Ducks and geese have a layer of fluff under the feathers on their breast - soft, light and luxurious - that insulates them against extreme temperatures.
It is this that goes into making a down pillow and the more that goes into a pillow, the more you have to pay for it.
Of course, if it's genuine European goose down, you'll probably have to pay through your nose! What makes down so desirable is the fact that it does not have a hard shaft or quill, making it extremely soft.
Thanks to a property called wicking, down lets moisture escape but keeps in the body heat.
Down is collected when geese or other waterfowl go through their molting process.
The reason it are so sought-after is because it is a perfect blend of comfort and luxury - providing good support while being soft and cushy.
Also available are down-and-feather pillows, with the price going up or down depending on the percentage of down there is in it.
In order to prevent allergies in those prone to it, a hypoallergenic pillow with down and milkweed clusters (which grow in abundance on Nebraska farms) is available in a more durable form.
Down pillows are quite easy to clean and take care of.
And the less often you clean them, the longer they'll last! Wash them with an oil-removing detergent in cold water, squeeze out water and put it into the drier on the lowest setting.
Or, you can dry clean it once a year.
You should always put you r pillow into a pillowcase, which needs to be changed and washed very often.
Even better, have a zippered one inside and a regular one on top of it.
This keeps the dust, dirt and oil away from the pillow.
Store in a cool, dry, airy place when you're not using it.