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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:
CousinGregg · 27/12/2021 18:04

@shenanigans5

This one is genuinely lovely in my opinion. A few of the reviews mention dry hands but I’ve not had an issue and it smells gorgeous. I tend to use more expensive products generally but really don’t mind a bit of B&H.
Ahhhh now this packaging is much better! Original not a rip off.
BiscuitLover3678 · 27/12/2021 18:06

I quite like it! Nicer than my Tesco own brand soap. Wow people have such brand snobbery!

DockOTheBay · 27/12/2021 18:09

I think though it's the lack of thought - into the supermarket, grab 3 gift sets on a 3 for 2 offer, job done.
Yes I think this is the issue that people have. Although I'm sure the same people would be happy with a Molton Brown gift set, which isn't any more thoughtful just more expensive.

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Christmas
JesusSufferingFuck22 · 27/12/2021 18:11

I bought some on offer at Asda for a change. My ds commented that it smelt really nice and it was Christmas present quality. (I was doing hampers for everyone.)
Then I read on here I wasn't meant to like itHmmGrin

RJnomore1 · 27/12/2021 18:31

To be fair to them they do lookalikes of several brands, Aesop and sanctuary are two others I’ve recognised. Not just Molton brown.

CherryRipe1 · 27/12/2021 18:53

Dd's girlfriend on benefits spent ages deliberating which B& H gift set to buy me. She doesn't have much money & put alot of thought into getting it, worrying I wouldn't like it. I was touched and delighted, the thought was definitely there.

TheHoptimist · 27/12/2021 18:56

A few years ago there was some Boots glitch thing and I ordered dozens of sets (for a charity donation).
Jack Wills, Sanctuary, Joules, Laura Ashley, Soap and Glory, cant remember the rest but a wide range of price points

They were all delivered in the original containers- all from Cussons.

pastypirate · 27/12/2021 19:16

[quote WhatAHexIGotInto]@pastypirate so you like the look of the set until you realised it was B & H?[/quote]
I was faintly interested. It was the stealth labelling which annoyed me. Plus I didn't want to set any precedent.

whitewashing · 27/12/2021 19:28

@BiscuitLover3678

I quite like it! Nicer than my Tesco own brand soap. Wow people have such brand snobbery!
To me it’s nothing to do with brand snobbery in relation to B&H, I find it’s poor quality…
irregularegular · 27/12/2021 19:33

I think it's great. I buy their handsoap as it looks smart without being expensive. Or I used to before I switched to bars of soap. I wouldn't give it as a gift but would be happy to receive it from a 14 yr old. I think it is clever design to produce something nice and inexpensive.

Basically it is just nasty people sneering at those who might think it is "posh".

Lanique · 27/12/2021 20:10

Their Oud, Cedar and Amber is one of my all-time favourites, and I have had many a hand wash in my time including many by Jo Malone or Penhaligons!

Nothing beats Penhaligon's Halfeti though Smile

MollyQueenOfSocks · 27/12/2021 20:20

Honestly? I think it's one of those things (especially on MN) where it has become "cool and trendy" to hate it and make it known you do. I don't like it, but each to their own. I'm not going to make a point of going on about how crap I think it is.

All that said I do think it's a cop out gift. It's cheap, can be bought as part of your weekly shop (and often is by people who like it) and just comes across as unimaginative. Kind of like Pandora.

MollyQueenOfSocks · 27/12/2021 20:23

I'd like to point out that I mean a cop out gift from others who have an income and know there are better on the market (like moulton brown which B&H is clearly a rip off of).

It's sweet coming from your daughter who likely doesn't have an income and has thought to get you anything at all within her budget!

MollyQueenOfSocks · 27/12/2021 20:26

@Haudyourwheesht

I don't think it's trying to 'pretend' it's a fancy product. It's not priced as a fancy product so it's doing a very poor job of pretending.

Some people on here though... Grin

But it is trying to look like Molton Brown with its branding. It's so obvious!
saraclara · 27/12/2021 20:44

Mumsnet skews towards the well off end of the income spectrum and it shows in the snobbery about B&H. I love that one of the early responses was from someone who even thinks MB is a bit cheap and nasty! I've never been able (or prepared) to spend MB money.

There are a lot of very fortunate people on here who've never had to keep their budget to supermarket brands, and they like to let people know it.

tigger1001 · 27/12/2021 21:01

@KateF

I'm fine with it personally and do think there's a lot of snobbery involved, but then I'm also happy to use Aldi products which are apparently 'knock offs' of more expensive brands.
This is me!

Why spend £££ when you can spend £ for essentially the same product?

When Aldi have the dupes I like, I stock up.

Im not a fan of scented body lotion though so not a lover of gift sets for that reason, but the brand for me is fine.

Does seem like a bit of snobbery at play with these looking down on them.

IncyWincyGrownUp · 28/12/2021 01:48

I’ve been bought it in a secret Santa. I gave it to my mum, as she loved the stuff, whereas I wasn’t fussed either way. Had she not wanted it, it would have got used. My day to day bathroom and kitchen soaps are Aldi 80p ones, I like the eucalyptus one best, but my eldest hates it so we stick to the chamomile one.

I wouldn’t personally use a B&H shower gel or lotion as I prefer soap and have prescription cream, but have a selection of grotty offspring who are all up for testing a new product in the shower.

Feelingoood · 28/12/2021 01:59

Someone said that nb is Sven times more expensive, and it would have to have some pretty good ingredients to be worth that mark up! Of course if it was priced at the same mark up as bh it probably would be cheaper but then it wouldn’t be special.
When I worked in adland vaseline intensive care was the best hand cream ( all the hand models used it) . It was reprised as more expensive because no one bought it as it was seen as cheap. Crazy!

EatSleepRantRepeat · 28/12/2021 12:26

@TheHoptimist

A few years ago there was some Boots glitch thing and I ordered dozens of sets (for a charity donation). Jack Wills, Sanctuary, Joules, Laura Ashley, Soap and Glory, cant remember the rest but a wide range of price points

They were all delivered in the original containers- all from Cussons.

Yep! Same with perfumes too - a lot of the "designer" perfumes are actually made by large companies like proctor and gamble and Coty (who also make pharmacy-level perfumes, rosewater etc). It puts the ridiculous price of your Hugo Boss perfume into perspective when it's from the same place that makes your fairy liquid.
Legoisthebest · 28/12/2021 12:34

To be honest I had never heard of the brand Molton Brown until I started reading Mumsnet so I wouldn't have had a clue that the Baylis and Harding packaging is a 'knock off'.

OhWhyNot · 28/12/2021 12:36

Waitrose also knock off Molton Brown

But its waitrose so probably not considered tacky

Snugglepumpkin · 28/12/2021 12:49

I am not snobby about it, I just don't like how much it irritates my skin.

I tend to use baby soap or similar & couldn't care less if it cost 30p or £3 a bar as long as I don't end up with cracked, irritated skin that hurts.

If you have sensitive skin, B&H are a gamble.

That said, if a teenager gave it to me as a present I would be happy they bothered to get me a gift.

Unfortunately I've found if you don't tell adults you hate it, you can doom yourself to decades of getting B&H sets (or Pink Lynx or whatever) every year so it's easier to just tell them before they waste all that money getting you something you'll put in the charity shop bag at the same time as you dispose of the wrapping paper it came in.

TheWeeDonkey · 28/12/2021 13:09

@TheGreatATuin

I also agree it's snobbery. And it's not cheap for everyone. I find a lot the attitudes to receiving gift on MN really unpleasant tbh. There are way too many people getting upset if they don't get a gift that cost a small fortune and six month's worth of careful planning and consideration. I got some Bayliss & Harding last Christmas. I'm on a limited budget and don't treat myself very often. It was really nice.
I'm always amazed at the amount of threads on here complaining about gifts like a group of moody teenagers.

Not everyone has a big Christmas budget and not everyone has the time and energy to buy the perfect present for everyone.

TBH I think a lot of people can't understand other people's lives. I've seen threads is S&B when mums going back to work after maternity leave are recommended to shop in Boden or Toast, I could barely afford Matalan after my mat leave. I'm sure that would be looked down on here too.

whitewashing · 28/12/2021 15:41

Like I said, it’s not snobbery in my case, I personally find it very poor quality which is why I don’t use it/buy it.

Haudyourwheesht · 28/12/2021 16:20

I've seen threads is S&B when mums going back to work after maternity leave are recommended to shop in Boden or Toast, I could barely afford Matalan after my mat leave. I'm sure that would be looked down on here too.

Yup. And any suggestion that you can't afford that is met with 'but it's an investement'. No comprehension whatsoever of the fact that some people don't have £150 to spend on a single item of clothing, regardless of how long it may last.

'But my Brora cashmere came from the charity shop'. If you live in a poor area, charity shops sell Primark and Tesco. (You can't even get a Bayliss and Harding gift set.)

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