300 women across Canada were selected to receive a Dove Chocolate Pleasure kit, which included 20 purse packs (small boxes containing 4 individually wrapped chocolate pieces), 4 chocolate bars, 3 cartons containing individually wrapped chocolate pieces, a journal, a foot pamper pouch, a tote bag and a wine glass – and I was one of them. This is a really efficient way to market a product, I think. My friends love me right now, as I am continually feeding them chocolate. I carry chocolate around in my purse, and I even have a little bowl of chocolate treats on our coffee table, just like Grandma.

Each individually wrapped piece has a printed note inside – some are cheesy and cute (“Read a trashy novel,” “A push up bra isn’t cheating,”) while others prompted unsavoury memories (“Remember your first,” — no, thanks). When opening them with friends, it’s really easy to find relevance in the little messages and have a good laugh over them. Like fortune cookies!

Now comes the honesty. I don’t like the packaging aesthetic – it’s not very sharp and actually looks like it could be a decades-old design. However, the purse packs are super convenient to carry around, so points for that. Also, I’ve tried to find out if Dove Chocolate is the same as Dove Soaps – the logos look suspiciously similar, but I’m still not sure if there’s a connection. If so, I don’t like that my chocolate company is linked to a soap company, those two should not go hand in hand. I do know that Dove Chocolate is a Mars company (which is also a leading provider in pet food…), meaning it’s essentially the same stuff that goes in your Mars Bar even though it’s marketed as a premium chocolate. It is good – tasty, smooth and creamy – but it’s also very commercial and thus, not luxurious.

I still have plenty of chocolate to share so if you see me, ask!