Pretty Potent Perfect Potions: Atelier Rebul

I don't know where to start praising this Turkish colognes & beauty products company. Should I start by commending them on their amazing re-branding, comprehensive new product development or courageous expansion via self-branded boutiques? Should I talk about how amazing it means to be "depuis 1895" in any consumer goods field? Should I talk about how absolutely simple and splendid their new stores look and feel and smell? Or should I talk about my first shopping experience at their Zorlu location…guess how many products I purchased on this first visit?

If you are a non-Turkish reader, you might not be familiar with this brand or the very Turkish tradition of slathering lemon cologne on guests when they arrive at your house for tea or placing a bottle by your cash register for your customers to use as they are leaving. Maybe you've already experienced the elderly woman sitting outside public bathrooms collecting 1TL per use in her little plate while she hands out flimsy napkins and squirts a hefty serving of lemon cologne on to your hands as you leave. Or maybe you've had the opportunity to travel throughout Turkey old-school on buses where the attendant whizzes through the aisles squirting lemon cologne as he sings.  When I was younger and living in Canada we would bring back bottles and bottles of the stuff so that if someone had a headache we would basically pour half a bottle of refrigerated lemon cologne on our temples before my mom would wrap a cotton scarf tightly around the migraine sufferer's head to "squeeze" the headache out!

There are dozens of lemon cologne brands in Turkey but none have taken it to a whole new level quite the way Rebul has. Many of you are probably familiar with L'Occitane or the Greek line Korres. Atelier Rebul products remind me of both…but are in my opinion better, more effective and provide a better scent-ual experience. 

Right before coming to our summer house in Bodrum I hurriedly went into the Zorlu Center store to purchase products for the entire house and for the dozen-or-so-stay-over guests we have had so far this summer. I left the store in under 15 minutes with 18 different products. Let's take a look at what has classified this brand as absolutely "simple and splendid" in my opinion…All of our guests have agreed and have commented on how amazing the bath products in Casa Islabella are :-)

Pricing: First of all they had a three-for-the-price-of-two promotion so that made my bulk buying decision much easier. The products are priced competitively. Aveda, L'Occitane, Zara Home or Bath and Body Works were my other options but they were out priced by Rebul.

Packaging: The pagacking is sleek and simple. Very reminiscent of say Korres or Ole Henriksen. Unfussy with great use of color and fonts. The bottles are plastic (except for the colognes which are glass and higher priced) and easy to use and transport.

Product Range: I was shocked by how many different scents and products they had available. I went in looking for liquid soap and came out with bars of soap, shower gels, shampoos and conditioners. They also have no PERFUME NO SULFATE shampoo that I purchased for my young daughters. I have yet to try their skin care or home fragrance products but after my experience with what I have already used, I will definitely be taking a look at their skincare products upon my return.

Product Reviews: I have tried four different shampoos, one conditioner, three liquid soaps, three bar soaps, four shower gels and two colognes. I absolutely love, love, love how each one smells and works. My most favorite three products are the Color Protecting Conditioner, the Coconut-Avacado Oil Nourishing Shampoo and the Almond Shower Gel. I love the first two hair products so much that I might not go back to using AVEDA for a while (whose products I have been using religiously for over 23 years).

Try all of the products…I didn't love the feel of the No-Sulfate No-Perfume shampoo as it didn't lather that well but that is typical for non-sulfate shampoo. I would also advise that they produce larger sizes for the hand wash and shower gels as we go through them pretty quickly in our house.