RETAIL ROUNDUP:Store gives royal treatment

The queen won’t be in attendance at Molton Brown on Saturday, but a passerby at the South Coast Plaza retailer might think she was checking out the lotions in back.

The English bath-and-body chain will celebrate its heritage with a taste of London — or Buckingham Palace.

During the store’s regular hours, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., attendants dressed as British Royal Guards will hand out information, while the refreshment table will offer tea, scones and bite-sized sandwiches.

The store will also offer a pair of incentives: the first 100 people who spend $50 or more will receive gift bags, while all buyers will be entered into hourly drawings to win hand wash, hand lotion sets, Molton Brown travel kits and complimentary nights with Small Luxury Hotels.

Fresh turns sweet 16

Elsewhere in South Coast Plaza, another beauty retailer has a special offer this summer. Fresh is celebrating its sweet 16th birthday with a slew of new products.

Fresh has sugar lip gloss, anise wrinkle eraser, and perfumes and lotions made from the rare fruit mangosteen. In August, store manager Ann Schade said, the store expects to launch a limited supply of sugar-scented soap. “It’s going to sell out like crazy,” Schade said. “Everyone’s been asking for that for a long time.”

Muttropolis pooch party

Humans and canines looking to duck the July heat can head to Muttropolis at Fashion Island, which plans to hold its Summer Pooch Party and Ice Cream Social from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The first 50 customers who make a purchase will receive a free goodie bag from the store, located at 865 Newport Center Drive. The three-hour event typically attracts about 40 dogs, assistant manager Hala Allouche said.

Pet owners can bring their dogs in or out of costume and socialize over cold drinks. The store will also provide Yoghund, an organic frozen yogurt that is edible for humans but intended mainly for their pets.

“There’s not a lot of sugar, so it’s not very sweet,” Allouche said. “But dogs like it.”