The Pound Shop Fragrance Challenge
When the latest brief from your editor begins Do you have access to a pound shop?, you know youre in trouble. When that brief then goes on to suggest you spend a week wearing fragrances you find in the aforementioned pound shop your heart sinks, and you might have a little cry at your desk. However, when said editor then suggests you enlist the help of your partner, meaning you can torture him a little in the process, well, you cant really refuse, can you? You can, however, bear a grudge. Just sayin
Anyway, the challenge was to spend £14 in the "poundshop of our choice", on seven female fragrances, and seven masculine fragrances, wear one (each) every day for a week, and report back on our experiences. So here we are. I think I have my vision back now. However, Ill never be able to show my face in the local poundshop ever again.
The purchasing:
We head off to a rather fancy poundshop in Fulham (dahlings), its clean and light and airy, but were initially surprised that they dont appear to have any fragrances. Turns out theyre not actually with the beauty products, because they are, of course, by the household cleaning products, leading one to speculate darkly on the very nature of what it is were about to do. We find the stash, full of what are obviously designer fragrance knock-offs, remaindered ends of legitimate high street brand scents, and generic fragrances. Its rather depressing. Luckily, there are no testers, so we dont get a chance to frighten ourselves utterly out of the challenge before we even begin. The checkout assistant offers us a couple of pitying looks whilst shes putting the fragrances through, and I can tell shes obviously wondering what kind of horrific disease were both suffering from that require us pickling ourselves in PoundWorldLands finest scents.
His Observations: Ugh. I spend slow years being weaned away from Lynx Africa, only to be dragged back past and beyond that to PoundLandWorlds finest. I ask myself just what sort of cruel and horrific person would ask me to do such a thing but, upon reflection, it strikes me that both the Basenotes editor and my lovely partner herself fit the bill precisely. Thats one of the great questions about the universe answered, then. Cursing my pliability, I dragged myself into the pound shop and picked out my fragrances with an air of resignation (editors note: MrLippie was bribed with vodka to take part in this challenge hes no martyr)
Day One:
Day Two:
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
Day Six
Her: VB
Packaging: Orange box, flat rectangular bottle with an orange cap that doesnt fit.
Fragrance: Remember Giorgio? This is a poundshop version of that. For a poundshop fragrance this has an almost nuclear half-life (around four hours). Good going for the price, but what a shame were back in fly-spray land. MrLippie visibly recoils from the scent. He thinks I didnt notice, but I did. I am totally fed up of PoundCountyShire scents now, and am dreaming of wearing Philosophy Amazing Grace when its all over. Then I realise that that is the olfactory equivalent of wanting to wear Surf as a perfume and smack myself in the face with a kipper. At least it smells of something!
Him: Umbro Elite X
Packaging: As you would expect for a known brand, the bright red box has a sporty front design, the logo prominent with a faded football in the background. Its a small bottle, logo big again, with a faded red liquid inside.
Fragrance: Mainstream, VERY mainstream. Not too offensive, a bit cloying, and it sticks. All day. Not a hugely edifying experience, and I definitely wouldnt have objected to it too much just a couple of years ago. I wouldnt put a huge amount on though, it has some whopping staying power.
Day Seven
Her: Mademoiselle London
Packaging: Silvery-grey box, same pleasing trefoil bottle as DINKY Delectable, this time with a black cap.
Fragrance: The most obviously perfume-y fragrance of the lot, thanks to a big dose of aldehydes in the opening. Unfortunately, the big dose of aldehydes in the opening is all it has, and it disappears pretty much instantaneously. Nonetheless, not at all bad, considering. It appears to be a Chanel-esque creation, and it works. A bit. What am I saying? I think Ive gone native.
Him: Highbuzz
Packaging: Light khaki/green box, basic bottle with black top. Back to no frills.
Fragrance: Light and pleasant, with a strong citrusy background. Pleasing, overall, but fades quickly, theres barely a sniff left upon leaving Lippie Mansions. There could have been a much worse end to the week, but I have to admit being very happy to going back to something I actually CHOSE to wear, like, I dont know, something from Adidas, or even Lynx
* * *
All of them yours for just £14. Don't you feel a fool for spending $300 on that Serge Lutens Export bottle...?
Conclusion
Her: So, what has this week taught us? That, actually, poundshop fragrances arent that bad, in fact, out of the selection we picked up theres one Im going to quite happily keep (Rush Hour) in my handbag, just in case. Ironically, the more decorated fragrances in this selection were by far BY FAR the worst, but overall, you could do worse than visiting your local poundshop next time you have a perfume emergency and no cash. Just, as in a department store, avoid those flipping pink bottles!
Him: Some fun names, some basic boxes, but nowhere near as bad as you might think. Just buy a couple & keep the bottle with you if you actually like the scent and dont panic if you dont, itll soon be gone.
About the author
Louise is a management accountant by day, beauty editor by night, and has been writing getlippie.comsince 2009 in a (failed) attempt to rid herself of her lipstick addiction. She also writes regularly for SLiNK magazine
Anyway, the challenge was to spend £14 in the "poundshop of our choice", on seven female fragrances, and seven masculine fragrances, wear one (each) every day for a week, and report back on our experiences. So here we are. I think I have my vision back now. However, Ill never be able to show my face in the local poundshop ever again.
The purchasing:
We head off to a rather fancy poundshop in Fulham (dahlings), its clean and light and airy, but were initially surprised that they dont appear to have any fragrances. Turns out theyre not actually with the beauty products, because they are, of course, by the household cleaning products, leading one to speculate darkly on the very nature of what it is were about to do. We find the stash, full of what are obviously designer fragrance knock-offs, remaindered ends of legitimate high street brand scents, and generic fragrances. Its rather depressing. Luckily, there are no testers, so we dont get a chance to frighten ourselves utterly out of the challenge before we even begin. The checkout assistant offers us a couple of pitying looks whilst shes putting the fragrances through, and I can tell shes obviously wondering what kind of horrific disease were both suffering from that require us pickling ourselves in PoundWorldLands finest scents.
His Observations: Ugh. I spend slow years being weaned away from Lynx Africa, only to be dragged back past and beyond that to PoundLandWorlds finest. I ask myself just what sort of cruel and horrific person would ask me to do such a thing but, upon reflection, it strikes me that both the Basenotes editor and my lovely partner herself fit the bill precisely. Thats one of the great questions about the universe answered, then. Cursing my pliability, I dragged myself into the pound shop and picked out my fragrances with an air of resignation (editors note: MrLippie was bribed with vodka to take part in this challenge hes no martyr)
Scent Diary
Day One:
Her: DINKY Delectable:
Packaging: Sickly green box, but the bottle is a hand-pleasing trefoil shape in the hand, and the cap matches the colour of the box.
Fragrance: This is, quite obviously, a knock off of DKNY Be Delicious, and as such smells of green apples. Thats it, just apples. Rather pleasant, actually, but Im left wondering if it would be better off as a room fragrance (which, ironically, is what I do actually use my genuine bottle of DKNY Be Delicious for, its not a diss, its lovely!). The scent lasts about ten minutes, and I cant be bothered to reapply it. Dull.
Him: Black Jacket
Packaging: Black box, plain, functional, quite unassuming. The bottle is simple with a black cap.
Fragrance: Being the first one of these scents, I was quite wary, expecting a massive burst of alcohol & eye-watering intensity. Thankfully, I was quite pleasantly surprised; the scent was mellow, quiet, relatively sophisticated and quite citrusy. However, it faded from my awareness within five minutes and I never carry the bottles around with me.
Packaging: Sickly green box, but the bottle is a hand-pleasing trefoil shape in the hand, and the cap matches the colour of the box.
Fragrance: This is, quite obviously, a knock off of DKNY Be Delicious, and as such smells of green apples. Thats it, just apples. Rather pleasant, actually, but Im left wondering if it would be better off as a room fragrance (which, ironically, is what I do actually use my genuine bottle of DKNY Be Delicious for, its not a diss, its lovely!). The scent lasts about ten minutes, and I cant be bothered to reapply it. Dull.
Him: Black Jacket
Packaging: Black box, plain, functional, quite unassuming. The bottle is simple with a black cap.
Fragrance: Being the first one of these scents, I was quite wary, expecting a massive burst of alcohol & eye-watering intensity. Thankfully, I was quite pleasantly surprised; the scent was mellow, quiet, relatively sophisticated and quite citrusy. However, it faded from my awareness within five minutes and I never carry the bottles around with me.
Day Two:
Her: Rush Hour
Packaging: Tall red box containing a tall thin square bottle with a clashing orange cap
Fragrance: Pleasant surprise! This is a replica of Gucci Rush, which, by dint of being somewhat watered down, is a actually slightly more pleasant to wear than the original. I surprise myself by putting this in my handbag and carrying it round all day for top-ups. A creamy jasmine-hairspray scent, I genuinely think this experiment isnt nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be at this point. I was wrong. VERY wrong.
Him: Can-Can Man
Packaging: Quiet grey/blue box with a stylised male torso on the front. Another plain
glass bottle, with a grey cap to semi-match the box.
Fragrance: Not badagain, a lot more subtle then I was expecting. Similar to Black Jacket, with perhaps a bit more depth, maybe a touch more musky? Fades quickly again, but I do catch myself checking to see what lingers. Unfortunately, not much Its actually a rip off of one of the the JPG Le Male range, but its impossible to tell which.
Packaging: Tall red box containing a tall thin square bottle with a clashing orange cap
Fragrance: Pleasant surprise! This is a replica of Gucci Rush, which, by dint of being somewhat watered down, is a actually slightly more pleasant to wear than the original. I surprise myself by putting this in my handbag and carrying it round all day for top-ups. A creamy jasmine-hairspray scent, I genuinely think this experiment isnt nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be at this point. I was wrong. VERY wrong.
Him: Can-Can Man
Packaging: Quiet grey/blue box with a stylised male torso on the front. Another plain
glass bottle, with a grey cap to semi-match the box.
Fragrance: Not badagain, a lot more subtle then I was expecting. Similar to Black Jacket, with perhaps a bit more depth, maybe a touch more musky? Fades quickly again, but I do catch myself checking to see what lingers. Unfortunately, not much Its actually a rip off of one of the the JPG Le Male range, but its impossible to tell which.
For the ladies.. From left to right Rush Hour, Fire Princess, Mademoiselle London, VB, Madonna Diamonds, DINKY Delectable and Story of Rose...
Day Three
Her: Story of Rose Pour Femme
Packaging: Shiny black box with sylised rose print. Bottle is a somewhat extravagant pink embossed affair with a matching rose-bud shaped cap.
Fragrance: MY EYES! Oh my god, MY EYES! I have, it appears, just sprayed myself with insecticide, on a day where I have not one, not two, but three press appointments, not to mention a full day in the office besides. I knew yesterdays pleasant surprise was too good to last! I spend the day apologising to people for smelling so bad, and making mental lists of death threats to the editor of this esteemed website. I wish I was dead.
Him: EAD Bright
Packaging: Big, bold metallic green box looks like some money has been spent in making this an eyecatcher. The bottle is stylised, off-centre and swish, but unfortunately, its clear, revealing something that looks suspiciously like Crème de Menthe. The cap is loose-fitting & comes off at every opportunity.
Fragrance: Now THIS is more like what I was expecting. Its cloying, making me squint somewhat as I apply it as Im used to, which is rather liberally. Rather than walking off to find something more interesting, I leave it be. Curses. It lingers somewhat. I do hope I didnt kill any commuters.
Packaging: Shiny black box with sylised rose print. Bottle is a somewhat extravagant pink embossed affair with a matching rose-bud shaped cap.
Fragrance: MY EYES! Oh my god, MY EYES! I have, it appears, just sprayed myself with insecticide, on a day where I have not one, not two, but three press appointments, not to mention a full day in the office besides. I knew yesterdays pleasant surprise was too good to last! I spend the day apologising to people for smelling so bad, and making mental lists of death threats to the editor of this esteemed website. I wish I was dead.
Him: EAD Bright
Packaging: Big, bold metallic green box looks like some money has been spent in making this an eyecatcher. The bottle is stylised, off-centre and swish, but unfortunately, its clear, revealing something that looks suspiciously like Crème de Menthe. The cap is loose-fitting & comes off at every opportunity.
Fragrance: Now THIS is more like what I was expecting. Its cloying, making me squint somewhat as I apply it as Im used to, which is rather liberally. Rather than walking off to find something more interesting, I leave it be. Curses. It lingers somewhat. I do hope I didnt kill any commuters.
Day Four
Her: Madonna Diamonds
Packaging: White box printed with diamonds. Bottle is a rather squat cylinder with a blue cap and Madonna printed forlornly towards the bottom. Quite literally no expense spent here.
Fragrance: I was this close to giving up after the flyspray incident yesterday, but this surprised me by not being awful. Its rather clean and pleasant (and nothing like Truth or Dare), but there is nothing special about it at all. Its like poundshop Febreze. Oh.
Him: Hidden Code Sports
Packaging: Black box, not bad quality, looks decidedly classy in comparison to my other purchases. The cynic in me wonders where the cutbacks are that enabled that, and opening the box I discover a reasonable bottle.with what looks like Blue WKD in it.
Fragrance: A fairly generic sporty fragrance, with a mild resemblance to Armani Code (as youd expect). Reasonable staying power. Does not smell of Blue WKD, which is a bit of a shame.
Packaging: White box printed with diamonds. Bottle is a rather squat cylinder with a blue cap and Madonna printed forlornly towards the bottom. Quite literally no expense spent here.
Fragrance: I was this close to giving up after the flyspray incident yesterday, but this surprised me by not being awful. Its rather clean and pleasant (and nothing like Truth or Dare), but there is nothing special about it at all. Its like poundshop Febreze. Oh.
Him: Hidden Code Sports
Packaging: Black box, not bad quality, looks decidedly classy in comparison to my other purchases. The cynic in me wonders where the cutbacks are that enabled that, and opening the box I discover a reasonable bottle.with what looks like Blue WKD in it.
Fragrance: A fairly generic sporty fragrance, with a mild resemblance to Armani Code (as youd expect). Reasonable staying power. Does not smell of Blue WKD, which is a bit of a shame.
For the chaps.. From left to right It'sMySake!, Can-Can Man, Black Jacket, Umbro Elite X, Highbuzz, and EAD Bright... (Hidden Code Sport not pictured. It's hidden, obviously)
Day Five
Her: Fire Princess Pink
Packaging: Look! Theyve really splashed out here, theres a hologram on the box and everything! And the bottle is an exact replica of Viktor & Rolfs Flowerbomb, only its pink!
Fragrance: Oh crap I think, Im going to have to spend the day in a poundshop version of Flowerbomb, what did I do in previous life to deserve this?. Luckily however, the entire budget of this fragrance has gone on the packaging and it just smell a bit of, well, nothing really. Like Id sprinkled a bit of sugar in a litre of water, and called it perfume. So I spend the day wearing Jour dHermes instead. Yes, I cheated. Shut UP
Him: ItsMySake!
Packaging: After 2 days of being spoilt, its back to basics. Grey, basic, plain bottle with a top to match the box. I breathe a sigh of relief & pry it open.
Fragrance: Almost saccharine-sweet, smells seriously medicinal. Thankfully, it dies away from my senses swiftly and I can forget that Im wearing something that feels like its doing a number on my sinuses. Do my colleagues notice? Seems not... It remains, however, the best-named perfume of the entire challenge. Issey who?
Packaging: Look! Theyve really splashed out here, theres a hologram on the box and everything! And the bottle is an exact replica of Viktor & Rolfs Flowerbomb, only its pink!
Fragrance: Oh crap I think, Im going to have to spend the day in a poundshop version of Flowerbomb, what did I do in previous life to deserve this?. Luckily however, the entire budget of this fragrance has gone on the packaging and it just smell a bit of, well, nothing really. Like Id sprinkled a bit of sugar in a litre of water, and called it perfume. So I spend the day wearing Jour dHermes instead. Yes, I cheated. Shut UP
Him: ItsMySake!
Packaging: After 2 days of being spoilt, its back to basics. Grey, basic, plain bottle with a top to match the box. I breathe a sigh of relief & pry it open.
Fragrance: Almost saccharine-sweet, smells seriously medicinal. Thankfully, it dies away from my senses swiftly and I can forget that Im wearing something that feels like its doing a number on my sinuses. Do my colleagues notice? Seems not... It remains, however, the best-named perfume of the entire challenge. Issey who?
Day Six
Her: VB
Packaging: Orange box, flat rectangular bottle with an orange cap that doesnt fit.
Fragrance: Remember Giorgio? This is a poundshop version of that. For a poundshop fragrance this has an almost nuclear half-life (around four hours). Good going for the price, but what a shame were back in fly-spray land. MrLippie visibly recoils from the scent. He thinks I didnt notice, but I did. I am totally fed up of PoundCountyShire scents now, and am dreaming of wearing Philosophy Amazing Grace when its all over. Then I realise that that is the olfactory equivalent of wanting to wear Surf as a perfume and smack myself in the face with a kipper. At least it smells of something!
Him: Umbro Elite X
Packaging: As you would expect for a known brand, the bright red box has a sporty front design, the logo prominent with a faded football in the background. Its a small bottle, logo big again, with a faded red liquid inside.
Fragrance: Mainstream, VERY mainstream. Not too offensive, a bit cloying, and it sticks. All day. Not a hugely edifying experience, and I definitely wouldnt have objected to it too much just a couple of years ago. I wouldnt put a huge amount on though, it has some whopping staying power.
Day Seven
Her: Mademoiselle London
Packaging: Silvery-grey box, same pleasing trefoil bottle as DINKY Delectable, this time with a black cap.
Fragrance: The most obviously perfume-y fragrance of the lot, thanks to a big dose of aldehydes in the opening. Unfortunately, the big dose of aldehydes in the opening is all it has, and it disappears pretty much instantaneously. Nonetheless, not at all bad, considering. It appears to be a Chanel-esque creation, and it works. A bit. What am I saying? I think Ive gone native.
Him: Highbuzz
Packaging: Light khaki/green box, basic bottle with black top. Back to no frills.
Fragrance: Light and pleasant, with a strong citrusy background. Pleasing, overall, but fades quickly, theres barely a sniff left upon leaving Lippie Mansions. There could have been a much worse end to the week, but I have to admit being very happy to going back to something I actually CHOSE to wear, like, I dont know, something from Adidas, or even Lynx
* * *
All of them yours for just £14. Don't you feel a fool for spending $300 on that Serge Lutens Export bottle...?
Conclusion
Her: So, what has this week taught us? That, actually, poundshop fragrances arent that bad, in fact, out of the selection we picked up theres one Im going to quite happily keep (Rush Hour) in my handbag, just in case. Ironically, the more decorated fragrances in this selection were by far BY FAR the worst, but overall, you could do worse than visiting your local poundshop next time you have a perfume emergency and no cash. Just, as in a department store, avoid those flipping pink bottles!
Him: Some fun names, some basic boxes, but nowhere near as bad as you might think. Just buy a couple & keep the bottle with you if you actually like the scent and dont panic if you dont, itll soon be gone.
About the author
Louise is a management accountant by day, beauty editor by night, and has been writing getlippie.comsince 2009 in a (failed) attempt to rid herself of her lipstick addiction. She also writes regularly for SLiNK magazine
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You are much much braver than I am.
if so, this article is sufficiently frightening!
I suppose the poundshop is a kin to our Walmart or family dollar stores in the US?
if so, this article is sufficiently frightening!
It's basically our equivalent of a dollar store. Everything in the shop costs £1.
Any chance you could spill the beans on which poundshop you did visit? Or at least PM me with it? I can't say I've seen those beauties on my travels.
I think you deserve a BN medal for this.
Genius.
And Rush Hour is a genius name for a perfume!
Whats with the picture of big pink penis in some guys face?
I think you might need to see a doctor...
Oh, what fun! This might actually prove useful to the people who like to wear this kind of stuff...
but it's doubtful they are here
Whats with the picture of big pink penis in some guys face?
LOL! This is exactly what I thought when I saw the image...it is indeed very suggestive (and hilarious).
Actually ....don't diss the £1 shop or 99p shop....a lot of my make up comes from there lately.....MaxFactor...Bourjois....Revlon....Maybe lline....!!!
Whats with the picture of big pink penis in some guys face?
I concur lol.
The Tescos 'Make up" in the black compacts is made by a high ranking make up artist too, was it Barbara Daly? There are loads like that. I cannot think of any more off the top of my head. I do know that some research was done with lots of high end down to low end face moisturisers in a scientific comparison test. Did the high end Kanebo £100+ win? No... the cheap Vaseline Intensive care won hands down.... lol
Some of the high end perfumes smell like that too. I tried a right scrubber on this morning from a fairly well known house. Proper price of £35ish and I would have preferred one from the pound shop.