As long as a bottle, tube, or jar with the Aesop label is present in any room, that room instantly becomes a bit more… refined. We can’t narrow it down to a single factor, but it’s probably something to do with the combination of the amber glass bottles and the minimalist labels; and when you pump or squeeze out the product it holds inside, the aroma that envelopes the senses.
That’s why it’s so easy to be sold on the Aesop branding, and it was so easy to be sold on… this:
Yup, Aesop toothpaste, also what is probably the most photogenic tube of toothpaste to exist, ever. This is the first toothpaste from the brand, but not their first oral health product – they already have a mouthwash.
Like the rest of the Aesop products, this toothpaste is considered premium, and a 60ml tube will cost you $19. The Aesop team was kind enough to send me a tube to try, and brushing my teeth has never felt fancier. Here’s what $19 toothpaste feels like. And more importantly, is it ever worth it to brush your teeth with $19 toothpaste?
By Tami Lai
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I’m charmed the moment I laid eyes on this. The classic Aesop aluminium tube that gets so photogenically creased with use, and here’s the clincher: this tube comes coloured in a pastel mint, basically my favourite colour.
When I eventually get over the beautiful packaging and get to actually reading what’s printed on the tube, it’s quite interesting. The main ingredients listed are Sea Buckthorn, Cardamom – both common enough botanical ingredients – and… Wasabi Japonica. Yes, that’s wasabi extract, the same green paste I like to dip my sashimi in. Is this going to burn through my sinuses? This looks set to be a very different teeth-cleaning experience indeed.
HOW DOES $19 TOOTHPASTE FEEL ON MY TEETH?
When squeezed out of the tube, Aesop’s toothpaste looks… unremarkable. A standard white paste, just like your usual Colgate and Darlie. I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting – maybe some kind of ridiculously aromatic paste? But I proceed to squeeze a dollop out onto my toothbrush anyway, while wondering if I should be a bit less generous with the squeezing, since this is, after all, $19 toothpaste.
At first taste, the wasabi extract, included in the formula for its anti-microbial properties, is evident. Not in the stinging way that comes with ingesting too much with your salmon sashimi, but in a much subtler way that makes this toothpaste taste mildly spicy, which actually feels quite pleasant. Other than that, this has a generally light flavour, with none of that strong minty taste that comes with standard-issue toothpaste.
Initially, that’s what I missed. That minty sensation is what makes your teeth feel clean in the first place, and without this, your mind tricks you into thinking your teeth isn’t as clean, although logic tells you that mint has nothing to do with keeping teeth clean and healthy.
But after a few uses, I realised the difference. While your standard Colgate and Darlie leaves a strong minty taste that makes your mouth feel fresh at first, once it dissipates, sometimes your breath can still feel not-so-fresh, especially in the mornings. With Aesop’s toothpaste though, I felt like it completely rid my mouth of any traces of morning breath, as well as garlicky dinners. That’s probably thanks to the mix of cardamom, anise, clove and spearmint essential oils, so you still get a light refreshing sensation, but without any overpowering mintiness.
SO IS PAYING $19 FOR THIS TOOTHPASTE WORTH IT?
If you’re an Aesop fan, definitely. In the grand scheme of things, $19 is still a much smaller dent to the wallet than, say, a $67 room spray. It’s not that much extra to pay for a little bit more luxury in your everyday, if you believe in such things.
Still, as Aesop also reminded us in their press release for this toothpaste, no matter how luxurious your toothpaste and mouthwash, they don’t replace regular visits to your dentist.
Aesop Toothpaste, $19. Available at Aesop stores and counters. aesop.com/sg
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