When you’re a famous seaside resort in California, $300 a year may seem like peanuts. But for me, it’s an extravagance.
It is one of the few luxuries I allow myself regularly – not a night at the Hotel del Coronado, which is 3,000 miles away, but the scent of Hotel del Coronado. More specifically, their “Seaside” (formerly “The Sea”) lotion and bath gel, which I have been purchasing religiously for the past 10 years.
Unfortunately, when I went to order it the other day, it was no longer on their website. I promptly emailed the Del Shop, and was informed that they are no longer making that scent, but they have replaced it with – get this – Coconut Mango. They assured me it was the same quality, which is all well and good, but last time I checked, the beach smelled nothing like coconuts or mangoes.
In fact, if I wanted to smell like a bowl of fruit, tropical or otherwise, I could easily walk into any Bath & Body Works and find any number of assaultingly sweet combinations.
This isn’t the first time they changed the scent on me. A few years ago they changed from the original “The Sea”, which smelled like Heaven on Earth, to “Seaside”, which didn’t smell quite as good, but it was still better than anything else on the market, and most importantly, it was in the same family.
I have admittedly never stayed at the Hotel del Coronado. I was introduced to “The Sea” through a small hotel bottle that my sister-in-law had from a trip out West, and I have been hooked ever since. I walked the grounds a few years ago when I accompanied my husband on a business trip to San Diego. And the brand was always something I aspired to experience when I would one day have enough money to stay in fancy hotels.
I know it may sound ridiculous, but Coconut Mango kicks that brand mystique down a notch. Scents are very powerful, and when you’ve had a scent that rounds out your brand for at least a decade, taking it away from the equation dilutes said brand.
You may think I’m just a ranting target audience of one, but there is at least one other person who’d like to see the return of the classic Hotel Del spa product line:
When Hotel Del Coronado lost “Seaside”, they lost my $300. It may not even be a blip in their annual revenue, but I’m sure I will find another hotel, spa, or other luxury lotion seller that will welcome me and my cash with open arms. Now if I can only find a similar scent. Any ideas?
Anita Kemp
19 Feb, 2013 - 14:03 pmI was searching for this product…..it was the best.
Wendy
07 Nov, 2015 - 14:49 pmyou can still find the same product. Hotel Del just put their own label on it. kissmeinthegarden.com
http://kissmeinthegarden.com/catalog2/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=67
Michelle Yue
21 Feb, 2013 - 09:15 amYou’re right, Anita – such a great product. I’ve started using Philosophy’s Living Grace, which has a really nice scent, but not quite the same.
Sharon Flint
22 Feb, 2013 - 17:25 pmI am glad Im not the only one freaking out about the loss of the Sea products! I was low on stock and called them to reorder, but was told the company that made The Sea has gone out of business. So sad, I just loved the scent.
Brigid
10 Apr, 2013 - 09:47 amOMG, I am so glad to read this, but so sad to read it. I just finished the last tiny bit of a bottle from my last stay at the Del, which was at least 4 years ago, and went online to try to find more, thinking I’d splurge because it smells so wonderful.
I can’t believe they can’t source it from somewhere else! It was wonderful.
PF
15 May, 2013 - 20:06 pmGood News!
The shampoo and bath gel previously known as “Seaside” from Hotel del Coronado is still available! It is sold in the 1776 store at The Homestead (a sister resort of Hotel Del) under the name “Mountain Mist”. The phone number is 540-839-7743. I just received my order and, in fact, IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME!
Thank you Mr. Rodriguez at Hotel Del for answering my e-mail query and providing the information. 🙂
Michelle Yue
15 May, 2013 - 21:16 pmPF, that is good news! Thanks for the tip!
Lisanne
26 Jun, 2013 - 13:05 pmThanks so much for that info on The Sea! I have been searching for it all over for months. The website HairNewsNetwork.com , a beauty supply place, shows they have have The Sea shampoo and salts, but not the lotion, as discontinued items. I cannot seem to get an order through tho. I will try the Mountain Mist.
Barbara
26 Sep, 2014 - 16:26 pmNo it is nothing like “the sea”
phoenixuniverse209
18 Nov, 2014 - 08:57 amUPDATE: The Homestead has unfortunately discontinued “Mountain Mist” and the lady in the 1776 Shoppe did not know who made it for them. I actually saw someone trying to sell their room amenity bottles on eBay for $25.00! Unreal.
dana
25 Nov, 2014 - 12:55 pmthey have been reduced.. ……..but there is a lot of product there
holly
28 Nov, 2014 - 13:45 pmthe price has been reduced drastically on those.
C Allen
02 Jun, 2013 - 21:10 pmThanks for telling us where to get the shampoo and conditioner but I too am looking for the seaside body lotion that they used to sell at the Del. It really was great! Can anyone help?
Rita
18 Aug, 2013 - 21:42 pmOH MAN, I am down to my last drop and like the author, this is my indulgence. I love the smell, it takes me away. I have been trying to find it and cannot believe that the Hotel no longer carries this. Coconut, really, if I wanted to smell like that, I would buy suntan lotion. I will check out the mountain mist.
Sue
04 Sep, 2013 - 17:49 pmI too was have been looking for the Seaside lotion and was so disappointed that the hotel no longer carries it. It was my favorite scent!
Sandie
09 Mar, 2014 - 14:22 pmHas anyone found the Seaside lotion??
Michelle Yue
10 Mar, 2014 - 22:52 pmSorry, Sandie. No luck on my end. Wish I had better news for you!
MTM
07 Apr, 2014 - 06:01 amI, too, was a big fan of the Del’s body lotion. My husband and I honeymooned there 11 years ago and I was hooked on the body lotion, ordering that big giant body lotion pump bottle once a year for myself and my two sister-in-laws. So sad to see it go but even more distressed that they came up with Orange Mango to replace it?! Come on….
Anyway, I have never been able to find anything close to that wonderful scent, however, I have been using a Molton Brown lotion that has that similar clean scent and same silky feel that The Sea had. Here is a link to their website. All the best….
http://www.moltonbrown.com/store/bath-body/body-lotion-cream/white-sandalwood-nourishing-body-lotion/KBT046/
Michelle Yue
07 Apr, 2014 - 06:42 amThanks for the tip – I will definitely give that a try!
Cat
09 May, 2014 - 08:11 amYou might try the H2O Sea Moss line. I use the body wash. It has a bit of that oceany vibe.
Michelle Yue
09 May, 2014 - 09:13 amThanks Cat – I will have to check it out!
Babs
26 Sep, 2014 - 16:12 pmI love “the sea” it is the most wonderful fragrance . Please please bring it back!!!! I need it desperately!
dana
10 Nov, 2014 - 13:09 pmI have posted a lot of these products on ebay currently Item 221601645148 if anyone is interested. thanks so much
Michelle Yue
10 Nov, 2014 - 13:44 pmThank you, Dana! Glad to hear you have some. I’ll give the rest of these lovely ladies a 24-hr head start before I jump in and grab them for myself.
dana
15 Nov, 2014 - 09:51 amI have reduced the price and put in a place for people to make offers if this helps.
Eldie
07 Feb, 2015 - 23:29 pmSo I too was so bummed to find the sea lotion was no longer for sale. So much that I started a project of making my own. I have recovered that making lotion isn’t my talent I did find the scent it is 3 drops of the essential oil ocean breeze by eternal essence 1drop of geranium and a touch is ylang ylang. In a spray bottle of water. It is not perfect but so so close . Give it a try. You will like it. Sense it is in a bottle of water I can spray it anywhere.
Michelle Yue
08 Feb, 2015 - 06:49 amThanks for the tip, Eldie!
JJ Schreiver
10 Feb, 2015 - 07:39 amI was at The Del two weeks ago. They had some if the room size Seaside body lotion bottles at the counter, 2 for $1.
I also found the actual Sea Breeze perfume in Florida a few years ago. Will look for it tonight and post the info. Totally freaked out w happiness when I found the perfume!
JJ Schreiver
10 Feb, 2015 - 07:42 amI found the Sea Breeze perfume in Florida a few years ago. Will post info tonight.
Also, was at The Del 2 weeks ago. They were selling the room size bottled of Seaside body lotion at the counter for 2 for $1. Not much left.
Pam Bechtell
17 Mar, 2015 - 13:42 pmI had visited the Del about 20 years ago, I have come across Jo Malone grapefruit scent that reminds me of what they had back then. I had ordered the product once after my stay and the Jo Malone is the scent I remember. That is why I was on there website looking to see if they still had it. I guess I will have to stick with this scent as my memory.
Kristie Hardy
31 Aug, 2015 - 14:56 pmI never had a chance to try the product before the switch to the Mango Coconut but I feel in love with the Mango line and just went to order more and now it is no longer available. They currently have a new Sea line, I wonder if it is the same product line that you all loved. Worth looking into.
Michelle Yue
31 Aug, 2015 - 15:04 pmWow. That would certainly be wonderful if they are bringing it back. I’m sorry they no long have the scent you like, but thanks for the tip!