Is this unhygienic?!

Germs are everywhere anyway.
You've got staph on your skin having a blast right now. You've got microscopic arachnids thriving on your eyelashes. There's a colony of bacteria in your body. Germs are not the enemy, they're just a fact of life.
If we were to get sick each time we were in contact with a microbe, we wouldn't survive 10 minutes.

What nonsense! There’s a very fancy 5 star hotel I stay at when I’m in New York and they have those same Aesop bottles. Or course it’s not unhygienic to touch something that other people have touched. Does she think everything in the room is brand new for every guest?!

Do they? Not in the UK they don't.

They should've brought their own then...

🙄 I think you are really overthinking this. Do you leave your bag outside the public toilets or do you take it in with you? Bizarre comment

I’ve sadly noticed this too. I hate the dryer fan things.

It's no different to a large pump bottle attached to the wall of a hotel, she is being precious. I'd include a picture though on your posting so people know to expect a large bottle not tiny individual ones. People can then decide themselves if they want to pack their own toiletries.
I don't personally think it's a big deal and as long as they are wiped down/cleaned between guests I think it's fine. Your little extras sound lovely!

I do favour paper towels but most bathrooms don't see to have them where I go.

There is no point. They have a right to think what they think, and 4 stars is hardly bad.

Besides, most people read reviews carefully, and it would be up to them to decide if they find it ridiculous or not. If they don’t then it’s simply good and useful information.

Never thought about it really. I always use hand sanitiser before eating, after I've sat down anyway. I have an immune compromised person in my house, so I'm pretty conscientious about that sort of thing.

Edit: Sorry forgot to quote you @ThisISmycircusandtheseAREmymonkeys (great user name!)
"Because they can be opened and you don’t know if someone has put something in there I guess.."

Why would someone put something in the shower gel dispenser for the next customer?

Can you comment publicly on their feedback explaining the set up?

Some people just like to have something negative to say. No different to many hotels and in fact probably more luxurious given it's aesop! Different if it was a hairy bar of soap 😂

I take a paper towel to open the door.

Mental. She does realise that the shower cubicle isn't re-tiled between stays, right? And that each new incumbent doesn't get their own, box fresh, loo seat? That they're just, you know, cleaned - which presumably the bottles are too as they're part of the shower.

Your guest has probably read something like this ....

https://www.smartertravel.com/refillable-hotel-toiletries-safety/

https://www.nine.com.au/travel/hotel-room-bacteria-dirtiest-thing-in-the-bathroom-20260205-p5nztd.html

I have to say I'm not crazy about them either and always bring my own stuff since hotels stopped stocking bathrooms with mini versions.

🤣🤣 won’t be doing that but maybe someone else will.

love a miniature bottle!

Oh yes and some people think roll on/stick deodorants are gross too. You apply it to your freshly washed armpit, then replace the cap 🤮🤮leaving the germs from your freshly washed armpit to proliferate.

I would be delighted to have Aesop in my b&b and would feel very special that you provide that level of product!
OP I would be more concerned about someone walking off with them😀
It would be interesting what “hygienic replacement” she bought.
Certainly carry on exactly with what you doing (your place sounds fab) but it is not fair or right to mark you down on stars which are really important for reviews

I have but avoid it if I can.

Because they can be opened and you don’t know if someone has put something in there I guess..

Do you have a right of reply to reviews? If you do I would clarify that the guest objected to the refillable environmentally friendly toiletries and expected those little bottles that everyone takes home.
To be honest I can't remember the last hotel or rental that did those. Everyone does big bottles now. My only issue would be if there was just one in the shower and not the basin.

I'm sorry but HOW can bottles of shower gel and shampoo be unhygienic? Are they trying to eat them?
What's wrong with people?
What's the deal with this performative hygiene standards? I read recently on MN that SOAP BARS were unhygienic as well. The very thing that makes you clean is dirty.

Actually this is a good point. any supermarket or pub loo had a pump dispenser for hand wash and there is no way it is the quality @loislaneloves provides or is as clean. I wonder if she leaves bad reviews at Tesco for this sort of thing.

If you have had a great time at a venue and you can see the owner has bent over backwards to be lovely, no matter the niggle. Leaving off a star is low and churlish. Look at the bigger picture and be nice.

Don't let her re-book E V E R.

She’d probably have taken a star off if you’d provided individual bottles as being not green enough!
You can’t win!!