Consumer Sensory Experience
Cosmetics companies and manufacturers have done years of research on sensory experiences and topical products like skin creams, hair products, roll-ons and spray-on: how smooth and light cream should feel; the rough texture of a body scrub like Bora Bora Body Scrub; the way a hair conditioner like Hydrating conditioner makes a consumer's hair feel soft and not sticky.
While the consumer thinks of each product they use about results, the consumer experience is not unisensory.
You may have already thought about the colour of the packaging and the scent of your cosmetic product. Still, the University of Oxford research suggests that consumer experience can be influenced by the sound when you open the bottle, the weight of the packaging, and the feel and the texture of everything from the box to the tube to the cream itself.
Chanel International B.V. already leveraged this knowledge in 2010 with their Rouge Coco Lipsticks. Their lipstick cases were redesigned with new metal material and shape to give a fresh sensation when users wrap their fingers around a Rouge Coco tube. The closure system of the Rouge Coco lipsticks went through several trials until engineers found the right feel and sound — from the soft press on the cap and the sound of the lipstick clicking shut. The revitalisation of Chanel's classic product garnered the interest of millennial consumers, who praised lipstick for its new take on traditional luxury.
When creating sensory experiences with cosmetics, there is much to learn from Chanel.
Think of a crisp compressible spray button on a facial mist to heighten the consumer's sense of refreshment or a softer spray button to emphasise the gentle, nourishing nature of the ingredients. Consider using a mixture of rough and smooth bottles for hair products so that the consumer's fingers are prompted to feel the same transformation in their hair.
A good cosmetics manufacturer can work with you and guide you through all the options to communicate your brand to your consumers.