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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask why everyone on MN seems to hate Baylis & Harding?

148 replies

Hearmeout · 21/12/2022 21:14

Is it just a snobbery thing?

I've just smelled a few of them in the supermarket and they were lush to be fair, so what's it all about??

OP posts:
Hugasauras · 21/12/2022 23:33

I rely on my couple of B&H gift sets from distant rellies to stock our downstairs loo! Would be gutted not to get any Grin

baffledcoconut · 21/12/2022 23:34

Just had a look and you can get 2l for £6.50

ironingboredrefusal · 22/12/2022 00:38

LaurieFairyCake · 21/12/2022 21:35

Um it's incredibly cheap - it's about one third more than fairy liquid

fairy liquid is very expensive - it costs more than 2 quid. Who is buying washing up liquid for that price when you can get it for 30p?

ironingboredrefusal · 22/12/2022 00:42

Imjustbrowsing · 21/12/2022 23:29

These comments are absolute nonsense, it is basic scented hand wash in a fancy bottle.
someone earlier claiming you cannot get it for under £5 and there is a 500ml hand wash and 500ml hand cream set on Amazon for £3.75 with free delivery…..Think about how you have to cut corners to get to that pricing in a slightly fancier bottle.
buying luxury brands is often the law of diminishing returns but Molton Brown is objectively superior.
I have three brands of 100% linen bedsheets and the most expensive is the best, wish that was not the case.
You can often buy 5l quality hand wash on Ebay and make your own gift sets that will be vastly superior to Bayliss and Harding.

That someone was me and you wouldnt send handwash as a gift. I meant actual gift sets of shower gel body cream soap and nice all in a nice packet. hand wash costs 50p and you can get hand cream for under a pound so I dont think 3.75 is cheap at all.

Want2beme · 22/12/2022 00:43

My DM won a selection box of it today, in a raffle Grin. She hasn't heard of it before & neither have I.

Topseyt123 · 22/12/2022 00:49

I doubt that there is anything particularly wrong with them, but I just don't like toiletry sets as gifts, either to give or to receive. I just have no interest in them at all.

DreamingOfAGreenChristmas · 22/12/2022 00:59

I used to buy it as the family bathroom hand wash. Nice scent, looked better than the ‘Carex’ kind of pump bottles.

But it’s ridiculous that they have tried to make it into a gift item in ‘sets’ etc. I think it is derided on MN as a Christmas Present. Fine as a normal soap.

Original poster
Hearmeout · 22/12/2022 13:13

I think it's clear it does boil down to snobbery on the gift front ie its ok to buy it cheaply for general use but if someone bought it as a gift a big percentage of posters would be a bit offended or underwhelmed to receive it. That's the gist isn't it.

It's perceived as the "garage flowers" of smellies?

I'll be honest I love a gift set and I wouldn't mind getting some, it always comes in handy :)

OP posts:
rosemarysalter · 22/12/2022 13:21

Because it's crap. It's like sweet smelling glue

Mary46 · 22/12/2022 13:24

Yes very gloopy in bottle. Not mad on it. I prefer Nivea or Radox etc.

luckylavender · 22/12/2022 13:34

NewToWoo · 21/12/2022 21:48

I really like it and so does DS. The lavender handwash smells natural and is one of the few that doesn't dry out my skin. The rose and geranium bath gel is lovely and strong. the men's oud and sandalwood one is a bit weak but nice. I definitely don't think MB are superior or that the snobs could tell the difference in a blind test.

I have to be careful as I have very sensitive skin and B&H is no good for me. I hate the fact it's a copy & pretends it's better than it is. I absolutely could tell the difference between that & MB. I'd prefer a radix shower gel and a bar of imperial
Leather. But give me an Aldi Jo Malone dupe any day. They're great!

Fairyliz · 22/12/2022 13:37

LaurieFairyCake · 21/12/2022 21:23

Well I don't like the copycat of Molton Brown branding

But I also think molton brown is artificially scented fairy liquid too

Yes I agree. I bought some Molton Brown as a treat during lockdown.
What a disappointment that was I couldn’t tell the difference between that and B& H

StrawberryWater · 22/12/2022 13:38

Love it here, it’s the only stuff I’ve found that’s kind to my skin.

WindUpPenguin · 22/12/2022 13:40

I stayed in a Premier Inn last night. I took my own conditioner, but assumed there would be shampoo. It was Bayliss and Harding 'Hair and Body Wash' and it was pants. It smelt quite nice, but I had to do about 100 pumps to work up a lather in my hair and I was in a lovely soft water area.

LaBellina · 22/12/2022 13:40

I like their hand lotion

Fifi00 · 22/12/2022 13:42

Yawn thoughtless gift people should be thankful they are getting anything. There's a cost of living crisis going on, my family have all gone for gift cards can't be doing with the pressure.

FlorettaB · 22/12/2022 13:44

I’d go for any supermarket/Boots/Superdrug own brand stuff before B&H. It’s really poor quality packaged to look ‘naice.’

Mentalpiece · 22/12/2022 13:45

It's like lynx for women.

xogossipgirlxo · 22/12/2022 13:47

I don't think there's a problem with product itself. It's just that when someone gives it to you it seems like they were in supermarket and suddenly remembered they don't have gift for you and just pick it up from the shelf. All those Dove, Garnier etc. sets are rubbish gifts IMO.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 22/12/2022 13:49

Horses for courses.

I'd rather Bayliss & Harding than L'occitane. In my opinion, L'occitane is overscented and cloying. I'd be disappointed if a friend bought me that as it is a total waste of money. I'd likely not regift either as I wouldn't want to give someone something I find disgusting.

I like a bit of Soap and Glory but a lot don't. A few posters have mentioned Sanctuary. That's literally the only brand that gives me a rash.

You can't please everyone.

Motorcycleemptyness · 22/12/2022 13:50

I have never used Baylis and Harding but I used to know someone who used to gift us bags and bags of Molton Brown every year. I’m talking like, a lot of it. I said thank you and stuck it in the shower, had a wash with it and was on my way. I liked the smell of one (I think pepperberry or something?) and looked into repurchasing it and almost fell off my chair with how bloody expensive it was! (And I am not someone who scrimps on luxury stuff either but I was stunned that this very ordinary soapy body wash was ££££).

OoooohMatron · 22/12/2022 13:50

I'd guess snobbery. If you decanted it into a posh bottle and told people it was a high end brand they'd love it. Many people kid themselves that they are discerning but are as clueless as the next person.

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 22/12/2022 13:50

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 21/12/2022 21:21

It's not that there's anything wrong with B&H, it's just a present that shows a lack of thought and effort.

Nothing wrong with getting a smoker 200 B&H for Christmas 😁😁

2bazookas · 22/12/2022 13:57

Hearmeout · 21/12/2022 21:14

Is it just a snobbery thing?

I've just smelled a few of them in the supermarket and they were lush to be fair, so what's it all about??

Lets just say, I've refused to buy charity draw tickets in case I won one of the umpteen H and B "prizes". I know perfectly well why all the donors gave them away unopened.

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 22/12/2022 13:58

I buy this as the day to day hand soap. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered anyone who thinks it smells lush before . It smells ok, cheap scent, cheap base, as that’s what it is. It’s fine, as an every day essential

as a pp said it’s generally seen as a sort of house hold basic as opposed to gift quality, although they keep trying to promote it otherwise

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