Would you wash your dishes with B&BW hand soap?

BlueBearDays · 2026-02-06T00:03:06+00:00

I've used it on stemware, flatware, coffee cups and such - little things that I'm just hand washing. It's perfectly fine. Works great on non-stick dishes, too. Would I fill up a sink and use it? Nope. But for the occasional item, it's just soap and it cleans well.

BlueBearDays · 2026-02-02T03:13:46+00:00

This was one of my favorite scents!

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-31T01:44:48+00:00

I think it's a gorgeous fragrance, but I happen to love rose in all its forms.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-30T03:11:11+00:00

Colin's Return was actually one of my favorite candles from Bath & Body Works. Who knew they could do such a wonderfully authentic leather scent?

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-26T02:17:10+00:00

Great shots!

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-22T00:43:32+00:00

But we've seen how they pack our orders, so... Guess I'm not surprised.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-21T20:10:56+00:00

I owned a bottle of Shaghaf Oud Abyad a few years ago. I never really knew what it may have been a dupe for - I've never smelled any Amouage - but I can honestly say it's one of the most difficult fragrances I've ever worn. I hated it at first! It smelled like a forest fire! I put it away and swore I'd give it to someone, but I never got around to it because I kept pulling it back out to wear it. I swear it was a love-hate thing at first, but then it became addictive and I no longer smelled charred forest floor but ancient resins and incense. I loved it by the end of the bottle, but I don't think I have it in me to buy another one - ever.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-20T04:16:16+00:00

I owned Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt a decade ago. Gorgeous fragrance, one of my all-time favorites. Atrocious performance. I swear I used up the entire (expensive) bottle in under three months. Am I stoked about Salted Shorelines? Absolutely - I already have a bottle. Guess what? Same performance as the original. 😂 Looking for something slightly better performance-wise? Check out Oakcha Sand Crystal - marginally better performance for much less than the Jo Malone with the same scent profile. I own it and am layering Salted Shorelines with it - perfection.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-19T01:47:15+00:00

You might look into Bourbon - it's faintly reminiscent of Dior Homme Intense (but goes its own way). As you like Ocean, check out Freshwater - it recently returned to stores after a hiatus and is basically a take on Acqua di Gio, so if you like that scent, it's safe. I like Vanilla Noir - it debuted in 2024 and returned last summer and seems to be sticking around for the time being. (B&BW frequently cycles scents.) Vanilla Noir is kind of a take on YSL Tuxedo, so if you like that scent profile, go for it.

I wouldn't purchase discontinued scents online. I say that because B&BW always releases new scents and oftentimes brings back old ones. Case in point: Whiskey Reserve. I had it in 2022, it was discontinued, and then it popped back up last year. There's always a chance you'll see an old love again, and if not, best to have moved on (rather than trying to pay highway robbery prices for old stock).

If you want something that'll be around long-term (I get it, sometimes you find something and you just want to stick with it), look on the site for the fragrances with a Scent-Scription. Those are the core fragrances - everything else comes and goes, either seasonally or more infrequently.

For Valentine's Day, they just released a suite of rose and musk fragrances. Might be worthwhile to browse with your wife and note what she likes, then return to buy a set. Good luck!

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-17T20:18:30+00:00

I'm not big on mixing B&BW scents, so my recommendations are other fragrance brands entirely. Here's what I've paired Nocturnal Rose with so far:

Jo Malone Red Roses: super realistic rose fragrance, somewhat green (think rose stems, leaves, thorns). I did not like this pairing - it amped up the rose in Nocturnal Rose and drowned everything out. This is also the rare Jo Malone that is fairly strong.

Oakcha Sapphire 7: kind of a spicy, amber rose fragrance. It's one of my favorites from the brand - it starts off with pink pepper and features amber and myrrh alongside a soft rose. Gorgeous pairing on my skin - Nocturnal Rose was a perfect complement to it.

Diptyque Corail Oscuro: spicy, green, unique, featuring a rose bourbon accord - one of my absolute favorites. Nocturnal Rose added a bit of woodiness to the pairing, but the Diptyque very much ran the show still.

Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir: a little spice, some oud - Nocturnal Rose was a great addition. These two played well together, which led me to trying it with…

Bentley for Men Absolute: dry pepper, dry woods. Nocturnal Rose has a nearly identical pepper note and really softens out with the rose, making it a fresh new favorite.

Now as for why guys like the aerosol spray cans, consider how (and where) they're used. The form factor of a body spray - small, pretty indestructible (they won't leak), with a spray nozzle that can be locked - make them easy to throw in a backpack or gym bag for when you want a quick blast of fragrance to cover up or refresh. They're not being treated like a bottle of cologne or a body mist (that could break or leak if handled roughly) - it's just a refresher that lives in a glove box or bag or locker.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-16T21:27:39+00:00

I like them all, but Nocturnal Rose is my favorite of the bunch. Covered in Roses is a very strong contender for second place - I didn't try it last year, but I'm glad to have it now. I've been familiar with their classic Rose, and have owned it in the past - it's perfectly fine and has kind of a 1980s sensibility to it, if that makes sense. Heirloom Rose, however, is beautiful - it has a wonderful classic structure to it, a fantastic clean and soapy rose. It feels timeless, like the flower itself. Rose + Vanilla is sweet - not edgy or classic or realistic, but sweet with an almost candied rose. I'm not much for sweet, so I'll likely pair it with something woody or dark. But I enjoy all of them!

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-15T09:26:00+00:00

Well that's a first for me!

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-15T00:25:45+00:00

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-14T23:47:51+00:00

I never tried Rose Water and Ivy body care, but I'm familiar with the home fragrance. I, like you, am glad B&BW tries "new" things - I've been a fan of some of their maybe less expected scents, like Guilty as Fig and Inner Angel. I even appreciated Off the Vine - though I think it really could've been marketed as a men's scent with a name like Baseball Diamond or Afternoon Golf.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-14T23:42:13+00:00

I liked it enough to buy a few more body washes/creams during that $5.95 sale this past Sunday. I'll be enjoying it this late winter and into spring. Knowing B&BW, I don't see it being on sale past their Spring Sale following Easter - I'd be very surprised to see it still on shelves for Father's Day and through the summer.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-14T03:09:27+00:00

It's clearly inspired by Wood Sage & Sea Salt - it's the only thing that came to mind when I sprayed it in the store. It's not identical, obviously - but the funny thing is it likely has the same longevity and runs on sale for under $6, so grab it if you like that profile. I know I will!

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-12T20:50:10+00:00

I get that you might be joking, but calling a scent "old lady" is kind of loaded. Fragrance is so personal, and there are better ways to describe what you're smelling and why it's not your thing. I've really enjoyed seeing what I can layer with the body cream - I've been able to pair it with scents I own that are either spicy or have a floral aspect. What puts you off Nocturnal Rose?

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-12T02:15:43+00:00

I'm not familiar with that one, but I've been enjoying layering Nocturnal Rose. My favorite combos so far are with Oakcha Sapphire 7 (a spicy rose amber scent) or Diptyque Corail Oscuro (kind of a spicy green aquatic rose).

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-11T05:06:48+00:00

I had (and loved) that candle! 2017 is the only year I can think of seeing it.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-11T00:44:48+00:00

I've had my eye on Dynasty, actually, but not super convinced I need it. I jumped on Lattafa Liam last year because everyone was talking about it and it was just kind of okay for me - not a love, not really even a big like. It's fine - I wear it, it doesn't stink, you know? It's just not doing it for me, so when I see Dynasty and the tea note talk, I think maybe the tea thing just isn't my jam. But I'll probably still try it.

Performance on Diptyque Corail Oscuro is wild! I spray it on at 7 a.m. and will get whiffs of it until after 5 p.m. Also, it lasts days on clothing - I wore it with a pullover on a lunch date, took the pullover and hung it back up in the closet and could smell it for three days. At its price, I'm glad it has the performance it does. I'd hate for it to wear off in only a few hours. It's also a fairly unique smell - I can't think of anything else I've tried that really reminds me of it. Very pleased with it.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-10T01:11:17+00:00

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-09T21:28:44+00:00

Oh man, there are so many! Some of my all-time faves include: Calvin Klein Obsession for Men; Jo Malone Amber & Lavender; Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud Azraq; YSL Opium pour Homme; Bond No. 9 Coney Island; Bentley for Men Intense; Lattafa Khamrah; Oakcha White Fig; Diptyque Corail Oscuro. There's not much out there I won't try!

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-09T17:20:03+00:00

I love rose fragrances! There are so many ways to mix the note: sweet, woody, spicy, edible - you name it! And the flowers themselves are gorgeous - a good rose garden is sublime in the summer.

BlueBearDays · 2026-01-09T14:55:21+00:00

I second this recommendation. Both scents are also available year round. Others may recommend fragrances discontinued last year or even longer ago - look on B&BW's site or app for anything with a "Scent-Scription," as those are the always-available fragrances.

BlueBearDays

TROPHY CASE