"Why does Luonkos, classified as a luxury brand, sell second-quality products in its outlet?" asked the husband of a new Luonkos employee to his wife at home.

The most obvious answer is Luonkos's values. Ecologism and the pursuit of zero waste are important to us. If we were to shred products into waste rather than sell them as second quality due to deviations, much more would be thrown into the same bin: ecologism, nature- and environment-friendly operations, sustainable development, shrinking the carbon footprint, careful use of high-quality raw materials and zero tolerance for waste, reduction of waste and residues, etc.

The undersigned was not born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Therefore, the second answer to my colleague's husband comes from an emotional perspective. Not all of us can afford first-class or first-quality. Yet we admire beautiful and high-quality products and would like to use them. Outlets, sales, factory stores, and flea markets also give us the opportunity to acquire luxury products or services.

It simply feels fair that a modest bank balance doesn't thwart all dreams.

On the other hand, many who have successfully accumulated wealth have rummaged through bargain bins and outlets all their lives. That's how money tends to be saved.

The Wiktionary describes second quality kindly. "A quality classification for something that is not perfect due to a usually small quality flaw." The Finnish dictionary is harsher: "Defective merchandise, secondary quality goods, seconds."

At Luonkos, second quality is not considered seconds. Second quality has appearance deviations, but the mass is the same as in prime quality. It is endlessly interesting how companions developed in the same skin cake or soap mold can be so different from each other. Our product developers always console us that we are dealing with a living organism. Not everything can be predicted or ensured.

Behind second quality are reasons that are difficult for the cake or soap master to influence. Like the weather. Challenges in production include high humidity and heat. In such conditions, the masses do not solidify in the same way as in normal conditions. The surface of the products then has marbling, cosmic nebulae, and sometimes even recognizable figures.

At Luonkos, products are handcrafted. We let all flowers bloom: The more rustic the cake or soap that pops out of our production, the more attention it gets. "How is it possible that these turned out like this, when the others are quite ordinary?" The answer is obvious: "Luonkos makes unique natural cosmetics with love!" Yep, why settle for ordinary. Personality first!

The user makes even the second into a first. After a few turns in the hands, the quality differences fade <3 Diamonds also get polished over time.

Marjut Saarinen

The author got tired of the hyphenation-friendly nature of modern journalism, sought a new path, and was hired by Luonkos in Naantali to bake skin cakes. Meanwhile, lyrics are still being written.