Very expensive smelling scented products, 20 Oct. 2016

What little I knew. I've known of Crabtree & Evelyn since they were founded in 1977 - my mum has always had a penchant for slightly more expensive toiletries so it's one of those shops that I always find myself wandering around while she's talking to the sales people, being offered samples and advice. They have a beautiful shop in Guildford High Street that I simply assumed had always been there, for maybe a few hundred years.

In actual fact the company was founded in 1977 in Cambridge Massachusetts and the first retail shop was opened that year in a mall in Pennsylvania. Although there is a connection between the name of the company and what you might describe as its spirit - natural and authentic ingredients - it seems that a fair-sized dollop of all this is just marketing - it is a cleverly conceived brand to convey the impression of what they sell. Not, as you might imagine, a couple of people named Crabtree and Evelyn who plied their trade during the times of...

This review is from: Crabtree & Evelyn Caribbean Island Wild Flowers Body Care Trio Gift Set (Personal Care)

Classy Gift Set, 18 Oct. 2016

Crabtree and Evelyn have always been bywords for tasteful cosmetics and this set is no exception. The gift box is an integral part of its appeal with its vibrant picture of a pheasant surrounded by exotic fruits and flowers picked out in intense colours with a special place reserved for a warm shade of festive red. I am sure everyone will hang onto the box when the products themselves have been used up! You get 2 generous 300ml pump action dispensers containing body wash and body lotion respectively plus 100ml of hand cream. The fragrances are different-the two larger products evoke the scents of camellias, lilies and exotic fruits a cocktail which really lingers over an extended period. The hand cream is quite different where coconut aromas predominate in a rich easily absorbed blend and again the fragrance is truly long lasting.

The only downside for me with this set is the extra item namely the porcelain robin which is destined for the Christmas tree as a decoration-you can...

This review is from: Crabtree & Evelyn Caribbean Island Wild Flowers Body Care Trio Gift Set (Personal Care)

Genuinely delightful products in beautiful, high-quality gift packaging, 15 Oct. 2016

I don't know if you have noticed, but Crabtree & Evelyn seem to have been quietly updating their products over the last few years. Perhaps 10 years ago, I would have described Crabtree & Evelyn as a brand that was aimed at older ladies. But these days the products are stylish and of a high quality. They manage to be moderately contemporary yet still quintessentially English. In my personal opinion, the products are just a little bit higher quality than those of competitor brand Molton Brown.

I was delighted that this gift set was of the high quality that I was hoping for. For starters, the gift box is beautiful. It is colourful, beautifully detailed and made of thick cardboard. I can imagine keeping the box and reusing it for years to come.

The gift set is decently heavy long before you open it, which helps to evoke a feeling of quality. And when you open the box, the products are laid out nicely too (as I hope you can see from the attached photo)...

This review is from: Crabtree & Evelyn Caribbean Island Wild Flowers Body Care Trio Gift Set (Personal Care)