A Very Different Ariel Found in Minneapolis

[frigilux]

I was in Minneapolis today for a seminar and stopped by Los Amigos Mexican grocery store to look for detergents. Saw this one last time I was there and didn't pick it up. Today, there was only one box left. Robert, they're definitely paring back their selection. They've moved the detergents further down the aisle and they are stocking only bagged Ariel Oxi-Azul Max, Foca and Roma.

And I picked up some more Mexican (non ultra) Downy, which I love for bedding because the scent stays for days.

 

[frigilux]

As soon as I go near the washer, Nick gets in on the action. He loves to watch the TL'er. Unfortunately, this is only a show-and-tell, Nick.

For those keeping score: Nick was supposed to be with me for 2 weeks. Yesterday marked four months. I'm starting to get attached.

 

[frigilux]

This version isn't listed on the American P&G site, nor on the Mexican site. It is obvisouly meant for the USA, as it says this on the back:

 

[frigilux]

It doesn't look or smell like Ariel Oxi-Azul. It looks like Tide with Bleach---doesn't smell like it, though, at least not Tide Original Scent. Doesn't smell like Tide CW Glacial, either. And it came with a green scoop (not pictured here).

 

[frigilux]

Here are the directions from the back of the box:

 

[frigilux]

My seminar was in St. Paul at the TIES building (Snelling & Larpenteur) and on the way there, I passed the Oriental Super Market (Snelling & Van Buren), so I stopped on the way home, hoping to find some cool Chinese detergents. No detergents in the place. Got some mock duck, dried fungi and fish sauce, though.

I wanted to stop at the Global Market (Lake & Chicago), but traffic was thick and I was itching to hit the road, so I'll explore there next time I'm in town. Also passed a nice-looking Mexican grocery on east Lake St. called City Market.

Robert, I stopped by the Cub on Lake and looked over their Mexican lineup (Ariel Oxi-Azul, Roma, Foca). You're right; those 11 lb. bags of Foca and Roma are freakin' HUGE. About the size of a bag of water softener pellets. Didn't buy anything there. Was surprised to see they still have the Oxi Detergent Ball (price greatly reduced) on the shelf.

Minneapolis contingent: If you find foreign detergents elsewhere, please let me know!

 

[DADoES]

Been a long time since I've seen it, but I think that was the box-type Ariel that was around here at first, until the bag-type took over. I do recall those dosage recommendations (and I still typically use seven 1-oz. scoops for a full load in the F&P). But I can't remember if perhaps the box-type did indicate NOT for sale in the U.S.

 

[andrewinorlando]

On Sunday, I got the shock of all shocks....I went to the WalMart Supercenter here and there wasn't a single trace of any Mexican detergents anywhere. They were all gone from the shelves. Coincidentally, I noticed that there wasn't a single Mexican person in the store, either, and there used to be a good number of them that shopped there.

 

[~sudsshane]

Mexican Downy

Can't stand the smell of that stuff..It is like Suavitel on steroids!!!

 

[sudsmaster]

I'm thinking the boxed Ariel has no phosphates, and is basically repackaged Tide. That's what I've seen with the boxed Ariel here in California. The bagged stuff, made in Mexico, still has phosphates.

Am I wrong? Does/did the boxed Ariel in Minnesota have phosphates? If so, mi falta!

 

[zipdang]

The boxed Ariel is the one and only variety I've ever seen in my area. Even saw it in a very large 120-load size box. Have never once seen any of the bagged versions, and so now I'm really curious what those smell like. All this time I never thought the boxed Ariel was so unique!

Keep the cat, Eugene. He likes to help with the laundry -- you were meant for each other!

 

[sudsmaster]

The bagged Ariel has what best can be described as a sort of bubble gum fragrance. I love bubble gum so I like the bag.

 

[oxydolfan1]

Eugene, this is the boxed version once commonly sold here.

If I am not mistaken, it is one of the Ariel formulas packaged specifically for Puerto Rico.

 

[dixieland]

No - Puerto Rican Ariel is made in San Juan and marked accordingly. I seem to recall that P&G was at one time making a U.S. Ariel to tap into the emerging Latin Demographic within the United States. This product was being distributed in the Southwest and California....

I too have seen this product locally (at K-mart) but has since disappeared.

 

[polkanut]

This is the version that I first became familiar with. Our Family Dollar store stocks this, but not our Mexican grocer.

 

[launderess]

That Ariel has nothing to do with the infamous, or famous Mexican version. It is simply was produced for sale in the United States to capture on the Ariel brand, especially with Latin consumers, and counter the illicit importation of the phosphate contaiing Mexican version.

Was sold across the United States, including here in the Northeast and am here to tell you the stuff reeked of scent. Even encased in two strong/thick bin liners the scent gave me migrianes, and finally chucked a full box into the rubbish.

All and all not a very great detergent, full of fillers and cleaned about the same as any MOL or BOL detergent. This version of Ariel is also sold as "ACE" detergent.

IIRC saw the larger boxes of that Ariel at K-Sears when I was there the other day.

L.

 

[frigilux]

Andrew--- I'm surprised the WalMart Supercenter in nearby Worthington has never carried Mexican detergents; there is a large Hispanic population there.

Shane--- I don't like the smell of Mexican Downy straight from the bottle, nor do I use it on clothing loads. It's filed under For Sheets Only in my house. It's great to go to bed every night with the sheets smelling just-laundered.

Zipdang David---you really need to get some Ariel Oxi-Azul in the blue bag. It smells and looks completely different than the above-pictured Ariel. People either love it or hate it. I love it. It smells like a bag of crushed-up Sweet-Tarts. Nothing else smells quite like it. There must be a Mexican grocery store somewhere in Portland, no?

Launderess--Ariel Oxi-Azul in the blue bag smells completely different than this faux-Tide version. Have you ever had the other version? It has a strong scent, but completely different.

Polkanut-- I stopped at a Family Dollar in Minneapolis's Hispanic district yesterday hoping to find Mexican detergents; I've heard others say they get theirs at dollar stores (mainly our southern bretheren). But none was to be had. They had lots of Fab and Sun, but nothing I was looking for.

 

[MrX]

It looks more like European versions of Ariel, which would be phosphate-free and as compliant with US-phosphate regulations as any version of Tide.

I wonder is it possible that P&G is bringing in a supply of Euro Ariel for a niche market?

If it smells rather like pine, it's quite likely to be European formula.

Check the ingredients - The euro ones are typically full of Zeolite

That pack looks rather like the UK/IRL ariel tablets boxes, normally the powder would be in a more 'traditionally' shaped box.

The old Ariel Ultra, Daz Ultra and Bold Ultra (concentrated) powders used to come in boxes that shape too. They're no longer sold.
(They competed with Persil Micro and Surf Micro - back in the era when the marketing gimmick was the dispenser ball. Both types of powder were put into a ball and into the wash, rather than using the drawer. I never really saw the point of that! - Seems everything's moving back to being dispensed by the drawer, as the machine manufacturers intended! - Including Persil Small and Mighty Liquids)

 

[frigilux]

mrx--- I don't think this is the same as the UK version. It doesn't smell like pine at all. It's also a Proctor & Gamble product, not Unilever, as it is in the UK. This really strikes me as being re-scented Tide with Bleach----which is a great detergent----just kinda boring and very easily obtained in Tide form on any store shelf in America.

Despite the outrageous shipping charge, I'm going to order a box or two of UK Ariel from the Brit Superstore just to say I've tried it. One box of Bio and one box of Colour & Style should do it.

I really like Persil, too, but the Henckel version is fine with me; I get it online from a US distributor.