if you are a long time D+L shopper, you might have noticed all the changes we’ve made to our line over the years. while we have high standards for all duross & langel products, you may not know that for years we have struggled to find fragrances in our industry that do not contain ingredients known as phthalates. phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment (air, soil, or water supply), food sources, personal care products, and manufactured products that interfere with the normal function of your body's endocrine system. phthalates are used in many mass manufactured products to make the scent last longer on the skin. so when people tell us they wished our scents were "stronger" or tell us that our scents don't "last" on the skin, it is because we don't use phthalates in our products. we believe that these substances should be banned world-wide and since 2008, when we began reformulating our products to be sulfate-free and paraben-free, we also banned phthalates in all our fragrances. we have also excluded any materials with similar health concerns, including those on the E.U.’s ban list, and materials that are known carcinogens.

historically the cosmetics industry has never been transparent about safety. a lack of disclosure from fragrance manufacturers regarding ingredients and possible health risks was the norm. almost a decade ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, better known as OSHA, adopted and began enforcing labeling requirements from the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). this set of GHS requirements requires the disclosure of potential hazards of a substance in a commercial facility, and for purposes related to shipping. while not designed for fragrance or skincare safety specifically, it was an opportunity for small manufacturers like us to demand more information about the materials in our fragrances and other ingredients that might be considered questionable.

the information we obtained about these materials, the effects they have on human health, was the catalyst for broadening our perspective as to how we operate as company. both in the workshop and in the store. given our massive exposure to the materials we use during the production phase, please know that there are four material groups we do not allow in our products

• carcinogens – materials known to cause cancer

• mutagens – materials that change the DNA of a cell and cause disease

• reproductive toxins – toxins that adversely affect reproductive organs and increase risk of birth defects

• organ toxins - toxins that can cause adverse effects or disease

as we continue to observe, identify and investigate ingredients, we will continue to safely improve what we create. we are always open to discussing any concerns you might have, and will offer sources of empirical data to help you in making the best choices for you and your family.

because sarah and i skew toward unscented and essential oil products, we offer all duross & langel products NAKED (unscented). our "essentials" line uses only pure, non-chemical, unadulterated essential oils to scent the products, and we offer a wide range of custom scented products for anyone who wishes to choose their favorite essential oils to custom scent our products.

steve

change is inevitable. growth is optional.

It's my job to write this epilogue, and as jobs go, it's fairly easy. No sadness. No bitter sweet. Perhaps the easiest thing I'll do all summer. As I type Sarah is busy making candles, while also choosing paint swatches and trying to coordinate the carpenters to hang the door of 240 S 11th, Alli is labeling and helping customers, and I've just returned from handing the agent our official notice to vacate 117 S 13th Street after the holidays. We neither take with us nor leave behind any regrets.

When we moved here fifteen years ago, 13th Street was full of promise for retailers, and for many of those years it did not disappoint. Our space on the street gave us foot traffic, a buzzy neighborhood, and the kind of visibility that serves a business very well. While here we've been graced with multiple best of philly awards, a retailer of the year honor, and loads of love from so many magazines, papers and television programs that we've grown a solid base of regular customers both in store and online. On various occasions we spread our wings, attempted new endeavors and saw what there was to see. At the end of the day, the real joy for us has been the core business. The workshop and the store. Our tenure on 13th Street has offered us an opportunity to succeed at the brief. Live lives we love while creating quality, effective natural bath, body and skincare products.

though we try hard not to stray from the path, sometimes the path strays from us.

Our commitment to Philadelphia stays constant. We do not waiver. Center City is our home. While many might be feeling a lack of leadership, fresh ideas and solutions to the problems that seem to double by the week, packing up and running away solves nothing. It actually makes the problem worse. We hear daily from locals, suburbanites and out-of-towners how unsettling the city feels to them. At times we feel it too, and while there may be no easy fix to our problems, it does nothing to dim our resolve. Anyone who has been around here long enough knows that Philadelphia has it's own particular ebb and flow. We do however have a duty to our customers to give them a pleasant, safe and convenient experience when coming to see us. Easy access to a parking spot where you can run in and pick up your favorites is also a requirement. Our vision for the next seven good years allows us to better connect you to the hands-on experience of how things are made, and it allows us to recreate a more tactile shopping experience.

For now we look forward to these last few months on 13th Street as we build out the new spaces, and to welcoming you into our new store and workshop over on 11th Street come January 2023.

Steve

244 - 204 S 11th Street  -  workshop entry left - store entry right

you'll be able to see things being made in the workshop daily, and we will be welcoming you into the workshop space for classes, podcasts and special events throughout the year

a three minute read that offer's a makers perspective

Our LOW TO ZERO WASTE refilling program launches mid-March 2022. Here is a link to the new site for more detail: https://durossandlangelrefill.com

I'm going to hit you with a few numbers that were very helpful to all of us when attempting a clearer understanding of our personal consumption of plastics.

A lot of folks have been expressing their desire to do away with single use plastics. We agree and feel the need to enlarge the conversation and see what's really happening. Best info takes us to 2018, where plastics generation was 35.7 million tons in the United States, 14.5 million  of which came from the packaging of food. Almost all of the food plastic was non-recyclable. 

The EPA used data from the American Chemistry Council, the National Association for PET Container Resources, and the Association of Plastic Recyclers to measure the recycling of plastic. While overall the amount of recycled plastics is relatively small—three million tons for a 8.7 percent recycling rate in 2018—the recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant.

The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1 percent, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3 percent in the year 2018. The number for PET and HDPE recycled should be much higher yet so many people still do not recycle.

Products commonly made from recycled PET include new PET bottles and jars, carpet, clothing (*all the stretch materials from yoga pants to those jeans you're wearing), industrial strapping, ropes, most automotive parts, fiberfill for winter jackets and sleeping bags, construction materials, and protective packaging to name a few. HDPE plastics can find new life in plumbing pipes, plastic lumber and flooring, children's toys and a vast range of other products. Fun Fact: did you know that it takes 23 recycled D+L bottles to make one pair of yoga pants?

This is why we use PET and HDPE. It also has the added benefit of lasting decades in our homes if properly clean, sanitized and refilled.

The new website addresses all of our thoughts on directly refilling bottles and why we feel our system best address the legal and ethical responsibilities we hold. We understand that some retailers will refill your bottles, and while we have a retail store, we are registered manufacturers of bath, body and spa products under the category of cosmetics. As such, we have a much higher standard toward efficacy, safety and sanitary practices. We will continue to source new materials in an ever evolving market and strive to improve what we can offer to make this a better planet.

We have the vision. Sometimes it's simply a matter of the market catching up.