Why is it that EVERYTHING Bath & Body Works sells has the same underlying

[NewWaveChick1981]

fragrance???? :grr: :yoiks: I've had two sample-size lotions from them for a long time, and I decided to start using things up before I buy new stuff (yeah, right :P :rofl:). Everything I have ever bought from them (which has been only these two lotions in the past year and a half) has the same underlying perfumey fragrance, and it drives me NUTS. :yoiks: I mean, can't vanilla just smell like vanilla and not perfumey vanilla????? This same exact underlying fragrance has been present in everything I've ever tested or bought from them, and it's annoying as hell. :grr:

Also, I used to like their liquid hand soaps, but they dry my hands out terribly (ostensibly to sell more perfumey hand lotion??? :eyes:). I haven't been in a Bath & Body Works in a year and a half, and I'm not going back in that store. Pulling out these samples to use up just confirmed that for me.

This public service rant brought to you by NewWaveChick1981. :patriot: The burning issues presented within are the sole opinions of the author. :P

[Haole Girl]

1. White Tea & Ginger...

...is their only fragrance I can tolerate. :-)

[NewWaveChick1981]

2. That one's not bad at all...

...but deliver me from fake berry and sickly perfumey scents. :puke:

[Red State Rebel]

3. I like their Peppermint this time of year!

[NewWaveChick1981]

26. ...

:hi:

[grasswire]

4. their lotion is crappy

The only product I've ever really liked from that store was an orange-mint body wash that smelled just delicious.

I haven't liked one other thing.

[NewWaveChick1981]

27. I have to agree with you...

:hi:

[lildreamer316]

5. Become a LUSHie...

..and lose all of those problems.
And your wallet to boot.

[HughBeaumont]

14. Visited there last week.

Are they a chain or exclusive to Georgetown?

[lildreamer316]

15. Ohhhhhhhhhh no.

HUGE chain, many countries, go to the website. http://www.lush.com/
The quickest way for me to satisfy my cravings is to either order (since there is not one closer to me than yours); and to be active on the forums where there are a lot of swaps.
Some of their stuff dosen't work for me at all, but some of it is heavenly. Mostly if not all natural ingredients and no animal testing.
I am hooked on Dream Cream (husband is too); Lip Service (nothing has EVER worked as well for my peeling lips!); and Lemslip. I haven't dared to try any of their bath boms and fizzies, because I really can't afford to. I'm DYING to try Gorgeous ( a moisturizer); but it's a bank-breaker.
The suprise for me was the perfume. I ordered one that after first sniff I thought I hated. Now I love it, although it is a mood thing for me.
Have fun, enjoy!

[NewWaveChick1981]

25. I am a LUSHie already...

:hi: :rofl: I first visited a LUSH store in 2000 when I was in Edinburgh and they had no stores here yet. I bought a bunch of stuff and loved it. And that's where I first tried Alkmaar soap. I LOVE Alkmaar!!!! That is still my favorite soap of all time. And I love their lotions too. I was just trying to use up the odds and ends I had in my cabinet. No more of that!!!!

[hsher]

6. Here is a scent you will die for

Visit here:

http://www.nadinascreams.com

And try out Night Queen. Addictive and sensual. Smells Egyptian. You can get it at Wild Oats and Whole Foods. Pricey but WORTH EVERY DROP!

[NewWaveChick1981]

28. OMG, that does sound wonderful!

Thank you!!! :D

[BarenakedLady]

7. Go to The Body Shop

Much better, more humane and stuff

http://www.thebodyshop.com/bodyshop/index.jsp?cm_ven=newgate&cm_cat=google&cm_pla=BrandExistingBrand&cm_ite=the_body_shop

[spinbaby]

24. Yes, go to the Body Shop

The Body Shop has better products with better scents--satsuma smells like a freshly-peeled orange. Everything from Bath and Body Works smells more or less the same and their newer "quaint" stuff tends to go rancid quick.

[NewWaveChick1981]

29. I'll do that...

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. My dear NewWaveChick!

I really like their Cucumber Melon body cream...

It isn't overly sweet...in fact, I'd say it isn't sweet at all...

Just kinda fresh and nice......

:hi:

[reyd reid reed]

9. I found this massage candle a while back...

That's absolute heaven. Smells like vanilla, but not that perfumy stuff. It feels a little heavy when you first use it, but that wears off and then your hands are so soft...and it lasts all day.

[Phillycat]

10. They test on animals anyway.

I would not buy anything from there.

[MissMillie]

13. yep

they don't test the final products, but they do test ingredients.

[Phillycat]

18. Exactly.

And I really hate their disingenuousness about it. The label says "This finished product not tested on animals". WTF does that mean? Well, one day, about 10 years ago, I asked, and the lady told me, "Oh, it would be impossible to force all our manufacturers for the cream base, the perfumes, etc, to comform to a non-animal testing policy."



No, you twit. You are one of the largest retailers of body products on the planet. You have the buying power to tell them to stand on their fucking heads if you wanted to. YOU JUST DON'T CARE. So don't give me impossible.

And stop putting that lying stupid fucking label on your products too.

Whew. I feel better. /endrant

[MrCoffee]

11. Anita Roddick sucks ass.

[blogslut]

12. I make my own perfumes

I just wish the people liked the scents I like. For example, I love lemongrass but when I wear it in public, strangers say stuff like "I smell bug spray!" The closest I've gotten to a publicly acceptible scent is Rosemary/Lavender.

Now if I could just find a good, inexpensive fixative. I don't want to buy civet.

[Richardo]

16. Ambergris?

:yoiks:

[blogslut]

17. maybe

I bought some vetiver (which I love) for that purpose, but I just can't seem to get my perfumes to linger. I may have to shell out the dough and get some decent benzoin.

EDIT: On second thought, no Ambergris. It comes from sperm whales. That's why I didn't want to use civet.

EDIT: Hmmm, reading more, I discover that Ambergris is made from basically, whale shit...hmmmm

[bleedingheart]

19. I got an orange and ginger lotion that was quite nice...

otherwise I use Eucerin...

[buddhamama]

20. over priced junk

i've never bought their products and i wouldn't. i'd rather make my own perfume and bath oils than pay for products that are not ethical and are pretty much garbage but cost $$$$$.

end rant. :hi: :)

[blogslut]

22. Have you been to this site?

http://mountainroseherbs.com

This place is awesome! Oils, bulk herbs, jars, just everything!

[midnight armadillo]

21. Why slather your body with toxins?

Few if any of those fragrances are tested for health effects. Then they're combined with a witch's brew of surfactants, detergents, skin conditioners, chemicals to modify how it feels on your skin etc. I am massively allergic to Bath and Body Works stores and have had asthma attacks just walking by them in malls.

Why not stick with lotions/soaps etc that have been used for hundreds and thousands of years? Try Vermont Soap Works or Terresentials Organics as a starting point. They sell real soap made from veggie fats. VSW has a 100% shea butter hand cream, which has been used for centuries for moisturizing.
www.vermontsoap.com
www.terressentials.com

[Karenca]

23. Toxic is correct.

I have had asthma attacks just walking by them in in the street!

You can smell it a half a block away--and this is in NYC!

It's overwhelming.

[NewWaveChick1981]

30. Thanks, everyone. I'm definitely staying out of that store for good.

:)

[belladonna]

31. I gave up on Bath & Body Works

You're right, they all seem to have the same underlying scent and they're just overpriced for what you get.

[Left Is Write]

32. I hadn't noticed. I love Warm Vanilla Sugar....

They have another vanilla scent (French Vanilla, maybe?) that I don't like, but Warm Vanilla Sugar is so nice and cozy.

I also love Moonlight Path (lavender and other florals), because it's soothing and relaxing and it comforts me.

I like Juniper Breeze and Spearmint Eucalyptus because they remind me of my honeymoon. :D