The Fetishism of the Lived Experience

In the age of social media, people share their experiences online —whether real or staged— because what truly matters is the reaction their “story” provokes, ideally in the form of a like.

But today’s blog isn’t about this trend itself. Instead, it focuses on what experts call “the fetishism of the lived experience” —bringing home a piece of your vacation in the form of an object.

There are extreme examples of this “condition”: a tourist chipping marble off the Colosseum in Rome, or taking a handful of (protected) pink sand from a beach in Sardinia. Yet there’s also a much more innocent (and legal) form of this behavior: holding onto a physical memory of an experience. From hotel-branded flip-flops to a bar of soap or a sample of shower gel —each item keeps the scents and sensations of a place alive.

According to a study by lastminute.com, 95% of hotels experience "theft" by guests. Of course, some items are free to take, and others clearly are not. Amenities are gifts from the hotel: complimentary products meant to enhance your stay. But items like cutlery, furniture, bathrobes, or ashtrays —for obvious reasons— should not be packed into your suitcase.

In 2019, the iconic Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans launched a contest called the “Historic Giveback Contest”: a free one-week stay (worth over $15,000) for those who returned “lost” —or more accurately, stolen— items from its 125-year history. From silverware and porcelain to event posters, matchboxes, concrete statues, and brass tables from the bar, many valuable items were sent back —a small cultural heritage recovered.

The goal was to restore this Waldorf Astoria hotel to its former glory using the very objects that once shaped its story. After all, the legendary “Blue Room” of the Roosevelt once hosted artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstein, B.B. King, and Ray Charles. And that gives it all meaning.

In the not-so-distant past, guests would “steal” hotel objects not for their monetary value but for their sentimental worth. Often, it was simply because those items weren’t available for legal purchase.

Today, many chains and historic hotels offer online shops where you can buy (almost) anything connected to your stay.

Bonsol, too, offers its signature “scents” via bonsoul.es, along with porcelain and glassware made in collaboration with local Mallorcan artisans —supporting local craftsmanship and bringing joy to our beloved guests.

So, what are you waiting for? Take home a beautiful Bonsoul memory from your holiday.

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