Australians are buying empty bottles of Aesop hand soap and refilling them with cheaper soap to trick guests into thinking they are using the luxury brand.
Thrifty shoppers purchase empty bottles of this luxury soap on Facebook Marketplace and then refill them with cheaper skincare products.
Sydney meme queen Claudia Bursillalso known as Miss Double Bay, aware a Facebook Marketplace listing of an enterprising seller advertising empty bottles of shampoo, facial cleanser, hand soap, room sprays, and other Aesop products for $5 to $10 each.
Genuine Aesop room sprays cost up to $77, shampoos are priced between $25 and $65, hand wash is $51, and you can pay up to $59 for a facial cleanser.
A Facebook Marketplace ad says: “Empty Aesop bottles, already cleaned, $10 each for those with lids, $8 for those without lids, $25 for all.”
Thrifty shoppers are buying empty bottles on Facebook Marketplace from Australian luxury cosmetics brand Aesop and then refilling them with cheaper products.
Someone suggested a use for the empty bottles: “It’s for Airbnb, honey.”
Answers to Miss double bay Sydney’s posts were mixed. Some were amused while others applauded the clever marketing strategy.
“This is Sydney’s eastern suburbs.” a woman posted.
Another joked: ‘Can’t wait to fill them with Reject Shop’s Dettol hand soap.
‘Not sure what’s more depressing, selling them or buying them?’
Others suggested creative uses for the recycled bottles.
“It’s for AirBnb, honey,” one joked.
‘Fill it with Aldi Tricare and a sprig of rosemary… guests won’t know the difference.’
Another seller sells empty bottles of Grown Alchemist, Leif and Koala Eco brands for just $15.
“This is the peak of Sydney’s eastern suburbs.” a user posted
It’s not just Australians who are cashing in on the empty bottle trend.
TO post on reddit featured a UK seller who has ’empty Resurrection Aesop bottles for home design’ available for £7.
One Reddit user commented: ‘This is so sad for me… where the world has come!’
Another suggested shopping at Marks & Spencer: ‘While we do, m&s has some great hand soap and the bottle is cute too! Don’t pay for expensive things.’
One response offered some great budget advice on how to keep up appearances without spending a dime.
‘You can stop by someone’s recycling bin and pick one out for free!!’