(This post was last modified: 01-26-2022, 09:25 PM by DanLaw.)
Really tempted to stay out of this BUT hate seeing a guy get the business even if he has opportunities for improvement.
Fact of the matter is that this has nothing to do with Sebum in any way as ETHOS is magnitudes less expensive than Sebum in any product one might want to compare - they really aren't competitors for the same market to my perspective. Sebum is targeted at the market of guys proud to have paid outrageous amounts of money. That market does exist as anybody having been involved with Lamborghini, Ferrari or Ducati can tell you - there a lot of guys buying things so people know they can afford to spend that kind of money even if they derive no incremental benefit. In the case of Lamborghini, Ferrari and Ducati solely because the overwhelming majority of buyers have no driving/rider skill even if competing in such series as Challenge and Tropheo - not ALL BUT overwhelmingly nearly all. Hell Asians in particular seem to take great pride in overpaying as a cultural badge of honour (beloved Dad was Asian so no racism in that).
Having perhaps the singularly worst skin of anybody encountered online, can flatly state NOTHING has worked better re shaving products - that just a fact; between a relationship with the single most experienced soap expert online and having since handled a massive PIF for those in dire straits, have tried all the soaps mentioned on various fora. The EOS complex - whatever in the Hell it is - makes a marked difference to my skin; empirically know this as Frank has conducted blind trials with every successful outcome coming down to EOS and 1 other ingredient that won't be mentioned but is identified on the labels explicitly.
Finally, regarding scent: it is quite the hurdle to suggest any house copying other houses is less than honourable as they all do it - from Creed to Roja to Skin Bracer - there really is very very little truly unique under the Sun regarding scent AND when Frank has explicitly copied, it is because customers have affirmatively requested he mimic a scent out of production or available in an inferiour inexpensively priced base. Is it creative - NO but is it dishonourable - think not.
That is my take on those particular aspects of the ETHOS business model, not that it any of my damned business, same could be stated of my perspectives on Sebum, Lamborghini, Ferrari or Ducati for that matter.