Haven't noticed it. Just bought a new 6-pack and the packaging looks the same. Guess I'll find out when I open a box. We use Dove exclusively in the shower on the advice from our dermatologist.

It's so annoying when they do that! Do they think we won't notice?

We use Dove soap too. My husband switched to the new men's Dove- I think the only difference is the fragrance- it smells like Coast soap or Irish Spring.

I noticed the lathering thing right away when I was washing my face and then I started to really look at the soap size. The packaging still looks the same.

I'll probably end up just sticking with it but I really wish they'd just leave stuff alone. Ever wonder how much smaller they can make some products?

This is something that is being done throughout the industry--same packaging size, but smaller product amount/size. Foods, toiletries, household goods, you name it. I notice this a year or more ago when a new roll of my brand of toilet paper was noticeably shorter than an old one (I put rolls in a cubby in the powder room). On closer inspection, I noticed that the cardboard roll was considerably wider--all of that adding up to less product! Since then, I've noticed this kind of thing everywhere.

Everything is shrinking, except the prices, which remain the same.

We have well water and a heck of a time finding anything that works well with it, add a stone shower the can handle the soap scum and we ended up with Neutrogena liquid. Costco sells it in a bottle with a pump. They have a pear scent I really like.

"Ever wonder how much smaller they can make some products?"

Isn't that why they now have "bite" size cookies? And pint sized drinks? When I was at the store yesterday, I noticed there was a new area that offered some miniature single serving sizes. Almost like samples. A package of Kraft Shredded Cheese, a small thing of grated cheese it was in a tiny tiny canister, some condiments too.

They're all doing it, shrinking products hoping no one will notice. That's how they raise prices without actually changing the price. Crafty devils. You don't notice until you go to make your grandmother's recipe and 1 can doesn't fill up the measuring cup anymore because what was 16 oz in her day is now 14.5 ounces in our day. I noticed it when 16oz became 15.5 but I didn't let it bother me too much because that wasn't an appreciable amount. But 1.5 oz is. How low before a can of pumpkin puree is the size of a baby food jar? If people don't call to complain they'll continue doing it. GRRRR.

I have used DOVE for 20 years and I love it. I hadn't noticed a change in size. After reading your post I called 1-800-761-DOVE and asked about it. I got a very roundabout answer from a rep who complained that her computer was acting up (notice how often that happens?) and then I got politician double speak. I still don't have a clear answer except that it depends on the size of the pack. She said there was a change in January but not all were affected. I always buy the 6 pack or 8 pack. She said the 1 pack and the 3 pack are 3.15 oz while the other packs are 4.25. Does anyone have bars in their closet from 2010 who can read off the size for us? I used mine up so all of the bars in my cabinet say 4.25. It's not something I ever paid attention to so I have no idea what they were in the past. Now I will.

A few months ago I bought a bottle of shampoo and was surpised how quickly I used it up. Right before I pitched the container into recycling I looked closer and I realized it was only 7 or 8 ounces, much less than the size I usually buy. I was completely duped by the size of the container. It was as tall and as wide as the others on the shelf but much, much narrower. I didn't notice the depth when I took it off the shelf because my eye was only seeing the 2 dimensions, not the third. No wonder the bottle kept toppling over in the shower, the base was too small for the height.

This kind of thing aggravates me to no end. I hate feeling like I've been tricked. As it is I spend more time grocery shopping because I have to read every fricken food label to see what they're sneaking in now it looks like I need to pay attention to the non-food items as well.

I've noticed with some food items too. I don't do tons of cooking but I often wondered what was up with the oz. size not equaling the recipe. Nice.

I just love the bags of chips or should I say air? For a long time there was at least 1/2 a bag but now I think some are even less than that. I don't know, I think I'd rather pay a wee bit more. It's a waste of packaging.

I've used Vavoom hairspray for years and if they shrink the can one more time I'm done buying it.

Whhy on earth would they make the size of the 1 and 3 pack smaller? (logical answer: money) Was that the change that happened in Jan.? I would think it would cost more money to actually make them different. I do usually buy the 6 pack but the last two times I picked up a 3.
"there was a change in January but not all were affected"
As in some stores have the smaller sizes in the 1 and 3 pack and some don't?

I'm going to contact them and see what they say.

There's a bar in the second bath that may be from 2010. We rarely shower in that bath. It's from a 6-pack and is 4.25 oz. The box has more info on it than the current packs in a 6-pack.

Top box is new ... bottom may be from 2010.

Haven't noticed any size difference yet. I've been using Dove forever. Recommended by the dermatologist when DD was a baby. Apparently, isn't really a "soap". I buy stuff like that in bulk, so perhaps the next time I have to replenish, I will notice a change in the size of the bars. Still won't be switching.

There are so many grocery items that have been significantly scaled back in size. Seems as tho just about everything we buy/use has been made smaller or contains a lesser volume.

Crazy.

I always use the Dove sensitive (green pkg). One time I got the aloe/cucumber which is also in a green pack. Big mistake - itchy, itchy, itchy!

I will still buy this product, despite the ole' switchero, like Work noted.

Kind of a sketchy thing to do, but unfortunately oh-so common these days.

Jiff Peanut Butter got really sneaky, during the last gas hike a year ago. They left the jar size the same but made it curve up into the container on the bottom (about 2 oz worth) so no one would notice it. They almost got away with it but the media found out and it made the news.

I noticed the difference in the bar size. The sizes vary based on which package you choose and which store you purchase it from. It seems it was last year or maybe even the year prior that I noticed the smaller bar size. I really tried to pay attention to the packaging and tried very hard to not purchase the smaller Dove bars.

Because of Dove's continued price increases I recently switched to Oil of Olay bar soap, and I truly love it. I have used Dove for a long time also and was wary of the Oil of Olay because I thought anything other than Dove or Ivory would irritate my skin. But so far so good, and the Oil of Olay smells great and it cleans my face far better than Dove and an extra bonus, my skin is not dry after cleansing with the Olay, unlike some dryness I experienced with the Dove.

DS had dermatitis as a young child. The Dr recommended Dove Unscented. I remember him saying "Ivory is X% pure, but pure what?" He said never to use. That's it terrible for the skin.

DH likes the Dove Body Wash, but I've started buying the Target version. He can't tell the difference.

I've been meaning to come back to this.

I just wanted to mention, it is only the small bars with the size change. I actually think the lathering problem with due to needing salt in the water softener. It's fine now!

Flower - I'll keep that in mind with the Olay soap!

Feel kinda weird (being a Guy!) posting about this but....

My Mom used Dove for a looooongggg time.
I CANNOT STAND IT!!!

I've always HATED the smell! To me, it made made my skin "chalky" feeling...the few times I had to use it in an emergency (i.e. out of everything else...)!

Been using Dial Gold for many years now.
For my face, I've gotten hooked on the L'Occitane Lemon Verbena Shea-Butter soap that they had in all the rooms @ the Four-Seasons!
For many years now, my forehead's been kinda dry/peeling sometimes. Always had to use a lotion after a shower.
I noticed in HI though, that my forehead wasn't peeling after using the L-O/shea stuff!

Found out about a L'Occitane store in the Mega-Mall in Mpls., so had DW pick some up there recently!

Faron

Faron, don't feel weird, and your observation is accurate - Dial is VERY drying to the skin, so if you had been using that on the face, that might have been why.

I am another one that can't stand the smell of Dove. My grandmother used to use it, and I hated the smell even then.

I usually use Oil of Olay Body Wash, often the one for sensitive skin, (tho never on my face - only Merle Norman products there). One time I needed some and the Dove body wash was on sale, so I thought I would try that instead. Smell was fine, but that didn't lather as well, and certainly didn't leave my skin feeling as nice. Won't buy it again.

Ah, the shrinking product size - it is everywhere. Which not only is their way of raising prices without raising prices, but also is environmentally worse, as it means buying more packages more often.

I guess there are some "Dove Haters" out there!

Les-
Yeah...I thought it was just my Facial SKIN!
I never realized a "Soap" could make my forehead look so "peely" all the time. It was really annoying.

DW often called me "kind of a snake"....;-)
(gotta Love Her...I THINK....)

;-)

Faron

We've used Dove for years and I actually loved the smell on DH. And then he started to have breakouts. He switched to Men's Dove and did okay for about 6 months and more breakouts. He is now on Dove's unscented/sensitive skin and it's been almost a year and no breakouts. But for being unscented it smells and I don't care for it. So I still use regular Dove for me.

Dove sensitive skin bar soap lover here too. But not on the face - I only use Darphin Intral cleansing milk on my face for redness. Plus I never use hot water on the face - only cool water.

I have to agree with Faron about L'Occitane Verbena bar soap. I've very sensitive skin and have tried every soap on the market and none works better and lasts longer than L'Occitane, for me. And the smell is awesome.

I picked up some Dove soap in London. The bar size is smaller: 100 grams vs. 120 grams for the soap stateside, but the London soap itself lasts far longer?!?

One more vote for L'Occitane Lemon Verbena. We stayed at the Four Seasons near Kona this summer and used it for the 1st time. The smell was so great--I brought all the spare bars home! It's the first time I've bothered doing that in decades. DH has very flaky, dry skin and he liked it, too. It's a bit of a splurge, but the smell is to die for...

This discussion is a little old, but I came upon it this afternoon after trying to price-check Dove Moisturizing Beauty Bar (White). I already knew they reduced the size some time ago from 4.75 oz. to 4.25 oz., but now it appears they may have reduced it again! While price checking today, I saw some 4.0 oz. bars. In addition, there area a lot of websites that have one size in their description and a picture of a smaller size (e.g., description says 4.75 oz. but picture shows 4.25 or 4.0 oz.).

I know there's nothing we can do about companies' sneaky practice of choosing to decrease the size or count of things rather than increasing their price, but it is irritating to me that they may be marketing some of the larger bars in a 4.25 oz. size and others in a 4.0 oz. size. Consumers shouldn't have to check the fine print for the exact size every time we purchase something such as soap or toilet paper! TO SEE PICTURES OF THE 3 SIZES (I uploaded to PhotoBucket), CLICK THE LINK BELOW.

I wonder just how many times they've reduced the size since I first began buying it in the early 1970s. :(

Here is a link that might be useful: Downsized Products

In case you're leery of clicking the link, I'm going to post the pictures. (Can't figure out how to post them all in one post instead of separately!)

Newer packaging of the 4.75 oz. size (which is no longer available, to my knowledge)

...and, finally, the 4.0 oz. size

So for years I used Kirks Castile then finally switched to dove and now that it has been brought to my attention that dove is screwing us screw unilever I'm going back to Kirks!

Corporate America has been doing this for a while now. So dirty.

I like Basis Soap.

My last eye opener was Dawn Dishwashing liquid "non-concentrated" and "simply clean". I grabbed it from the grocery shelf not realizing there is more than one kind of Dawn dish detergent. It's watered down, doesn't clean anything like the original and low sudsing. I wrote to the company to complain and they sent me a coupon for $4 to use on any Dawn product saying they're sorry it didn't suit my needs.

Toilet paper is another HUGE ripoff: shrinking sheet sizes and puffing rolls up to APPEAR large when in fact they're half the size they used to be. Competition now seems to be about who can dupe the American public the best, not provide the best product.

I KNEW IT!!

OP, you might be interested in this current thread on the QVC beauty forum

Dove Soap

İ think dove products are the best for me...i actually use The soap, body wash n lotion..being black, my skin is kinda lightining ...but looking pretty..am i love witwith

I've noticed the smaller Olay bar soap. It's been my favorite for years but with the smaller bars and quality I've switched to pure liquid castille; Dr. Bonners, or the Everything Soap. So sad that companies feel they can just change and not lose loyal customers. Bye, Bye bar soap.

Another Dove fragrance hater. I want to switch from bar soap to a liquid but have trouble with the strong fragrances there! Maybe have to try the L’Octane L/V.

Are you talking about soap for your body or your face?

I had to look at this thread too...les? The same les? I hope so.

@les917

Salonva, imo old threads are almost always still relevant to SOMEone. I still get notices about my Bain Ultra air jetted tub and that was in 2007. I also still get notices of someone commenting on how I finally won the war of those pesky mud birds that want to take up residence on my porch each spring and thanking me for a solution. That was in 2010. So old threads are still helpful :)

@monicakm_gw agree but my point was that the comment was from @les917 remember her????????

Looks like the same les917 I remember. Follow her profile and you'll see other posts from a number of years ago that she made.

Another case of corporate greed dove soap reduced the size from 4oz to 3.75oz with all the emphasis on washing more often during this pandemic they decide that it was a good idea to make their soap smaller yielding less washes per bar our hats go off to you dove soap and hope that you win greed of the year award

🙄

I hate Dove soap. Rub and rub and barely a bubble.

I bought a couple of bars of Dove since the store was out of my Caress, but I noticed it doesn't smell like it used to. Dove used to permeate fragrance, but not anymore. Guess nothing stays the same. Disappointing.