The obligatory Bayliss and Harding...

[XmasGridlock]

Have recieved two sets this year. One from FIL and one from DH's Aunt. Also had another smelly set from DSIL. I have severe Eczema and can't use any of these types of sets. No shame in saying all will be going to the charity shops in the New Year.

FIL gave DH a bunch of cash, some new clothes, chocolate bits, etc. I got a Bayliss and Harding Set I can't even use.

Anyone else get the obligatory Bayliss and Harding set? Or maybe some other unthoughtful gifts from the in laws?

@TheKeatingFive

You can buy them in the garage

I’m intrigued. What garage?

Any large with a small shop

Shell
Esso
Tesco
BP

Any garage not large

I’ve got 2 sets too. The charity shops are always full of B & H sets in the new year. I wonder who actually uses it? Highly perfumes bath stuff always causes me to suffer thrush so it’s not even worth me trying it.

There are plenty of other cheap toiletry sets out there, why is B&H the one that attracts all the threads. That’s my question.

Probably because it’s often BOGOF in Tesco or Asda so it feels as if you aren’t worthy of being given a gift by the sender.

I quite like the hand soap. There is one called Ginseng and Sage that smells gorgeous. The body lotions are very strange and just sit on my skin like a layer of white cream.

I think people see the packaging on the b&h sets & think it looks like a set similar to Molton brown & a good option as a present

You’ve hit the nail on the head. They are knock-off Milton Brown. Other toiletries don’t attract the hate because they’re not pretending to be something they’re not.

Oh blimey, I got a B&H beard set for my friend's DH. Had no idea these were Not The Thing.

I suspect they’d be of better use given to a food bank than a charity shop.

People who are too poor to eat will be grateful for having free soap etc, and won’t be bothered by the MN snobbery.

@SoupDragon

I used to save them and donate to the school Christmas raffle the next year :)

Same

I give anything I won't use to the school for their tombola cupboard.

I quite like b&h but it is a bit of a thoughtless gift.

And stop sorting his side of the families presents OP. It's not your problem and it's very freeing trust me.

My mother has given me a large box of Ferraro Rocher, which I don’t like. She told me it was a box of chocolates and I am really disappointed, I don’t have any other chocolate in!

I wish she wouldn’t bother.

I have severe exzema too and I got bodyshop stuff that they know I can use and some other stuff.

B&h is probably ok if it doesn't make you need steroid cream afterwards.

Yep, always. Dp's dad hasn't bought for us this year so I've escaped that one but his sister will have bought me something that will end up in the charity shop.

@MaskingForIt

I suspect they’d be of better use given to a food bank than a charity shop.

People who are too poor to eat will be grateful for having free soap etc, and won’t be bothered by the MN snobbery.

The irony of accusations of snobbery from you!! Is this really a serious post?

Never heard of 'Bayliss and Harding'.

I bought DS 'Body shop' Hemp' hand cream... he uses it as doesn't smell like a boudoir, and is also the best cream sensitive skin.

Better to have a tiny present of good quality stuff, rather than a generic bottle rammed with irritating compounds.

I love chocolate but this Christmas a Baylis and Harding set would be a relief as I have a mountain of chocolate. I've got about ten boxes of chocolates and one is huge. I'm not sure if they love me or are trying to kill me.

We had chocolate for breakfast.

I don't think people buy them thinking they're thoughtless - they are always nicely packaged, and not the cheapest (but not expensive) so they're a good mid-price present for, say, teachers (I get loads!!!) or secret santa?

@MaskingForIt

I suspect they’d be of better use given to a food bank than a charity shop.

People who are too poor to eat will be grateful for having free soap etc, and won’t be bothered by the MN snobbery.

The food bank would rather have the money spent on shower gel and shampoo than receiving handwash and hand cream

Any smellies get immediately regifted/charity shopped by me as I have ezcema and migraine.

It's a shame they are such a standard 'female' gift. Along with the candles and reed diffusers.

At least I know someone else will like them.

Oh stop moaning after such a shit year just be grateful for what you have

Regift them that will save you sone money

You are the daughter in law, not the daughter. He will buy more for his own child

Happens with better brands too - Last year MIL got me a Molton Brown bath product, but it was Brandy scented. I mean, who really wants their whole body to smell like that??

Jeez it’s not snobbery to want a gift that isn’t going to flare up someone’s skin condition.
I’m with you OP. Both DDs and I have dry excess prone skin and cheap perfumed toiletries just cause flare ups. Yet every Christmas we are given loads of it.

Can charity shops even sell these things? They must get deluged.

So childish, entitled and desperate to he in with the in crowd who all 'hate Bayliss and Harding' because it's not special enough for them.
This riles me every single year.
Grown women twisting because they were not the number one priority on their relatives' present buying list.
Ordinarily I would say it's shower gel, soap etc just use it up as it's something you have to buy anyway.
But I forget, this is MN, where everyone is allergic/has asthma/gets thrush whenever cheaper toiletries are mentioned.
Such a drama.

I'd get your DH to say to the people that bought you them 'thank you so much but Xmasgridlock can't use these with her eczema' just to ensure you don't get them again! And just give them to charity shop/food bank etc. Someone will get use from them.

From your DHs reaction it sounds like he told them what to get you and they went rogue. Perhaps he could have a quiet word after Christmas and ask them for the receipt. If they have to take it back then they're more likely to remember to avoid smellies next time.