Creative waxing, slimming chocolate and Zumba: behind the scenes of our most unusual product tests

In nearly three decades, it is fair to say we have seen a lot of products go by. Really a lot. At SYRES, our days are punctuated by the evaluation of anti-wrinkle creams, shampoos, food supplements and mascaras: the staples of beauty and wellbeing, tested rigorously thanks to our panellists. But sometimes innovation takes the scenic route, and leaves our teams with unforgettable memories.

When innovation shakes up the routine

Think consumer testing is just applying a cream morning and evening? Think again. Among the thousands of projects we have supported, some have marked our history by their originality or their boldness. Among the most memorable:

• The art of precision: bikini-line waxing templates in geometric or creative shapes (from a heart to a metro ticket).
• Boldness: ultra-innovative condoms designed for very specific usage expectations.
• Indulgent (and contradictory) promises: chocolates formulated to support a weight-loss programme.
• Night-time wellbeing: drinks specially designed to help people fall asleep.

The real-life crash test: the alternative to the lab

Our secret for evaluating the efficacy of these products? Not a battery of machines or clinical examinations in white coats. At SYRES we believe in the power of real life. Take the deodorants we had evaluated right after an intensive Zumba class. That is our philosophy: it is precisely in the most demanding, most real and sometimes most athletic conditions that you get the most authentic and interesting answers about a product’s performance.

Curiosity without limits (and a panel up for anything)

The good news is that neither our team nor our panellists lack curiosity. That open-mindedness, combined with the rigour of our sensory methodology, lets us take on extremely varied projects, whether highly technical, deeply innovative or frankly unexpected. So when a brand or a founder asks, a little hesitantly, “Is it possible to test this kind of product with you?”, the answer is always: “Absolutely. We can evaluate anything.”

Whether it is a category we work in every day or an innovation so disruptive it has never been seen before, no panic: our community of volunteers and our teams are always ready to take up the challenge and design the tailor-made protocol your product needs.

What is the boldest product promise you would like our consumers to evaluate? Get in touch to design your protocol.

Originally published in French by SYRES France on 26 June 2026: read the original article.