Most decisions in a boutique hotel receive time and attention. The amenity decision often arrives late, when the opening date is close and the bathroom is almost finished. This guide is for the person who would rather make it deliberately — the owner, the GM, the designer who knows the bottle at the sink is part of the room.
In short: start with four core products — a hand and body wash, a dedicated shampoo, a conditioner and a body lotion. Choose one scent and a refillable format that suits the bathroom. Bring design and operations into the decision alongside procurement, and test the products yourself before signing off. The rest of this guide explains why.
Which amenities does a boutique hotel actually need?
Four products make a considered starting point: hand and body wash, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion. Bath salts are a useful fifth where the room has a tub. Beyond that, let the property and its guests determine what belongs.
The distinction worth holding onto is between wash and shampoo. Hair and skin have different needs; giving each its own formulation is a deliberate choice, not an unnecessary complication. Our amenities line includes those four core products, plus bath salts, for exactly that reason.
One scent or four?
Start with one. Four products in one scent read as a property that has decided. Four unrelated fragrances can feel like a selection that was never quite finished.
Test the scent in the bathroom, not just from the bottle. Consider how it sits alongside any room fragrance and how it feels after washing. It should suit the building and the guest without insisting on being noticed.
For properties starting with Plainly, three scents are available immediately, with no minimum order: Clary Sage & Lavender, sophisticated and quietly grounding; Mandarin Lemongrass, bright and energising; and Rosemary Mint, fresh and clarifying. Spicy Ginger Lime is produced on request. Each is composed the way a perfume is — from essential oils only, with no synthetic fragrance — so it develops on the skin rather than announcing itself from the bottle. A bespoke scent can come later, once you know what you want it to contribute to the stay.
Refillable bottles or single-use minis?
Our preference is refillable. A bottle that stays in the bathroom becomes part of the room rather than something placed there for departure.
We use 250ml bottles, refilled from 5L canisters. But the bottle size is only part of the decision. Housekeeping needs a workable routine, and the installation needs to suit the space.
Ask whether the supplier provides canister pumps and wall-mounted holders. Check whether its refills can be used with dispensers you already have, and ask for instructions on cleaning and refilling.
Plainly supplies bottles, canisters, pumps and wall-mounted holders. Our 5L canisters can also refill existing third-party dispensers.
What should be in the formulation?
Start with the finished product, not the ingredient headline.
Wash with the sample and notice how your skin feels afterwards. Try the shampoo and conditioner together. Use the lotion when you are getting dressed, not only when you have time to wait for it. An ingredient list matters, but it cannot tell you everything about the experience.
Then look for a formulation suited to each job. Our Hand & Body Wash uses mild plant-derived surfactants, almond oil and rosemary extract. The shampoo has its own formulation, with argan oil, almond oil and licorice extract. The conditioner includes panthenol and aloe vera; the body lotion contains hyaluronic acid, panthenol, almond oil and vitamin E.
All four are vegan, sulfate-free and made in Germany. The 5L canister contains the same formulation as the 250ml bottle — not a version built down to a hotel price.
Who should make the decision?
Design and operations should make it together, with procurement involved.
The person who chose the tap and mirror will notice how the bottle sits beside them. Housekeeping will notice whether the holder is accessible and the refill routine manageable. Procurement will ask about price, availability and supply terms. The choice is better when those conversations happen before the order.
Brief the supplier in both languages at once: texture, scent and finish alongside pricing, lead times and refill formats. Ask what happens when a pump fails or a delivery arrives damaged. Clear answers matter as much as a good sample.
What if another hotel nearby uses the same brand?
A shared supplier does not make two properties the same. Hotels share furniture makers, taps and tableware without losing their identity. Choosing a standard supplier simply because a neighbour carries Plainly does not necessarily make your choice more distinctive.
The bottle is one part of the stay, not the property's entire identity. Choose for the person in the room, not for the competitor around the corner.
If a distinctive scent matters, a shared brand need not mean a shared fragrance. Plainly offers bespoke scent, formulation and packaging projects for qualifying partners.
What should you ask a supplier before committing?
Is there a minimum order?
Check whether the answer changes by scent, format or customisation. For Plainly's Clary Sage & Lavender, Mandarin Lemongrass and Rosemary Mint lines, there is no minimum order. You can start with a single bottle. Spicy Ginger Lime is produced on request, with lead times confirmed when you enquire.
Are we committing to an ongoing supply agreement?
We do not require a fixed-term commitment. Our products should earn the next order. If they stop working for your property, stop ordering — or tell us what needs to improve.
Can we test the products first?
Order the products you are considering and use them in your own bathrooms before deciding. Plainly credits the full amount of the test order against your first order.
Is everything supplied?
Ask about bottles, refills, pumps and holders — not just the formula. For groups, establish whether deliveries can go to individual properties while invoicing stays central. Plainly supplies all four components and supports delivery to several locations with central invoicing.
Are the prices clear?
Look for prices by product and format, with VAT and shipping terms stated separately. Our published price list shows net prices excluding 19% VAT, with shipping charged per order.
Who designed the packaging?
The bottle will sit beside your fittings every day. Its proportions, label and mounting deserve consideration. Plainly's identity and packaging were designed by Winkreative, Monocle's sister agency. The design received an iF Design Award in 2023.
Does this only apply to small properties?
No. The principles hold from nine-room houses to resort spas. Larger properties bring additional questions about volumes, delivery schedules and housekeeping routines; those should be discussed directly rather than assumed.
Cortiina in Munich carries a co-branded Plainly line in its rooms. Bachmair Weissach Spa & Resort worked with us on a bespoke edition. We also created a Plainly × Monocle edition for the Quality of Life Conference in Munich. Each is a different setting for the same attention to formulation and design.
What happens when it is chosen well?
The bottle belongs beside the tap. The products feel good to use. The scent is coherent, and housekeeping has a routine it can maintain.
The guest may never mention the amenities. They remain part of how the stay feels.
For the longer argument, read Specifying Amenities for Boutique Hotels. If you would rather start with the products, order them to test. We credit the full amount against your first order.
