Why is it that most shampoo's, conditioners, perfumes, etc that we buy here in the states always seem to have French "subtitles" on the packaging?

Examples:

conditioner says: "revitalisant rafraichissant" under "cooling conditioner"

gel says: "gel fixation extreme" under extreme hold gel"

body wash says: "shampooing hydratant pour le corps" under "moisturizing body wash"

What's the connection? Why is it only this category of product that is so blatantly franco-centric? I highly doubt French equivalents carry English subtitles, so what's the deal?

 

It makes them seem designer? Kinda like the Paris fashion show? Thats the only thing I can think of.

I'm not going to lie, I don't really like the French.

 

They often kill 2 to 3 to 7 birds with one stone and just label the thing so that French speakers know what it is too.

I'm pulling this one out of my butt, but if the rest of the label is in English, but the name of the type of product is in French, that's just a throwback to when the French ruled the personal grooming industry around the turn of the 20th century.

 

I haven't looked closely at many of these kinds of products in the US, but usually I've seen Spanish. Makes more sense to have English and French in Canada since they're both official languages.

 

If it is to be sold in Qu

 

[QUOTE=mns2k,Mar 17 2008, 10:53 AM] If it is to be sold in Qu

 

Are they bottled in Canada? When I take a closer look at labels that have a separate French text they usually are bottled or made in Canada.

 

Does not have to be bottled in Canada although I do feel much more comfortable buying a Canadian soap, shampoo, wash etc. As Health Canada is very strict on what can be sold and how it is made. Each company needs to be licensed. In the US the FDA turns a blind eye to the same items. There are really no regulations that would prohibit me from manufacturing in my garage. Any registration with the FDA is purely voluntary.

I was involved with this process at my prior company as we did some bottling here in the states and some in Canada

 

Why are you buying revitalisant rafraichissant and shampooing hydratant pour le corps in the first place. What happened to dial and pert

 

and I'm sure that you have a great reason for that . Sounds like a stupid statement to me. It is well known that there is something in the water in France that makes everybody stupid/mean/whatever you think they are.....