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Beyond Efficacy: Delivering a Luxurious and Responsible Cleanse.

Updated: May 1

In a market saturated with suds and steeped in tradition, Sans Savon emerges with a refreshingly different approach to cleansing. This article delves into the innovative philosophy behind this "soap-free" revolution, exploring the conscious decision to formulate without the harshness of traditional soap. We uncover the core values driving this brand within the dynamic wellness and beauty landscape, examining how their commitment to health-conscious ingredients is redefining our understanding of what it truly means to be clean. Join us as we explore a new narrative in personal care, one that prioritises skin health and challenges the long-held notion that lather equates to efficacy.


A selfie shows two smiling individuals, the CEOs and founders of Sans Savon, standing close together in a snowy, wooded environment. The person on the left has short grey hair, a mustache and beard, and is wearing sunglasses, a black and grey striped beanie, a purple winter jacket, and a blue inner layer. Backpack straps are visible over their shoulders. The person on the right is leaning their head slightly towards the other person and is wearing sunglasses, a grey beanie, and a teal winter jacket with a blue inner layer and a grey scarf around their neck. Backpack straps are also visible on this person. The background is filled with snow-covered trees and bright sunlight filtering through the branches.

Follow Sans Savon on Instagram HERE 


1 – Your innovative approach to cleansing, moving beyond traditional soap with health-conscious ingredients, is truly distinctive. Could you share the core philosophy behind this choice and how it aligns with the values you want to embody as a brand within the wellness and beauty landscape?


We discovered the benefits of soap-free cleansing as part of the founding team at Hairstory. Shampoo leaves our scalp dry and hair limp because all of the body's natural, and needed, oils are stripped away. We then add moisture back with conditioner, and we ‘dirty’ the hair with styling products in order to make our hair look good again. It is a vicious cycle.


The same problem exists with soap. We want our dishes to be squeaky clean, not our scalp, hair or skin. Essentially every product that suds, foams or lathers has detergent in it whether it is from a chemically derived surfactant (SLS) or a naturally derived surfactant (SLS free) and they are all overcleaning.


70% of the population identify as having sensitive skin and it is our belief that the root cause for so many is soap; it is simply too harsh for our skin and sets off an avalanche of issues like dry, red, itchy skin or worse by breaking down our skin’s natural moisture barrier and weakening our microbiome.


We set about developing Sans Savon to offer something better that would deliver all the benefits of soap without any of the negatives. Our products clean just enough, effectively removing dirt, grime and 99% of dangerous bacteria while leaving your skin soft, hydrated and moisturized.


As beauty industry veterans, we have seen too many brands over-promise, greenwash and prey on consumers' insecurities. That doesn’t sit well with our personal values. Sans Savon is a small line up of hand and body cleaners that solve an actual problem and are simply better for your skin and the planet.


Follow Sans Savon on Instagram HERE 


2 - The inspiration behind your formulations is rooted in breathtaking places. How does this connection to specific environments influence your ingredient selection and the overall sensory experience you aim to create for your customers? For fellow brands seeking authentic storytelling, what advice would you offer on weaving such inspiration into their product development?


The core functionality of all our cleansers is rooted in innovative, cutting edge ingredient technology. We needed to be sure that the products were effective at their basic job: ensuring our hands and body are clean, that any dangerous bacteria would be removed and that we wouldn’t smell without any of the downsides of soap. Once those basics were nailed down, we had the luxury of exploring what we wanted the brand to be. On a walk with our dogs Eli suggested that it be inspired by the region where we had just recently bought a second home - Charlevoix Quebec.


As soon as Eli voiced the idea that the brand should be inspired by Charlevoix everything fell into place; the brand name, our colors, the shape of the bottle, the scent, our imagery, our content it just all came together easily and beautifully.


Charlevoix is a remote, pristine area that has water, mountains and arable land, all of which combine to create a stunning landscape and a sustainable community. The forest in this region is called a Boreal Forest which is a biome characterized by coniferous trees (pines, spruces and larches) and so much moss. The base scent in our Charlevoix collection, from essential oils only and no added fragrance, honestly smells just like walking through the boreal forest. We sourced local, upcycled producers of fir and spruce oils and added unique secondary notes to each of the 3 products (Hand Wash, Body Wash and the Body Bar) that complement the base scent.


Future scent collections will be inspired by other beautiful pristine remote regions of the world that deserve to be preserved. Our second scent collection will be launched in late 2025 and it smells very different but just as incredible!


Our advice to all entrepreneurs is that your brand and your story needs to be authentic. When you can find inspiration that is based authentically on your life, you will find consumers with similar values and you create the connection and loyalty that drive sales.


Follow Sans Savon on Instagram HERE 


3 - In a market saturated with traditional soaps, what were some of the key challenges and opportunities you encountered in establishing a "soap-free" alternative? What advice would you offer to other brands looking to disrupt existing categories with innovative, health-focused solutions?


When we first set out to create Sans Savon, we knew that soapless cleansing was possible and knew that one of our greatest challenges would be making it affordable. The ingredients to enable this cutting edge technology were rapidly evolving and coming to market, but because the sustainable/ non-toxic innovation ecosystem is mostly small entrepreneurial chemists the costs are exceptionally high. We knew we needed to position ourselves alongside other high end brands like Aesop and that meant not only did the product itself need to be exceptional but the brand experience needed to be elevated as well.


Another large challenge was ensuring the right balance of cleansing, hydration, moisturization and microbiome protection. When you use our products, you’ll realize quickly that you won’t really need any lotion on your hands or body because you’re already protected. Making sure that extra moisturization didn’t end up feeling like residue was important. From there, we also needed to tweak the antimicrobial system for different purposes between the two products. We increased the dosage in the hand wash to make sure all dangerous bacteria are removed, and didn’t need as much in the body wash. We added prebiotics as well, to feed your microbiome.


Finally, we all know that the scent of hand and body wash is a huge part of the user experience, and that is actually where we invested the most time. We ended up creating about 40 submissions until it was perfect!


The most important thing to remember when creating a disruptor brand is that your product needs to function as well or (ideally) better than the products you are disrupting. Consumers what “and” not “or” and your job is to give them new options that meet their needs and deliver added benefits they value.


Against a soft white backdrop, a collection of Sans Savon products is arranged. On the left, a tall, slender bottle of Sans Savon Hand Wash is partially wrapped in a teal, olive green, and orange patterned paper, cinched at the neck with a white string. In the center, a round, white Sans Savon soap bar rests on top of a rectangular Sans Savon Body Bar box, which features a similar teal and olive green striped design. To the right, a dark green, cylindrical bottle of Sans Savon body wash with a black pump and a vibrant yellow-green neck band stands upright. The lighting is even, casting soft shadows and highlighting the minimalist design and natural color palette of the Sans Savon brand.

Follow Sans Savon on Instagram HERE 


4 - For brands in the fashion and beauty sectors, the experience a product offers is often as important as its efficacy. How does your "soap-free" cleansing experience differ from traditional soap, and what steps do you take to ensure a luxurious and effective cleanse that resonates with discerning consumers in our industry?


Using Sans Savon products is completely unlike using soap; there is no foam or suds whatsoever. Once rinsed away, the products leave skin feeling soft without any residue, and the user feels clean and moisturized. But this can be a confusing experience for those new to soap- free formulas because we are so used to feeling ‘squeaky’ clean. We aim to educate our community with what to expect as they transition to soap-free cleansing, and we also introduced a silicone cleansing brush that enhances the experience in the shower.


The difference in the user experiences reinforces the unique value of our products and reminds them that they are cleansing with something completely different from anything they’ve experienced before. In this way, the experience reinforces the value proposition.


Against a muted beige background, a selection of Sans Savon products is artfully arranged. On the left, a tall, slender bottle of Sans Savon Hand Wash is partially encased in a teal, olive green, and orange patterned wrapping, tied at the neck with a thin white string. In the center, a round, white Sans Savon soap bar rests atop a rectangular Sans Savon Body Bar box, which displays a coordinating teal and olive green striped design. To the right, a dark green, cylindrical bottle of Sans Savon body wash with a black pump and a vibrant yellow-green neck band stands beside a lime green silicone body scrubber with a handle. The lighting is soft and diffused, minimizing harsh shadows and emphasizing the clean aesthetic and earthy color scheme of the Sans Savon brand.

Follow Sans Savon on Instagram HERE 


5 - Sustainability and ingredient transparency are increasingly important to both consumers and brands. Could you elaborate on your commitment to sourcing healthy ingredients and any sustainable practices you have in place? What are your future aspirations in this area, and what message would you share with other brands striving for greater environmental and ethical responsibility?


We formulate our products using only ingredients that are healthful to humans and that safely biodegrade as they return to the Earth.


Wherever possible, we source our ingredients from upcycled inputs; in some cases up to 25% of our ingredients are from upcycled sources. Our “forever bottles” are manufactured from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic and designed to last for years of daily use. Our pouch refills also have post-consumer recycled plastic content and reduce plastic consumption by over 60%. Shipping large 4:1 refill pouches instead of multiple 1:1 refills reduces our transportation carbon footprint by ~67%. We avoid carton usage wherever possible, choosing paper wrapping when possible, and always use FSC certified recycled paper. In addition, Sans Savon is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), created to generate social and public good, and to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner. For Sans Savon, our public benefit objectives are to:


● Provide a way for people to safely and effectively clean their hands and bodies without using ingredients that could cause them harm or irritation

● Eliminate the deposition of ingredients associated with personal hygiene to the soil and water table that do not biodegrade and could create harm by accumulating in the environment and/or in people’s bodies

● In the context of personal hygiene, reduce the use of plastics specifically and reduce the carbon footprint broadly

● Channel revenue from product sales back to the regions and communities that inspire our brand, both for social services and environmental protection, to help them self- sustain in perpetuity


Once our business is self-funding, we pledge to donate 1% of revenue from Sans Savon sales to environmental organizations in the Charlevoix region through 1% for the Planet. Additionally, we pledge to donate 1% of revenue from Sans Savon sales to non-profit organizations that directly benefit Charlevoix locals.


Against a clean, light background, a collection of Sans Savon products is presented. On the left, two refill pouches stand upright, one labeled "BODY WASH" and the other "HAND WASH," both featuring a teal and olive green striped design and white caps. In front of the body wash refill, a round, white Sans Savon soap bar rests on top of a matching Sans Savon Body Bar box. To the right, a tall, slender bottle of Sans Savon Hand Wash is partially wrapped in a coordinating teal, olive green, and orange paper, tied with a white string at the neck. Next to it, a dark green Sans Savon body wash bottle with a black pump and a vibrant yellow-green neck band stands beside a lime green silicone body scrubber with a handle. The arrangement showcases the brand's refill options alongside their bottled and bar products, maintaining a consistent design aesthetic.

Follow Sans Savon on Instagram HERE 


Sans Savon's journey highlights the power of identifying a fundamental problem – the often-overlooked harshness of traditional soap – and daring to create a better solution. Their commitment to health-conscious formulations, inspired by the purity of nature, demonstrates that innovation can thrive by challenging established norms. Furthermore, their dedication to sustainability and transparent practices underscores the growing importance of aligning business values with environmental and ethical responsibility. For small business owners navigating crowded markets, Sans Savon offers a compelling example of how a unique perspective, a focus on genuine customer needs, and a commitment to core values can pave the way for meaningful differentiation and lasting impact.


Considering Sans Savon's success in carving out a unique space by questioning a seemingly universal product like soap, what deeply ingrained assumption within your industry might be ripe for re-evaluation, potentially unlocking a new and valuable offering for your customers?

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