Do mums smell bad?

[TheBeesKnee]

It's my first Christmas as a mum. I've received 5 bath/shower related gifts. Which is 3-4 more than usual.

To be clear, I'm not ungrateful, just bemused. I have received lots of lovely, thoughtful presents from my DP so I'm actually quite merry.

However, I think I will donate at least a couple of the sets, I didn't know you could drop them at a food bank.

I personally use bars of soap and haven't used gels etc in years.

Yeah, I say thank you and then donate most of them unless they’re a product I particularly like. I prefer showers to baths and I’m quite particular about the products I use.

I mostly get them from my in laws so I’m not too offended by the generic nature of them.

I really like getting bath smellies, when it's stuff I actually want and use. Not so keen on generic boots 2 for 1, cheap tat that gives you a rash or something you'd buy for a teenage girl. I usually get a cheap shit nightie to go with the cheap shit teenage bath smellies off my in laws too. I've given up dropping hints for the stuff that I actually like and have accepted my fate.

Does anyone use all the body lotion in these sets? Shower gel and soap is useful but I’ve never really understood what body lotion is supposed to do.

I specifically asked for perfume, body sprays and body washes. Oh, also scented candles. I'm obviously easily pleased.

@TheBeesKnee , I think some food banks and some charity shops accept unused toiletries. There's an Ukrainian refugee donation bin near where I live that takes them, so I've been popping stuff I'll probably never use in there.

I have some relatives who think nothing of giving expensive handwash sets and scented candles but they give them to people who don't know that they cost so much. If they don't know then it doesn't really look more than the 'dupe' supermarket one.

I heavily hinted for everyone not to buy me smellies this year. I end up with loads and don't get through them all.

Mix them up and gift back next year op

You lucky bugger, I'm basically a crocodile if I don't use something moisturising every day.

Absolute bollocks! I love a good pamper set and receive them gratefully.
No gift is 'thoughtless', but then I was brought up to be grateful and thankful for all I receive.
Looks like this is going to go down the same route as the Bayliss and Harding thread.
What would you prefer that you wouldn't consider ' thoughtless'?
Diamonds?
High end range beauty products that cost the same as a weeks worth of groceries?
Honestly, glad I'm not buying for some of these materialistic mumsnetters.

Apparently, if you say 'Anything but smellies, I've got enough to outlive me' it's interpreted as A Big Hint That You Really Want Smellies.

When asked which part of that sentence did they not understand, they had no answer, and I was told to give it to the charity shop.

I mean I'm quite a fan of "I've put more than thirty seconds' thought into this gift" gifts, myself. Really weird to equate that with diamonds/expense.

I'd be mortified to give a generic gift like this if I didn't know that it was something the recipient specifically liked, it was their favourite brand, etc.

I think there's a balance in gratitude. I'm always glad to have been thought of; I'm a little less grateful when it's abundantly clear that the giver hasn't been bothered to put any thought in at all and is fulfilling a tiresome duty as easily as possible.

Probably think it's the only way you get 5 minutes peace.

@Liamgallaghersparka , If you knew me, you'd know exactly what I like. I like practical things, so something really simple and useful and inexpensive would be great.

If your idea of pampering is a cheap body wash and body lotion in a box, then lucky you. Personally, I'd find more use in a bottle of fairy liquid.

I'm perfectly capable of buying soap and stuff.

I did actually give smellies this year but it was a set of something specific that I know the recipient uses but finds it a bit too expensive to buy herself. Not something shoved into my trolley in Tesco.

I got a luxury bath set as one of my presents from my DH as I have a newborn and he regularly takes her out for a walk/to see his parents when he gets in from work so I can have a bath and a nap. In fact I left in laws place early today so I could have a couple of quiet hours, pump, bath and nap. I thought it was a thoughtful gift for myself but can see how it's an 'easy' option for a lot of people. I'd still like any gift like that from anyone personally.

Thank god we have so much time to bathe....

I got a few Sanctuary sets, which I know people on Mumsnet tend to despise, but I think SCORE because I like the smell and I wouldn't buy them for myself. And it's not like I was giving out Fabergé eggs or Cartier watches myself.

I received all the classic mum gifts this year
Smellies ✅️
Slippers ✅️
Chocolate ✅️
Candles ✅️
Pink prosecco✅️
I love all of it

If your idea of pampering is a cheap body wash and body lotion in a box, then lucky you.

I know you are being snarky but, genuinely, it is a massive gift in life to be easily pleased by small things.

Fair enough 🤷‍♀️

As I said though I'm grateful for all I receive and if that's a cheap box of smellies, ( and let's face it, most of us have a very tight budget this year and are probably lucky to receive anything at all), I'm more than happy.

I love a bath gift

I loved receiving bars of body shop soap, the mandarin one and the strawberry are a pleasure to use.

I actually ask for soap 😀

To be fair the ' Diamonds' reference was intended as a piss take.

It just seems like there are a lot of these threads on here lately with people saying these gifts are 'thoughtless' when, more than likely, it was all someone could afford 🤷‍♀️

If there is this little thought going into the gift giving then don't bother. It's the thought that counts and no thought goes into this sort of gifting.

I’m really disappointed I didn’t get any shower gel sets 🤣
I shower every day so they come in useful and I use body lotion in the summer after being in the sun and the sea

im grateful for anything I receive!