It’s because the original mix used Akuto, which is not something we consider to be a “cover”, but a full cologne. Neroli, on the other hand, we only consider to be a functional cover. A cover that helps diffuse. A “necessary evil” that’s better than “unscented” (which leads to androstenone reek), whereas we’re actually trying to go one step up and make something nice with colognes like Akuto and FF21.
I figured that since FF21 is liked or at least “ok with” with many users here, and has good diffusion, that’d be an excellent next cologne to try next. I know a lot of people never actually tried MX297 because Akuto is just too much for them.
Americans tend to prefer clean scents that give them “just showered” smell. You go to a place like France or Germany, and you’ll find tons of intresting colognes you’ll never see in the US because they’re just a little too gritty.
Any insight into what would smell more like Game scent Jasmin?!
As for doing new research into making a truly killer mix, a monebomb (cough who’s up for a moanbomb? lol), by pairing certain mones that really work together, bless you Jasmin. And everyone at Androtics. And this outside interest that will be bringing in more revenue for you guys.
A big difference is FF21 has more macrocyclic musks, and the old Game scent more polycyclic.
Polys tend to have more of that “fresher” type scent America loves in a cologne, but there’s some serious downsides.
There’s enough research now to make me uneasy about polycyclic musks, and IFRA itself has been responding. It looks like they’re going to allow less and less polycyclics in fragrances over the years, perhaps even leading to a ban in places where IFRA regs are law, like Europe.
They’re just not good for the environment, and may not be good for people. We figured we’d get a leg up and start ordering fragrances that used more macrocyclics (the future) and less polycyclics. We’re not in business to harm either the environment or people, so that’s an ethical decision as well as good business.
It’s not the first time certain musks have gotten a bad rap, btw. Nitro musks were pulled off the market a long time ago due to negative health effects.
So far most poly reports involve the environment more than health effects, but you really don’t want to screw around with something that the environment doesn’t know how to break down. You know if it’s bad for the planet, it’s probably bad for you.
The downside is that going to get much tougher with time to offer the “fresh scent” many people have come to love, as polys become more and more frowned upon. There’s only a few macros that smell anything near fresh. Most smell kind of funky or gamey. Good and real, but not exactly super fresh.
Is this just one trial run? I remember from previous posts, you mentioned you had instructions to keep it in stock. I’m guessing with the trial scent with the cologne you would need more data.
I’ve probably been the most vocal when it comes to the secondary scent option. I just won’t be able to get another big order in until the end of the month and I know how the shipping issues are with single MX’s. I just wanna know if I should go ahead and try to grab one ASAP before it goes OOS.
Awesome, finally a solid reason why Game disappeared, and one I can really respect. You don’t need any more brownie points though guys! Come on, you’re the only company I trust for buying really quality mones and scent products!
Interesting. That’s probably exactly why I liked Game so very much. It had that ‘fresher’ quality I dig.
Interesting. What kind of concentrated degree do you have to have to work in fragrance? More specifically - for Androtics? There aren’t many companies I like, not many actually do the right thing. But I continue to be impressed with you guys. That’s why I support you, and will continue to do so.
Our ultimate goals are more in the social realm (which can help change the world for the bettter), but we do need to drag through the recession/depression somehow.
The general public has no idea pheromones can be social, or even that they work at all, so we’re just doin’ what we gotta do… Our plan generate new revenue somehow, then pump it into our chemist and work on more new innovations. Just like we used to, but in a much tougher economic climate than we used to do it in.
Working on a little commercial project like Project UF is better than working with some outside funders, though, even good ones like Sequoia. Many large investors don’t just give you money, they give you commands. I recently got to talk to two of the founders of Zappos about this. Some traditional funding routes just aren’t worth it.
Banks were far better when they actually lended. A credit line is the best thing a start up or heavy R&D based company can have, when banks are in the mood to provide one. They just want your money, some interest, not your soul.
Our biggest fear is being forced to make products that cause undue harm to people. It’s better to suffer and work with smaller players who understand this, than it is to “sell out” and possibly do something more on the evil end of things. A company like Coke, as an example I was always given, has all the machinery and distribution channels to really distribute happiness, but instead they use their vast resources to create mass dehydration and even diseases like diabetes. That’s what happens when you live “for the quarter” and can’t see the big picture. Kind of rude to the world in general when you think about it!
Well thank you very much. I really appreciate that.
Yeah, we didn’t exactly go into this project and go “okay, how can we poison people? and make 'em pay for it? cacklecacklecackle”
I don’t think most people do that intentionally, but the predominant business structures in the US certainly seem to lead to that and it’s sad, isn’t it? Public C corps often don’t seem to have people’s best interest in mind. We don’t like that. You disrespect and harm the world, you disrespect and harm yourself. You can’t get around that.
Yeah, it was hyper fresh and extremely diffusive. It was the diffusion we liked. Made our job a lot easier.
Thanks once again.
Well, it depends on what we’re looking for, and at what times.
Right now, we’re trying to reorganize and optimize our limited resources. Cut costs, increase revenue, that kind of thing. Make sure all the people we currently do have are doing the more high leverage activities, that kind of thing.
We have to do that just to survive first off. With mounting costs and massive inflation (gas was $1 when we started, and is $3 now, and many chemicals start their life as petroleum so keep i mind the 3x inflation in this kind of industry). All stuff we just have to do or there’ll be no Androtics to sell to customers to take on more staff.
That’s why an operations manager was taken on. We have to use what we already have better, and stop “almost going out of business” every month before we can even start to think about new American hires. We are seeking two offshore support people for more round the clock help (since the forum is 24 hours, like it or not!), but that is a low cost, easy to manage, and should hopefully increase revenue.
After this optimization is complete we can look at hiring more here in America, which is where we find more of the “brains” we need to actually grow.
The first thing we really need to heal and take the project to the next level is raise some money to either help our chemist out (who’s business is also on the verge of fading away). We’re also open to the possibility of taking on a new chemist that could work with or learn from him more directly. That would require a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, and a familiarity with these molecules.
I thought we were done for sure the time we ran out of androstenol, despite having done the right things on our side (ordering early, paying earlier, being an easy to deal with customer ourselves, etc). Knowing more now about his situation and the plight of the typical American lab (not many left!!), I can’t overemphasize enough how important it is to help fix our chemist’s operation to fix our own.
After we work out that very weighty supply chain kink, I dunno where from there. Once we can make more product, we should be able to supply more, increase distribution, take on more people, you know, the whole growth cycle thing.
All tough to do in the middle of recession/depression, sure, but I suppose not impossible if the whole team here is fully onboard and works synergistically.
Ughhh…This has to be the only thing that I don’t like about Androtics. The mixes that I want to try are not in stock.
Customer service is excellent. Preparation and shipping is stellar. Product quality is fantastic. Jasmine, Steve, Mikalia, Trish and Jacob are all helpful, attentive and great.
Damn, to wait weeks or months for a product to appear in the store and then be sold out in minutes…
It’s a hype, that’s why we all want it. I’ve personally tested it, and so FAR, I haven’t gotten the hyped up results that everyone else got. I’m still open to trying it out, but don’t feel bad you didn’t get it. It’s not like you missed out on the holy grail of pheromones.
Now before I get attacked, LOL. I’m not saying that MX353 is not effective, I just haven’t found results my FIRST time using it, needless to say I still have to try it out in other environments to fully gauge the effects, if any, it has on me.
The holy grail will come only with continued testing and refinement, but a lot of pieces need to come together at once for us to serve the community effectively.
We just got 25k To Go bottle in, FINALLY. A whole wall of them in the office. We’re gearing to release new MXs and for the “30 Mixes in 30 Days” experiment.
Thanks! I definitely know what you mean. I hear you loud and clear, trust me.
That’s why I’ve been here optimizing, along with John to help.
The new cart should help reduce hoarding. The new one has a limit 1 per customer, so if we release 100 of a new mix or old favorite, we can make sure 100 different people get 'em. That’s a big step in the right direction. It’s better to have the cart do this, than to waste our staff’s time doing what software should already do.
Optimizing the business should hopefully increase revenue and free up some lost money so we can fix our supply chain (help our chemist’s business, etc.) so we can get more chemicals.
We’re also setting up an experiment with a new distribution channel that an hopefully deliver items to you as well, or better, than we can – and at a comparable cost.
If it works, hopefully we can move small and non-custom orders mostly over to the new channel… leaving our office mostly to formulate.
The goal, if we can reach it, is to make sure we don’t directly fulfill anything that doesn’t include at least one custom item in the order. It’s a real misuse of our lab’s capabilities to have them shipping more than formulating. It’s also a waste of money. I love 'em, but they’re paid a higher rate as formulators, not shippers. We gotta make sure people perform the highest value tasks they can. Even Target expects to take in $8 for every $1 labor is paid (and 37signals expects $2000 or some crazy rate per $1 they spend). We need that kind of straightforward efficiency.
Small orders also kill us financially, since we subsidize shipping. Overnight does not actually cost us $9.95. 1 and 2 day to Europe doesn’t actually cost us the $25 or so we charge. It actually costs us more and more each year since energy costs have been spiralling upward, even as the economy spirals downward.
That’s why we’re looking to release new inventory just one a week, or once every two weeks. To try to minimize the bloody bite shipping takes out of us.
The good news is that we can give everyone more of what they want when these things are fixed. It’s just a massive project and takes time and massive cooperation and effective action from everyone here.
I guess now that things are being stocked more often there are better opportunities to get the MX’s we want and have them all bulked up in an order. 25k to go bottles is awesome.
Ah, thanks for letting me know. I’m very curious and excited about the project UF. Will we know what it will be called? hmmm, might have to try the world version, just to get a taste of the other scent
Sucks that the economy and shipping are keeping you guys down… You should be raking in the loot based soley on the hard work, great customer support, and help you guys bring, I really hope this turns around for you and you find new innovative ways to cut cost… without cutting service of course
I’m sorry, I meant it does not cost us $9.95. I left out the not! oops!
Yeah, it started as a bit more than $9.95 when we got a new contract, and is now a lot more than that. Then there’s labor, overhead, etc. to get 'em out, and the customer service. It’s damn expensive to ship, especially when a company grows to a size that more than 1 or 2 people can handle.
I know a lot of people might be willing to pay actual shipping costs, but it may just kill of the influx of newbies. As a business that requires feedback from everyone, we already turn a lot of people off. I’m not sure we can say “Yeah, you gotta participate here and give feedback, and oh, yeah, shipping costs a lot, too”.
It just doesn’t help that FedEx and UPS drop their pants for big shippers like Amazon.com. I get everything “for free” second-day air with Amazon, and $3.99 overnight. Zappos usually does free overnight.
This kind of thing from major shippers makes people wonder why we can’t do that, too. Well, we just can’t because we don’t do the volume necessary for that kind of discount and can’t get credit in the US to “get ahead” in spurts. We can now only bootstrap, and it’s not easy to bootstrap your way into discounted shipping.
$9.95 overnight has been our compromise so far. It worked well when the economy was better, but more smaller orders these days means it’s not. That’s why we want to try to shift smaller orders to external fulfillment. I think it’ll work out. We’ll see soon. We’ll still running internal tests.
Volunteers, heh. Yeah, the thing is… we’re not supposed to be a charity. This supposed to be more like Edison’s old Menlo park, with a shipping room attached. I’m sure after Edison put the light bulb in wider production and movie theaters, he and his company did just fine.
Honestly, I see more companies change the world than charities, anyway. I’ve never seen a charity really change the world, except for the microloans which are business-like, anyway.
Companies, on the other hand, are into their “disruptive technologies”. Innovative companies like Apple change the landscape all the time. The right mones could definitely change the social landscape, maybe make more of worldwide 60s lovefest.
Well I’ve give you some good news then! Our optimizations and experiments seem to be going “okay” to really well so far. Nothing too horrible yet. Most of the real horrible stuff seems to be in the past, where it belongs.
The new cart is buzzing along. A little slower than we’d like, but that seems to always be the case with carts.
John LaValle is getting used to all the different parts we have here (there’s a lot!) and is helping to optimize each. People seem to like him, although he just can’t work some miracles. (he can’t make new TAF, for example, we depend on the chemist’s operation for that)
We’ve been assigning UPC codes to each of our core consumerish products to help offload distribution from our formulary office
We have maybe 10 new MXs to release tommorow! That should be a good one (as long as nobody hoards!)
There’s are moving along nicely, there’s just a lot to do at once. It’s a big system with many parts and “actors” who have to work towards the same goal. It’s working more than it isn’t, which is good. We’re goin’ places.
I think the only real thing to worry about is our chemist’s operation. We need to carefully watch that one. That’s what John Alexander is on. I mentioned him another post. You don’t see him around here, but he’s doing his best to keep that going and it’s almost a full time job in some ways. He’s also working on bringing our core products to England, which will drastically reduce shipping costs to most parts of Europe. Another good thing!
Oh, and the other “bad thing” is our stupid Xerox printer. “Most reliable printing company in the world”, sccchhyeah right!
It prints postscript half the time instead of the actual page, and has been driving poor Jacob nuts. Both John L. and I have worked on this today, and Jacob’s right – they won’t send a tech despite the fancy service plan we have. We’d replace it, but when you’re already using the first and second best business class printer, what can you move up to? Now that’s something to worry about!
In all seriousness on the last one, if anybody here knows why Xerox Phasers seem to interact poorly with Macs, please write or call in. Even new units do it, and we’ve tried new drivers, and even using a fresh computer. It just doesn’t make sense. If you’ve seen a problem like this before and know how to fix it, I’ll give you a big gift cert for your help!
You’ve been such a wealth of information today.