Packaging is more than just a vessel to contain and transport a product. It can be as good, if not better, than the product itself.

In the past I was suspicious of formulas that arrived encased in particularly well-designed boxes and bottles. To me they were not unlike an issue of a magazine that sat on the stands wrapped in plastic, featuring a complementary gift pinned to its cover. Why all the fuss, I’d ask? It can’t possibly be good if it needs all this pretty distraction-ness.
 
These days I accept both formula and design can indeed be on par. Here are some of my favourite product and packaging designs from around the world, recently released. The only thing that could improve them, and in fact all packaging, is if they were all recyclable. In 2009, I actually can't believe they're not.

Are the formulas good too? To be honest, I don't really know, nor do I really care. Oh, did I not mention these days I sometimes buy products with no intention of actually using them?