Burt’s Bees

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Overview

Burt's Bees is an American company producing natural personal care products including lip balms, skin care, hair care, baby products, and oral care items. It positions itself in the natural and earth-friendly segment of the beauty market, with over 95% natural origin ingredients and commitments to no animal testing and responsible sourcing. The brand distributes globally through retailers like Whole Foods and has annual beauty sales estimated around $380-400 million primarily in the US, Canada, and UK.

History

Burt's Bees was founded in 1984 in Maine by Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby, starting with beeswax candles from surplus honey production. It expanded into personal care products like lip balm and soaps in the 1990s, reaching over 100 products and $8 million in sales by 1998. The company relocated manufacturing to North Carolina and was acquired by Clorox in 2007.

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
Lip Care	Natural lip balms and treatments	$3 - $8
Facial Skin Care	Natural moisturizers and cleansers	$8 - $20
Body Care	Natural lotions and soaps	$6 - $15
Baby Bee	Infant personal care products	$7 - $12
Hair Care	Natural shampoos and conditioners	$8 - $12
Oral Care	Natural toothpastes	$5 - $9

Manufacturing

Products are manufactured at the company's facility in a former tobacco warehouse in Durham, North Carolina. Operations include in-house production following relocation from Maine facilities like an abandoned bowling alley.

Notable Products

Beeswax Lip Balm - Original lip balm made with beeswax, known as the brand's flagship product since 1991.
Milk & Honey Lotion - Popular body lotion using natural ingredients for hydration.
Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash - Gentle 2-in-1 product for infants from the Baby Bee line.
Peppermint Foot Lotion - Cooling foot lotion with peppermint and tea tree oil.
Natural Toothpaste - Fluoride-free toothpaste options with natural flavors.

Reputation

Burt's Bees is regarded by consumers and professionals as a pioneer in natural personal care, praised for its beeswax-based products, environmental commitments like landfill-free operations, and conservation efforts. Some enthusiasts note a shift toward mainstream appeal after the Clorox acquisition, with criticisms around diluted 'natural' purity compared to its indie origins. It maintains strong loyalty in the natural beauty segment.

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