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Original poster

Did anyone else fall for this perfume review?

70 replies

TulipTuesday · 01/08/2023 23:36

Got this email from Mumsnet SwearsBy, they mentioned this cheap but apparently gorgeous perfume.

£4 off Amazon, why not try it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ll tell you why not! I put the tiniest bit on my wrist to try it, two wrist scrubs and a bath soak later and the stench is still on me. DH walked in to the room and asked ‘Urgh what’s that smell?’ ‘What smell?’ Says I. ‘Smells like inside a Grandma’s handbag’

Yes it does DH, yes it does.

Did anyone else fall for this perfume review?
OP posts:
PollyThePixie · 02/08/2023 16:20

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 02/08/2023 12:51

I'm old enough to be a GM and the inside of my handbag smells of leather. What is smelling like the inside of a GM's handbag? wee? cough drops?

My Grandmas handbag smelt warm and comforting. It was a mix of her Max Factor powder and Lippy, her 4711 cologne, her nicely embroidered handkerchief, whatever sweeties she had that particular week, occasionally a little tub of her talc if it was summer time and her hair brush that smelt of her hair and the little amount of hairspray she wore if it was windy outside.

I’m a grandma to 8 now and I’m pretty sure my handbags don’t smell comforting and warm because I change them daily depending on what I’m wearing or what I’m doing.

LilyRose88 · 02/08/2023 17:31

Just been told by Amazon that I can't cancel the order. I will try to return it as soon as it arrives.

Beenhereforever1978 · 02/08/2023 17:35

TulipTuesday · 01/08/2023 23:36

Got this email from Mumsnet SwearsBy, they mentioned this cheap but apparently gorgeous perfume.

£4 off Amazon, why not try it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ll tell you why not! I put the tiniest bit on my wrist to try it, two wrist scrubs and a bath soak later and the stench is still on me. DH walked in to the room and asked ‘Urgh what’s that smell?’ ‘What smell?’ Says I. ‘Smells like inside a Grandma’s handbag’

Yes it does DH, yes it does.

Am I the only one laughing that the review quote is by...Cocktopus. Ah yes, that well-known perfumier.

Plump82 · 02/08/2023 17:37

My sister says I like perfumes that smell like grannies so I'm intrigued and kind of want to buy it!

sparkleywallpaper · 02/08/2023 19:30

I ordered. I like it. I am a grandmother though. 😂

Pashazade · 02/08/2023 19:32

Me! This does not work on me.
Sadly I adore the saltworks scents but they seem to vanish from my skin in an hour or so. Depressing when you've finally found a scent you like!

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 02/08/2023 19:34

I did. It’s disgusting.

Papernotplastic · 02/08/2023 19:35

Any perfume at that price has to be awful.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 02/08/2023 19:38

I also ordered the green tea one and quite like that but the smell fades off within the hour so not really value for money.

Gridhopper · 02/08/2023 20:07

I got it! I love powder scents, and iris, and grandma’s handbags. But I had to scrub this one off in the shower and then have a lie down coz I felt a bit poisoned. And it went on the hairband round my wrist which I had to bin! Surely it was just an honest recommendation though - not cocktopus’s (I like the username!) fault that mumsnet picked it up or that I bought it?

JaneJeffer · 02/08/2023 20:11

I had to scrub this one off in the shower and then have a lie down coz I felt a bit poisoned
🤣

Gridhopper · 02/08/2023 20:11

@Plump82 as i said on the other thread, feel free to dm me your address and I’ll send it to you. Weirdly haven’t had any takers so far 😆

Bonfire23 · 02/08/2023 20:15

Papernotplastic · 02/08/2023 19:35

Any perfume at that price has to be awful.

They're not always
Al rehab soft is lovely and about a fiver on Amazon
https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Al-Rehab/Soft-20116.html

Perfume parlour does some great dupes and the small bottle are a few pounds

SJP stash is around £6 for the roller ball
https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Sarah-Jessica-Parker/Stash-SJP-40750.html

Jil sander sun around £10 for a big bottle
https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Jil-Sander/Sun-618.html

SM4713 · 02/08/2023 20:18

I've been on MN years and this is the 1st time I've ever heard of MN swears by! I've never noticed the tab and had no idea it existed.

Sorry it was dreadful OP, but you have opened my eyes to yet more rabbit holes on MN! 😂

Plump82 · 02/08/2023 22:22

Gridhopper · 02/08/2023 20:11

@Plump82 as i said on the other thread, feel free to dm me your address and I’ll send it to you. Weirdly haven’t had any takers so far 😆

Check your DMs 😊

PinkFootstool · 02/08/2023 22:26

NatashaDancing · 02/08/2023 12:02

"Smells like inside a Grandma’s handbag’"

And what would that smell like? Serious question - it tells me absolutely nothing about what made this perfume unpleasant.

To me that's cloying, musty, powdery and full of stale perfumes....

NatashaDancing · 03/08/2023 07:20

PinkFootstool · 02/08/2023 22:26

To me that's cloying, musty, powdery and full of stale perfumes....

Show quote history

You're missing the point. If a perfume is "cloying, musty, powdery" then use those words.

If a bag is full of stale perfumes....then use those words.

The phrase used by the OP's husband which the OP, inexplicably thought was hilarious enough to be worth making a thread about is simply unthinking ageism.

Mercedesbenz2022 · 03/08/2023 07:30

I bought it , I like baby powder scent , loccitane do a body lotion that has a hint of it
but jeez classy this is not

its strong overpowering and smells somehow dirty . I had to scrub it to get it off ( good staying power I’ll give it that )
gave me a headache , worth trying for the low price but no no no no

theyarereallytakingthepissnow · 03/08/2023 07:30

Yes I did too and yes it's absolutely awful, so glad I only sniffed it and did not apply it to my skin and be trying to scrub it off right now 😂

Mercedesbenz2022 · 03/08/2023 07:32

@Plump82
dm me and I’ll send you mine

KissKissMollysLips · 03/08/2023 07:54

@Beenhereforever1978 I was thinking the exact same thing re: Coktopus 😂

PenisFlyTrap · 03/08/2023 07:58

I'm wondering if three people have asked Cocktopus what perfume she's wearing so they'll know to avoid it at all costs 🤔

Beenhereforever1978 · 03/08/2023 10:52

PenisFlyTrap · 03/08/2023 07:58

I'm wondering if three people have asked Cocktopus what perfume she's wearing so they'll know to avoid it at all costs 🤔

Yeah I think it was more "Christ what is that smell?"

CinnamonJellyBeans · 03/08/2023 16:08

At least you only paid five quid. I have done three mumsnet blind buys:
Clairins Eau Dynamisante : Mosquito repellent
Chanel Cristalle: TCP
A Rodriguez one (for her, I think?) in a black bottle: Very meh. I had to beg DD2 to take it off my hands and she says it will do to wear for her cleaning job.

Also quite a few samples (which did at least to lead to me discovering Le Labo another 13)

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 03/08/2023 17:26

Oh see, I love Eau Dynamisante.