Dove is an American personal care brand owned by the Anglo-Dutch company Unilever.
 | |
| Product type | Personal care |
|---|---|
| Owner | Unilever |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | March 8, 1950 |
| Related brands |
|
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Tagline | Let's Change Beauty |
| Website | www |
The products are sold in more than 150 countries and are offered for women, men, babies and children. Dove's logo is a silhouette profile of the brand's namesake bird. Vincent Lamberti was granted the original patents related to the manufacturing of Dove in the 1950s, while he worked for Lever Brothers.
Etymology
editThe name Dove originates from the soap factory De Duif (The Dove), located in Den Dolder, Netherlands. When De Duif was absorbed into Unilever, it gained ownership of the brand, which was later translated into English.[1][2]
Product lines
editProducts include antiperspirants/deodorants, body washes, beauty bars, lotions/moisturizers, hair care, or facial care products. Dove is primarily made from synthetic surfactants, vegetable oils (such as palm kernel) and salts of animal fats (tallow). In some countries, Dove is derived from tallow, and for this reason it is not considered vegan, unlike vegetable oil based soaps.[citation needed]
In January 2010, Unilever launched a men's toiletries range that was branded as "Dove Men + Care". In November 2013, Steve Bell of Macon, Georgia, won the Dove Men+Care Hair "King of the Castle Home Upgrade" contest, receiving a home upgrade and consultation with Jonathan Scott of Property Brothers.[3]
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Dove Shampoo & Conditioner -
Dove Intensive Cream
Dove Campaign for Real Beauty
editIn September 2004, Dove began its Campaign for Real Beauty, followed by the creation of the Dove Self-Esteem Project in 2006, by Geyner Andres Gaona and Amy. The campaign has been criticized as hypocritical in light of the highly sexualized images of women presented in the advertising of Axe, which, like Dove, is produced by Unilever.[4][5]
Controversies
editIn October 2017, a three-second video for Dove body lotion posted on their page on Facebook in the United States prompted criticism and accusations of racism.[6] The video clip showed a black woman removing her T-shirt to reveal a white woman, who then lifts her own T-shirt to reveal an Asian woman. The full thirty-second television advert version included seven women of different races and ages.[7] Unilever has apologized for an advertisement, saying it should "never have happened" and pulled the advertisement.[8]
The ad sparked criticism, leading Dove to remove the advert, saying it "deeply regret(ted) the offence it caused." Dove further stated that the "video was intended to convey that Dove body wash is for every woman and be a celebration of diversity". The black woman in the advert, Lola Ogunyemi, said the advert had been misinterpreted and defended Dove.[9]
Starting in 2023, Greenpeace have a campaign "Real beauty, real harm" highlighting that Dove is polluting communities in countries like India, Indonesia and the Philippines, with plastic waste.[10]
Also in 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority announced that it would be scrutinising environmental claims made by the consumer goods group Unilever. The move comes as part of the CMA's wider investigation into greenwashing and follows concerns around how Unilever is marketing certain products, within some brands, to customers as environmentally friendly.[11]
Research
editIn August 2023, a survey and research done by Kantar's Brand Inclusion Index conducted in UK showed that Dove was considered one of the Most Inclusive Brands for consumers among other skincare brands.[12][13]
References
edit- ^ Witkamp, Sanne (18 October 2017). "Zo kwam zeepfabriek De Duif in Den Dolder terecht". UtrechtAltijd. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Vlems, Edwin (28 February 2014). "Storytelling en millennials: het échte verhaal van Dove". Marketingfacts.nl. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Dove® Men+Care™ Hair Crowns "King of the Castle Home Upgrade" Winner". www.prnewswire.com. 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Kurtzleben, Danielle. "Do Dove and Axe Sell the Same Message?". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- ^ Taylor, Corina. "Dove's Real Beauty is bogus". Canada.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- ^ Slawson, Nicola (8 October 2017). "Dove apologises for ad showing black woman turning into white one". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ Astor, Maggie (8 October 2017). "Dove Drops an Ad Accused of Racism". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ Daneshkhu, Scheherazade (9 October 2017). "Unilever pulls Dove ad after complaints of racism". Financial Time. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ Nicola Slawson: "Dove apologises for ad showing black woman turning into white one" Archived 9 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The Guardian, 8 October 2017;
Maggie Astor: "Dove Drops Ad After It Draws Criticism for Being Racist" Archived 9 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The New York Times;
Casey Quackenbush: "Dove Apologizes After Body Wash Ad Is Slammed For Being Racist" . Time;
Jeff Wicks: "Dove extends olive branch over 'racist' ad" Archived 9 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The Times. 9 October 2017;
Natasha Bach: "Dove Removes 'Racist' Ad That Seemed to Suggest Black Women Were Dirty" Archived 9 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Fortune;
Daniel Politi: "Dove Apologizes for Ad That Shows Black Woman Turning Into a White Woman" Archived 9 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Slate. 8 October 2017;
Whitney Kimball: "What Was Dove's Thought Process on This Racial Transformation Ad" Archived 10 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Jezebel. 8 October 2017;
Biba Kang: "Dove's apology for its Facebook advert is insulting to people of colour – 'sorry you're offended' really isn't enough" Archived 7 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine. The Independent. 8 October 2017;
"Dove faces PR disaster over ad that showed a black woman turning white" Archived 11 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. CNBC, 9 October 2017;
Lola Ogunyemi: "I am the woman in the 'racist Dove ad'. I am not a victim" Archived 10 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The Guardian, 8 October 2017. - ^ "Real beauty, real harm: the ugly truth behind Dove's 'Real Beauty' campaign - Greenpeace UK". GreenPeace UK. 28 November 2023. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Unilever's 'green' claims come under CMA microscope". UK Competition and Markets Authority. 12 December 2023. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ Bureau, Adgully (31 July 2023). "British consumers vote Dove and Nike as most inclusive brands". www.adgully.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Brand Inclusion Index". www.kantar.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
External links
edit
- Official website
- Greenpeace's campaign page (archived 10 January 2010)