and Cocoa Radiant—Spray & Go leaves skin instantly soft, not sticky or greasy. The continuous spray system dispenses lotion quickly and evenly for all-over coverage and is infused with pure oat extract for healthy, soft skin.
The Great Outdoors
The trials and tribulations of warmer weather can cause the cautious to stay indoors.
Several products make it safe to go outside again. Penguin Ultra Dry Heavy Duty Silicone Protector protects footwear, backpacks, tents, leather goods and all fabrics from water and fading caused by the sun. It works on all synthetic fabrics and leathers, and is colorless and odorless when dry. It comes in a can from DS Containers.
OFF! Deep Woods Dry Insect Repellent is a long-lasting repellent that delivers 
protection against biting insects and is formulated to feel dry and comfortable on skin. The powder-dry formula dries quickly, offers long lasting Deep Woods
protection and contains 25% DEET. It repels ticks, mosquitoes, black flies, sand flies, chiggers, gnats and no-see-ums. OFF! Botanicals Spritz offers a no-mess application and provides up to two hours of protection from mosquitoes.
Around the house
Spring cleaning is an opportunity to throw open the windows, let in some fresh air in, and
make homes cleaner and more efficient. Last month, Method welcomed Spring with a collection in partnership with designer Orla Kiely. The line includes foaming hand wash, gel hand wash, dish soap, and all-purpose cleaner in four new springtime fragrances: white nectarine, cloudburst, honeysuckle, and tomato vine. The products are packaged in four graphic patterns designed by Orla Kiely.
Windex Touch-Up Cleaner offers a fast and convenient solution to clean and sanitize where 
people need it most—the kitchen and bathroom. The new design makes it easier for consumers to clean surfaces; they simply push down on the pump to apply the formula onto a paper towel, bath tissue or a clean sponge and wipe. Windex Touch-Up Cleaner cleans and kills 99.9% of common household bacteria and works on nearly all hard, non-porous surfaces, including sinks, countertops, toilets, appliance exteriors, stovetops, sealed granite, sealed marble, glass, glazed porcelain, chrome, glazed ceramic tile and finished wood, according to the company. It comes in two varieties: Bathroom Windex Touch-Up Cleaner in Fresh Scent and Kitchen Windex Touch-Up Cleaner in Glistening Citrus Scent.
Offering “a sun-washed scent of the perfect summer memory,” Caldrea launched Linen & 
Room Spray for rooms, clotheslines, pre-iron or post-dryer. The essential oil spray wake up sheets, pillows and blankets with the scent of rose, gardenia, lily of the valley, marigold, cedar, grey vetiver and white musk on a cool water base, with natural essential oils of chamomile and cedarwood. The accompanying Hand Soap, with aloe vera gel, olive oil and essential oils leaves hands soft, clean and fragrant as the bottle brightens the kitchen or bath.
Spring Fragrances are Pretty in Pink
According to the NPD Group, sales of premium fragrances hit $2.9 billion in the U.S. in 2012. Will fragrances sell well again in 2013? The year is off to a good start with the following offerings out this season.
Estée Lauder’s Pleasures Eau de Parfum debuted in 1995 and embodied a universally relevant message of taking time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures, especially those of spontaneous, carefree days outdoors, and this concept continues to resonate with the launch of the new Pleasures Eau Fraîche, a vibrant yet dewy floral fragrance that celebrates life’s simple moments in a new and modern way. Top notes include white lily, violet leaves and green accents. Middle notes are comprised of black lilac, white peony, karo-karounde blossoms, baie rose, pink rose and jasmine. Base notes are sandalwood and patchouli.
Following up on Central Park and last Spring’s Central Park West, New York-centric Bond
No. 9 will launch Central Park South on April 15. The fresh floral starts out with tangy topnotes of grapefruit flower, mingled with blackcurrent buds and green ivy leaves. Heart notes are a bouquet of jasmine, ylang ylang, jonquil and lily of the valley. The base contains classic wood notes of sandalwood and cedar bark.
Model Heidi Klum’s fourth fragrance, Surprise, provides a blend of luminous fruity and fine floral accords
warmed with resins and wood. Contributing scents include mandarin extracts, pink pepper, magnolia, rose petals, benzoin LMR and milk of sandalwood. The Coty fragrance comes in
EDT and Body Spray. The perfumer was Shyamala Maisondieu from Givaudan and the packaging designer was Lance McGregor from Paul Mayers.
Also from Coty is Guess Girl, a fragrance aimed at young women in their twenties and 
inspired by the 30th anniversary of Guess brand. Guess Girl is a floral-fruity fragrance signed by perfumer Laurent Le Guernec of IFF. It begins with fruity top notes of raspberry, melon and bergamot nectar. The heart introduces floral notes of Brazilian paradise orchid combined with Provencal acacia and lilies, while the soft and creamy base is composed of Australian sandalwood and Madagascar vanilla. Guess Girl is available as a 30-, 50- and 100mL EDT and 2mL perfumed body care cream.
Inspired by “the most beautiful season of the year”, clothing designer Betty Barclay created Tender Blossom, “a scent that captures delicate blossoms, a fragrance just like Spring itself.”
Betty Barclay Tender Blossom opens with a lively fruity, fresh and gentle note that combines sun-ripened melon, exotic lychee and delicate cyclamen. The heart note features peony, magnolia and freesia. It finishes on with a base of musk and sun-drenched woods, such as cedar and sandalwood. SPRAY
Cleaning product and fragrance makers strongly stand behind the safety of their products and completely reject misrepresentations made by a pressure group about fragrance ingredient safety.
The American Cleaning Institute (ACI), Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA), and International Fragrance Association North America (IFRANA) refute claims made by Women’s Voices for the Earth in a report that promotes false fears about how fragrances are used in everyday cleaning and personal care products.
An enormous amount of research, development, review and safety evaluation goes into the manufacture of cleaning and personal care products long before they hit the store shelves, said ACI.
Fragrance ingredients that are used in these product categories are in compliance with more than 150 global industry safety standards that already exist today. Wherever these products are sold, they are subjected to that nation’s restrictions, regulations and/or legal protections. Therefore, the products are in compliance everywhere they are sold.
Additionally, companies are communicating transparently with consumers through ingredient disclosure programs.
Cleaning products play a critical role in enhancing everyday health and contributing to better living for everyone. They are used safely by millions of consumers worldwide every day to improve their lives and manage their environments efficiently and effectively. It’s regrettable that misinformed and ill-advised attacks attempt to discourage the use of these very beneficial products. To read ACI’s complete statement, visit http://www.cleaninginstitute.org/manufacturers_of_fragranced_products_refute_scare_campaign/.
