British view of British fragrance houses?

[andrew98]

I'm sorry, but this is a revelation to me. Is TK Maxx the British sister-store to TJ Maxx?

Yes. Same thing.

-Andy

 

[galopede]

I'm sorry, but this is a revelation to me. Is TK Maxx the British sister-store to TJ Maxx?

No idea why they changed the name over here! It's a lottery as to what you may or not find there in the shaving line. I wandered into my local today and there was very little, just nasty modern stuff. A few weeks ago I found a jar of Bronnley SC which is rather good. Can't remember the price but it was cheap.

Also found Pecksniff soaps and quite a lot of Taylor's there in the past.

Gareth

 

[Ru4scuba?]

It is probably about the same view that Americans might have toward Caswell-Massey, America's oldest chemists and perfumers, Est. 1752

Who?

 

[andrew98]

No idea why they changed the name over here! It's a lottery as to what you may or not find there in the shaving line. I wandered into my local today and there was very little, just nasty modern stuff. A few weeks ago I found a jar of Bronnley SC which is rather good. Can't remember the price but it was cheap.

Also found Pecksniff soaps and quite a lot of Taylor's there in the past.

Gareth

I just saw some TOBS creams and a few other products. I wasn't interested, but the Liverpool One TKMaxx has some goodies right now if anyone in town is reading this. I did see one fragrance I may have to go back for, but I'd be buying it blind.

-Andy

 

[phaedrus]

Obviously, English fragrances like Penhaligon's, Trumpers, Floris, etc. get a lot of love here on B&B. These fragrances are relatively uncommon in the U.S., and it seems they carry connotations, at least on B&B, of being refined, gentlemanly, old-worldish, and so on. I'm wondering if any of the British guys can tell us if these houses are perceived the same way over there, or if they are viewed differently. (I realize the answer doesn't matter in terms of enjoyment of the fragrance. I'm just curious.)

For me these fragrance houses are about more than the products (wonderful as they are), they represent a little of the more refined parts of our culture and history. It's all very Edwardian I know but my ideal morning in London would start with breakfast at Simpsons on the Strand followed by a trip to Trumpers in Curzon street for a haircut,shave and manicure. I would follow this with a little light shopping in Jermyn street for shirts and shoes and then an hour book browsing at Hatchards.....Bliss!

 

[Tha Baron]

I agree...I also think none of us would so enamored of our Trumper's shave cream, TOBS, C&S No. 88, Penhaligan's etc if it were commonly available in every Walgreeens, CVS, Duane Reade etc. There is some fun in having to work a little to get all this stuff; DE blades and everything that goes with it.

This is the exact same reason music snobs choose to not "like" music they once discovered or enjoyed as soon as it becomes mainstream.