What's the difference between Persil by Henkel (Germany) and Persil by Unilever (UK, etc.)??

[passatdoc]

My understanding is that Unilever is licensed by Henkel to sell "Persil" detergent in UK and several other countries, and I am aware that Unilever sells the same detergent under names like "Omo" and "Via" (among others) elsewhere in Europe.

My question: aside from fragrances, is there a substantive difference between Henkel Persil and Unilever Persil? Did Henkel license the formula to Unilever, or only the right to use the name Persil on Unilever's own product?

I've used both Persil (bought in Germany) and Via (Unilever's "Persil" product in Sweden) and both clean very well, to the point where I cannot discern the difference. Fragrance is different. The Persil I brought home was Universal Megaperls and the Via product was Color Classic (i.e. not the same product---Universal I believe is intended for whites and light colors, while Color Classic is for darker colors and is free of bleach).

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Also, is Omo still sold in Germany? In that case, it would compete with Henkel's Persil and, if their formulas really are similar, it would be basically two identical products in different packages and with different prices.

PS the Via package and ads in Sweden are identical to the UK Persil: same "flower power" logos and same slogan: Smuts är bra (dirt is good).

http://www.via.se/pages/page1.php

 

[frigilux]

I've used both, and the Unilever (U.K.) Persil rinses cleaner in my front-loader (with mechanically softened water). Didn't really notice a difference in stain-removal capabilities.

The Henkel Persil was less expensive, come to think of it.

Given the choice, I'd take the Unilever version. I like the scent and I like its superb rinsing ability.

 

[favorit]

things are even more messed up

In Italy Henkel badges Persil as "Dixan" at least since the late sixties.
Unilever has ever sold here its own brand "Bio Presto".... but since some month ago "Bio Presto" is no more Unilever stuff but Henkel labeled......

Another strange matter : Somat (Pril here) Perfect Gel broke into our market more than a year before than in Germany

Anyway the most scary thing is Unilever produces ice cream too (eg Magnum)

 

[logixx]

And Persil, in the UK, is also a dishwashing liquid.

 

[logixx]

Persil UK - Ingredients are found here:What's in our products. I suppose Persil Biological Powder should be the equivalent to Persil Universal.

Persil Germany - Finding the ingrediens of Persil is a little more difficult. henkelconsumerinfo.com lists them. When I click on the like it automatically directs me to a German web page - don't know whether this is because my computer knows I'm in Germany or because that page is always in Germany. Anyway, I then have to click "Hier gehts zur Produktauswahl" (go to product search), then Produkt Name: [Persil], Land: [Deutsch], Sprache: [blank] -> Suche. It'll then list 19 varieties of Persil.

 

[mrwash]

Okay, I'll try to explain:

Persil from Unilever and from Henkel are real different products - except the name. The formulas are different. Henkel puts some enzymes in Persil which you cannot find in Unilever Persil. Unilever in Germany does only sell the detergent "Sunil". It has been a real good detergent in the past but they could not compete with strong brands like Persil or Ariel. Omo in Germany came as well from Unilever but they stopped producing it - it is a dead brand now. Omo can still be found in other European countries (also called "skip") but no longer in Germany.

I once heard a story about UK Persil and German Persil but I do not remember it in all details. It was like Persil by Unilever is an established brand in UK. Henkel does not have a single laundry product in UK. Check their website - you will only find cosmetics. Unilever in return had the Sunil detergent in Germany but in all test by consumer reports it was ranked low or even worst. Persil by Henkel always got good good results, it has been the winner together with Ariel in the last test. Unilever draw the conclusions and sold the brand "Sunil" to another enterprise. But only partially. They kept the name Sunil for concentrated detergent and relaunched it. it is now similar to "Surf" detergent in the UK. The "classic" Sunil coming in big packs is now from the "fit" company. They sold the softener "Kuschelweich" by the way as well to "fit". Kuschelweich is the same as "snuggle" in the US.

Just a last sentence: In France there is "Persil" by Unilever and "le chat" by Henkel - same as Persil in Germany. Henkel just refuses to sell Persil under the same name in France because Persil in french means "parsley". Doesn't seem to bother Unilever.

Okay, to keep the long story short: Those products got really nothing in common, only the name.

 

[ronhic]

...and what do we eat 'parsley' for....

...it freshens breath.

OMO in Australia also carries the 'Dirt is Good' flower logo and would be our equivalent to Persil. Persil hasn't been sold here for over 40years. Though we have 2 premium brands from Unilever Australasia:

- Omo
- Drive

Technically, Drive was THE premium brand here until recently, OMO started to be more expensive, Drive liquid disappeared and Drive seems to have lost shelf space....

AND it seems to come on 1/2 price offer quite often....

 

[twinniefan]

Persil in OZ

Hi Chris,
I don't know if you are aware but you can purchase U.K. Persil and Ariel, Lenor and Fairy brand detergents, fabric softeners and dishwash liquid from a store in the Pitt Street Mall in Sydney.
It is called "Treats from home" and their website address is www.treatsfromhome.com.au and you can purchase these items online the only thing is because they are imported direct from the U.K. thye are quite pricey, i.e. a 3 kg box of Persil Non-Bio was $33.00 the last time I ever purchsed one, darn good detergent though.
Cheers.
Steve.

 

[favorit]

Megaperls ?

Hi guys, do you still have Megaperls in Germany ?

Here we had them for 4 or 5 years,
then Dixan went back to be a regurar powder ( late 90s)

 

[jetcone]

I USED Megapearls

a couple years back, they washed well but I hated the tendancy to bounce out of the cup like ball bearings!!!, they bounced everywhere around the laundry room and soon I had powdered detergent all over the floor, something that has NEVER happend with powders or liquids to me.
So I am not a fan of megapearls. Loved the scent though.

 

[twinniefan]

Persil in New Zealand

Our particular version of Omo is still known as Persil in New Zealand and Omo front loader(oh bugger it! Omo-matic!) is called Persil Low Suds I believe.

 

[mielabor]

Unilever and Henkel are both big companies that sell much more than detergents: margarine, glue and tea to name just a few. Have a look at their websites.

Persil in the Netherlands comes from Henkel. We have it in liquid form and as megaperls. I don't like it because of the scent, but that is a personal thing.

 

[dj-gabriele]

Favorit: Bio Presto is a Henkel brand since the late 90s, the "Bio Presto Sensitive" line of products already was an invention of Henkel.

 

[mrwash]

Sure we have teh Megaperls ove here, they are so popular. As I said before, they were tested one of the best detergents in Germany. We also have "Weißer Riese Megaperls" and "Spee Megaperls". All those are from Henkel. I think people in Italy prefer powder over pearls.

By the way: I own Dixan "cenere attiva". Can anyone from Italy explain what that means? The fragrance is different from regular Dixan, thats why I bought it.

 

[panthera]

In fact,

Megapearls Gold currently holds the highest ranking by the Stiftung Warentest, the German equivalent of the American Consumer Reports (except, the Stiftung still offers full test reports and CR has dumbed down their reporting, sadly).

 

[logixx]

Cenere Attiva

= Aktive Asche?

In the past, people apparently used potash to generate the lye to clean the laundry. Here's the original quote I just found online: "Gewaschen wurde in einer Lauge aus Asche (Pottasche, später Soda) und einem Duftstoff, zum Beispiel Lavendel." Source

Translated: "A lye made from ash (potash, later sodium carbonate) and fragrance, for example lavender, was used to do the washing."

Alex

 

[passatdoc]

Was ist Megaperls Gold?

Never saw it for sale in Germany, at least not in Rewe. Is it supposed to be for colors, whites, or all-purpose? Does it cost more than regular Megaperls?

In November I had a "pen accident" with a shirt pocket: left a cocked-open retracticle gel pen in my shirt pocket and had a 2.5 cm ink blot (dark colored shirt but you could still see the ink). I did a soak cycle followed by Perm Press cycle in my Frigidaire 2140, using 1/2 dose Via (Swedish Unilever Persil) for soak and full dose for wash. No trace of the stain at the end. It saved a $40 shirt. Tide HE works ok but not that good.

I have supplies of both Persil Megaperls and Via at home, due to having brought home Persil and Via from Europe, plus German friends last year brought a packet of Persil for me from Germany.

Via classic is sold in plain cardboard boxes. I sealed them in gallon-sized (4 liter) zip lock bags, which was fortunate, because one of the boxes developed a leak in a corner from rough baggage handling. Persil on the other hand can be purchased in Germany in very tough plastic bag containers that seem more resistant to damage when flying. You can argue the "green" merits of plastic vs paper, but I recycle both types of containers.

 

[favorit]

Richtig ! Cenere Attiva ist Aktive Asche

Flo,
have you ever tried the "Igiene e Purezza" Dixan with eucalyptus oil ? or the Lavender one ? The scent is rather strong on spun laundry, anyway gets acceptable when it' s dry

Jim : Dixan Classico Oro (Classic Gold) is the latest packaging of the old, plain Dixan . The "gold" thing has to do with the fact this year Dixan/Persil is 50 y.o.

http://www.dixan.it/pagine/Dixan-Prodotti.aspx

 

[dj-gabriele]

The lavender scented Dixan makes me feel sick everytime my flatmate uses it (overdosing all the time of course!) That's just too sweet and intense! Plain one is the best along AVA that has a nice mild scent when dry. Dash smell become unbearable since the new phosphates free formula years ago!