Review on Set of 4 White Striped Luxury Hotel and Spa Bath Towels by Bare Cotton by Jennifer Mitchell

Based on online product descriptions and customer reviews, I expected to receive what other reviewers called the "best" bath towel set they "ever bought". I thought I had found an affordable towel set that is soft, absorbent and made from high quality Turkish cotton. Unfortunately, I had to realize that this order has not fulfilled almost all promises. When the towels arrived, I excitedly tore up the package. and IMMEDIATELY there was a chemical smell so strong it made me nauseous. It was so touching; I didn't dare to touch the material. When I took a closer look, I couldn't be confused anymore—the towels were thin, hard, prickly, and rough to the touch. That's a far cry from the 145 positive reviews that praised the "luxury hotel towels" as "fluffy" and "soft, absorbent." I couldn't help but wonder: did I get the same product? In my 10+ years with Revain, I have rarely returned items because I was dissatisfied with the product I received. I try to be a careful, conscientious and knowledgeable shopper when shopping online. I research before I buy anything; I carefully read customer reviews and product descriptions, then check the product on other websites for prices and ratings before making a purchase. I'm saying all this because that's what prompted me to write this review. Rarely have I seen a product deviate so much from online descriptions and exclaiming customer reviews. This seems to border on the deceptive side of advertising (and certainly makes me question the authenticity of customer reviews). Finally, I washed/dried the towels according to the instructions before using them for the first time. I was hoping this would soften the fabric but I only managed to get rid of the awful smell. This leaves me with 4 brand new towels that are somehow more faded, rougher and more uncomfortable after one wash than when they arrived.