The Real Reason Hotels Are Ditching Travel-Sized Toiletries

Home may be where the heart is, but a well-appointed hotel room is a close second. A plush robe? So snuggly. A bed you can practically melt into after a long day? So dreamy. Small, travel-sized toiletries and cosmetics that you can bring home with you? So… well, non-existent. Recently many top hotels have been swapping out the individualized toiletries for large, refillable bottles. While you might think it’s a crazy coincidence that’s limited to the hotels you’ve recently checked into, it’s not. Turns out, it’s becoming a legal non-negotiable.

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In 2019, California approved a bill called AB 1162, which quite literally bans the use of plastic, single-sized shampoo bottles from hotels. The bill initially took effect in 2023, and applied to properties with over 50 rooms. Meanwhile, accommodations with less than 50 rooms would need to ditch the plastic bottles in 2024. In other words? Now.

While the swap may seem like it has happened overnight, you have to admit that it does lay the groundwork for a brighter, greener future. “This change is prompted by our continuing evolution toward luxury hospitality that is more sustainable and caring for mother earth,” explains Heidi Miersemann, general manager at the Alila Napa Valley. “As of January 2024, the global hotel industry generates 150 million tons of single-use plastic each year—and we are committed to reducing single-use plastics.”

Reducing waste might’ve been AB 1162’s mission, but it has more to offer than eco-friendliness. Not only do the larger formats used at hotels create a more streamlined guest experience—Miersemann says their bottles can sustain a seven-night stay—but the lower packaging cost means more resorts can offer “an elevated guest grooming experience.” 

While the 1 Hotel properties fill its room with signature products from Bamford—which have a hypnotic blend of geranium, lavender, peppermint, and tonka—the Santa Monica Proper boasts an arsenal of Aesop toiletries. Meanwhile, Alila Napa Valley has honed in on the “elevated, genderless scents and textures” Le Labo has to offer. The property uses the brand’s hinoki scent, which was inspired by the Buddhist temples of Mount Koya in Japan. The scent has been reimagined into a whole offering of products—hand creams, shower gels, body lotions, shampoos, and conditioners—making it possible to have a cohesive, spa-like experience.

Courtesy of Aesop

“It’s a rich lathering shower gel that offers you a few moments of serenity while cleansing your body,” Miersemann says of the plant-based formula. “Le Labo’s interpretation of hinoki smells a lot more bright and lemony than woody, with a satisfying freshness to it that you’ll want to linger on your hands long after you’ve left the resort to explore the destination.”

Since many hotels are welcoming high-end cosmetics to their properties—it’s even easier to track down your favorite toiletries and bring them home with you. “In fact, many go on to purchase Le Labo online after they use their niche hair and body solutions at our resort,” Miersemann. With any luck, you’ll be well on your way to creating a signature home scent and give your space a five-star quality.

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