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Original poster

Why are some people snobby about Baylis and Harding?

184 replies

hollielouise66 · 26/12/2021 19:03

I remember a thread this time last year from a mum whose daughter had given her a Baylis and Harding gift set for Christmas that she planned to regift Sad.

My daughter (14) gave me one yesterday (the Mulberry Fizz set). It looks pretty and smells nice. More than that, I knew she'd have been chuffed to bits that she had found something affordable, which looked festive and which she knew I would like. Granted, it's not the poshest brand in the world but it couldn't have made me happier...

OP posts:
Feelingoood · 26/12/2021 22:08

When I was in hospital feeling utterly miserable b and h gifted lots of little sets to the ward. I told the nurse to save it for someone who needed it, but she ( quite rightly) knew more than me and took me to the hots shower with it. I was so overcome with how right she was, and how nice they were that ( after I’d finished bawling!) I decided I’d use them from now on. It’s not as smelly as mb, but given it’s a wash that you wash off, and given that they bothered to gift some to the hospital, they totally get my vote.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 26/12/2021 22:12

I think though it's the lack of thought - into the supermarket, grab 3 gift sets on a 3 for 2 offer, job done.I would most definitely regift a Bayliss and Harding gift set.

So it's thoughtless to buy a B&H gifts set, but ok to regift? Struggling to get my head around that one.

PinkTonic · 26/12/2021 22:14

I think it’s because it’s cheap but dressed up to imitate something more expensive. Also why would anyone want hand soap or shower gel for Christmas. I think if you are giving toiletry ‘gift sets’ to someone it means you either don’t care, can’t afford or are too busy to think of a gift they’d like and therefore they probably shouldn’t be on your giving list. We don’t use plastic bottles anyway so that’s enough of a reason for me.

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Christmas
SpanielsAreMyLife · 26/12/2021 22:14

As a gift, I'd gratefully accept it.

As a gift from one of my kids, I'd treasure it.

ImInStealthMode · 26/12/2021 22:16

On the strength of this thread I've just checked and realised my nice glass bottle is the light up one! Marginally more impressed (at least would be if the sticker with lights and battery would stick to the bottle).

ghostmouse · 26/12/2021 22:23

If your child has given it to you as a present, they’ve bought it by themselves etc fine, I’d smile and use it as much as I could ( I can’t stand it really)

My ex used to fling a Baylis and hardy set at me every Christmas cos he couldn’t be arsed, one year he’d kicked all my other presents out in the mud and had a fight with my 15 year old son. So for me Bayliss and Harding has the association of domestic abuse to me. He never gave a shit what I liked or was arsed.

Late dh used to take the time to find out what I liked and he always bought me soap and glory which I love, some people are snobby about that.

winnieanddaisy · 26/12/2021 22:50

I don't like B and H gift sets because only some of it is used in my house , most of it going to waste . I would use hand soap or shower gel but would definitely not use any sort of moisturising lotion . Hate hand creams , body butters etc and they would end up in the bin . I use body moisturiser prescribed by my doctor . You seem to only be able to get B and H in sets which are a waste of products.

WhatAHexIGotInto · 26/12/2021 23:12

I think if you are giving toiletry ‘gift sets’ to someone it means you either don’t care, can’t afford or are too busy to think of a gift they’d like and therefore they probably shouldn’t be on your giving list.

Imagine those utter bastards who can't really afford to give you a gift actually getting you a gift you don't like. Anyone would think they were just trying to do something nice ...

Skeumorph · 26/12/2021 23:19

Just use soap people. Soap in cardboard boxes. It does the job!

Katyppp · 27/12/2021 05:58

It is snobby, no other reason.
I've noticed on MN there is a tendancy to trash things that most people would think 'one or two notches up' from everyday brands.
I think they think it makes them appear tasteful and sophisticated to not be impressed by the things ordinary people like.
See also Yankee Candles and Hotel Chocolat

whitewashing · 27/12/2021 06:51

If my teenage daughter had given me some B&H, I would appreciate it so much, and thank her for her lovely gift! It’s not something I like though, I was given a set of shower gel and body lotion once, I ended up decanting the shower gel into a pump dispenser to use as hand wash in the bathroom because it would barely lather, but was ok for hand washing, the body lotion was like water, so I binned that…but as a gift from a young teenager, yes, I’d appreciate it.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/12/2021 06:56

i think it is a dreadful shame that mumsnet has given this a bad name,
if someone buys this for you you should appreciate it in t he manner it was given.

80sMum · 27/12/2021 07:15

It's because of the price. If it cost five times as much, it would be deemed a suitable gift!

When people see two bottles of hand-wash on the shelf, one priced at £2.99 and the other at £15.99, people view the more expensive one as being a superior product. It's pure psychology.

Katyppp · 27/12/2021 08:01

@80sMum
I agree. I usually use splosh hand-wash but like something that smells Christmassy at Christmas.
About three years ago. I bought a bottle of festive B&H from Tesco which I have brought out every year since fir the downstairs loo. Nice smell, no problems.
His year, I got a nice glass bottle so I wanted something that looked Christmassy as well. I am very shallow.
I bought a bottle of Moulton Brown for £22 off Amazon and was amazed at the price and even more so when I saw the suze if te bottle!
It looks nice, it smells lovely, it does the job.
THe B&H is in the children's bathroom.
I notice no difference, to be brutal honest, except the MB fragrance is stronger and lasts a bit longer, but not much.
I certainly don't feel the urge to switch all my soap buying to MB, that's for sure!

Erictheavocado · 27/12/2021 09:04

Generally, I prefer bar soap as I find liquid soaps (all of them), give me dry, painful skin on my hands. I do buy B & H liquid soap for the bathroom, for those who prefer liquid soap. I like their handcreams for everyday use and will also happily use their shower gels. My bathroom shelf has a range of products, from Elemis, to Avon with Sanctuary Spa and B&H , as well as others , in between. Some I tend to use for work days, others for particular reasons (eg:scent layering), but they all get used. The only brand I don't buy myself is Molton Brown - i've never yet found a smell that doesn't give me a headache, or one I like enough to put up with the headache!
I was given B&H this year, some from the kids I work with and some from a young adult family member who has just moved into their first home and is getting to grips with the finances of having their own home. I am grateful that they bought me anything.
I agree with those who say the hate on here is about snobbery.

littleburn · 27/12/2021 09:38

But ... I thought Mumsnet was in agreement that liquid soaps and shower gels are the work of the devil, both effectually and environmentally, and it's all about the bar soap?? I own a bathroom cabinet full of fancy French and Italian TK Maxx soaps on this basis!

WhatAHexIGotInto · 27/12/2021 11:04

i think it is a dreadful shame that mumsnet has given this a bad name,
if someone buys this for you you should appreciate it in t he manner it was given.

But ... but ... whatever will the betters of MN slag off if not B & H? Ah yes, Pandora! That crops up every now and then..

notprincehamlet · 27/12/2021 11:21

Why?
There's an episode of Frasier where Daphne, accusing Niles of being pretentious, says: 'You'd eat a worm if I gave it a French name!'
That.
(I like B&H, trying their different handwashes has brightened up an otherwise extremely tedious couple of years.)

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/12/2021 11:25

oh yes pandora

Aquafizzle · 27/12/2021 11:30

MB is better quality.. has a higher oil content and the scent lasts longer. There is a reason B&H have designed their bottles to look just like MB, it's not an accident.

PinkTonic · 27/12/2021 12:06

@WhatAHexIGotInto

I think if you are giving toiletry ‘gift sets’ to someone it means you either don’t care, can’t afford or are too busy to think of a gift they’d like and therefore they probably shouldn’t be on your giving list.

Imagine those utter bastards who can't really afford to give you a gift actually getting you a gift you don't like. Anyone would think they were just trying to do something nice ...

But there shouldn’t be pressure on people who can’t afford to give gifts, it makes Christmas horribly stressful and it’s even worse if they’ve wasted precious resources giving something the recipient will not use. A card and good wishes is fine.
Katyppp · 27/12/2021 12:27

30Aquafizzle

MB is better quality.. has a higher oil content and the scent lasts longer. There is a reason B&H have designed their bottles to look just like MB, it's not an accident.

Yes I think we all know that.

But. .. MB is £17 for 300ml on Amazon, so £5.66 per 100ml
B&H is £4.50 for 500ml x 3 bottles so a total of 1.5 litres. This works out at 30p per 100ml.
As I said upthread, MB is stronger smelling and the fragrance lasts longer.
I'm sure it's not worth nearly 20 times te price though

Katyppp · 27/12/2021 12:29

Although if the value to you is people's perception of your taste and income, I suppose it might be worth it.

EatSleepRantRepeat · 27/12/2021 12:48

@Katyppp

Although if the value to you is people's perception of your taste and income, I suppose it might be worth it.
You've hit the nail on the head there. Marketing 101!
ScreamingMeMe · 27/12/2021 13:33

@MrsLargeEmbodied

i think it is a dreadful shame that mumsnet has given this a bad name, if someone buys this for you you should appreciate it in t he manner it was given.
I think the problem is that some Mumsnetters assume the worst about people who give B&H i.e. that it's a cheap, thoughtless gift given out of contempt. Some people on here get offended at the strangest things....