Format
Jars, tubes, pumps, sticks, sheets, mists, and hybrid packs. We note which formats hold hero facings versus support roles, and which newcomers appear only in campaign windows.
Category Atlas
Four lenses we use when mapping personal care
Before a Category Trend Map begins, we agree which lenses matter for your decision. The atlas below shows how Cedarpath organises observation so brand and retail teams share the same vocabulary.
Texture
Gel, cream, balm, oil, foam, serum, and cream-gel hybrids. Texture cues on pack often travel ahead of claim language; the atlas keeps those cues visible in the map.
Claim cluster
Jobs promised on pack—calm, barrier, repair, glow, volume, freshness—grouped so crowded stories and quieter white space appear side by side.
Shelf role
Bay position, adjacency, facing density, and price-band neighbours. Shelf role explains why a strong format can still fail when it sits in the wrong metre of the category.
How the atlas feeds a live engagement
A flagship Category Trend Map usually weights all four lenses. A Seasonal Format & Texture Scan leans on format and texture. A Retail Shelf Pattern Review emphasises shelf role. A Positioning Narrative Briefing centres claim clusters. You choose the engagement; we keep the vocabulary consistent.
When you are ready to commission work, bring a category brief and the channels that matter. We will confirm which atlas lenses belong in scope before field days begin.