box of the 'Gentle Care' formula. On 6 January 2010, after a Facebook campaign, it was reported in the media that Pears planned to abandon the new formula and that by March 2010 a new version would be available that is "much closer to the original". On 8 January 2010, it was reported in the media that Pears would not abandon the new formula but "make further improvements, by delivering a scent that more closely resembles" the original formula. 2016 relaunch The Pears Web site announces "2016 — The beloved British Icon Returns – Pears is re-launched in UK". Home makers of soap have made soaps using the original eight components of Pears soap. Comparison of the historical formulas The information in the table below needs to be verified. The dates in particular need documented support. Also, the information may need to be expanded as there are at least four ingredient listings known to exist for Pears soap in recent years. An analysis of the current ingredients list reveals items such as limonene, whose variant called limonene is characterised by a "turpentine-like odour" also typical of frankincense. It is an insecticide as well. However, this item was present in the pre-2009 formula, so the perceived change might be explained by different ingredients and by different proportions of ingredients. The latest 2009 modification mainly breaks down to an addition of artificial colouring and substances whose hypothetical function is either as detergents (i.e., cleaning substances) or stabilisers (i.e., product longevity enhancers). However, even the pre-2009 formula was a far cry from the original one. The latter was completely free of industrial cleaners, free of synthetic colours and (apparently) free of synthetic odorants, whose place was occupied by natural herbal fragrances. However, one unknown in the original formula is the "Pears fragrance essence": because of it, the customer cannot be certain whether the "new" fragrant compounds are indeed all new—or simply formerly unlisted items. During production at Port Sunlight the glycerol (glycerine) content was a result of not removing that formed during the manufacturing process. See also Pears' Cyclopaedia, founded and formerly published by Pears Notes References External links The Pharmaceutical Journal, A short history of soap (1999) Guardian article about the 2009 formula change English brands Soap brands 1807 introductions Unilever brands British Royal Warrant holders