For as long as I can remember, this place has always smelled amazing while walking past. But the scents were so overpowering inside the store that I would end up with a headache. So I only head here if I’m in desperate need of product to avoid the impending headache due to olfactory over-stimulation. The Body Shop stores seem pretty uniform from all across the US and into the UK. The product range caters more to the female consumer(limited men’s products) with a variety of bath, body and beauty products. All of which are a bit more on the pricey side. I popped in the other day to just pick up home fragrance oils for the flat. I was quickly pounced on by a sales girl, although I was perfectly content picking out my stuff, paying and leaving. Friendly girl, but a little overbearing. For such a small shop, I find it funny they need 4 people on duty. But whatever, I got what I wanted and saved myself from a headache. *phew*
Steph T.
Rating des Ortes: 2 North Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
I love the ethics behind the Body Shop– no one wants stuff tested on animals and everyone would prefer to be lathering themselves in natural products at bath time, but quite frankly, not everyone can afford to do so. I remember when this shop used to be more on the pricey side, but still affordable, and now I feel it has overstepped the mark on price. It is way, way too expensive for what it is, and I recently went in to buy a make-up brush which I thought might be reasonable in here(well, more reasonable than MAC’s £25 effort) I was pretty shocked to see that the brush came in at £18, which in my opinion, was way too expensive for this place. Even the wee lip balms and shower gels, although they smell delicious, are just a sniff off £10. It’s just not original enough for me to spend that much. Looking for something natural and ecological, but a bit quirkier and personal? Try Lush. Sorry Body Shop, but you just don’t do it for me any more.
Steven B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Glasgow, United Kingdom
There’s some really amazing stuff in here. Lush became my toiletry-specific luxury haven sometime ago, stepping up from Semi-Chem. Soon afterwards, it became my regular place to get toiletries. I have since replaced it with Body Stop for my even more expensive toiletry-specific luxury haven. The staff are suitably glamourous and ultra friendly which makes a difference for me when I fork out a tenner for body butter that makes me smell amazing even though I spend most of my time buried behind paperwork on my laptop where no-one can smell me :( They do good gift sets at Christmas time and it’s a great place to spoil yourself, or a friend. Given the price though, that friend would need to be a GOOD friend, not a random facebook pal.
Gareth v.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Glasgow, United Kingdom
Back in the day, I used to love The Body Shop for leading the ecological consumer advance: it gave me a warm glow to smell nice and do good for the planet. Hardened by cynicism, I don’t quite feel the same satisfaction these days, and their range of male products has not really kept up with the times: their scents and products are relatively limited, at least for me, and the male White Musk, which I found an exciting concept, is sadly lacking in bite. It has become, rather, a dependable second best for choices of fragrance: the after-shave I buy in a hurry, which I know will be dependable rather than my star turn. Then again, I like the atmosphere in the shop: there is time to try, no need to ask for help, although if I do, it is always given well. This branch is located nice and central, convenient for a late purchase at the end of a day’s frustrating fragrance shopping!
Gavin M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Edinburgh, United Kingdom
I’m not really the most ecologically sound guy. I find recycling a bit too much effort, leave all my electrical appliances on standby, and enjoy nothing more than a bonfire out the back garden with a few rubber tyres and foam-filled sofas to get it going. So by default, I should probably feel a bit guilty on visiting The Body Shop, who consider themselves the eco-warriors of the toiletries scene. I don’t though, as like almost all businesses who cite a non-profit orientated cause as their key concern, it’s all just a ruse to get away with slightly higher prices. This doesn’t bother me at all, it’s made excellent business sense, and I’d much rather have them than another poundmart. Like nearby Lush, the shop smells lovely and you feel a bit cleaner just being in here. I’ve never actually bought a thing, but must admit that getting hold of some rose tinted soap where the roses have been hand picked at dawn does hold some interest.
Adele R.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Glasgow, United Kingdom
I do like the luxury of buying myself something from The Body Shop. Perhaps it’s because of their high quality ingredients or their attention to detail in the products they make. For example, I treated myself to some rose body butter in here once, and the label read: «made from roses hand picked at dawn». It’s like something out of a M&S ad isn’t it? As much as it made me chuckle, it did make me feel rather indulgent and that I was treating myself to something special. What I also like about this place is their make up, which is of very good quality and is a little known secret among the big names in beauty brands. I got myself a little powder foundation compact which works beautifully and has lasted me well for many months. Although items in here aren’t of the cheap variety, I say it’s money well spent on beautifying yourself with the best of ingredients.
Catriona M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Glasgow, United Kingdom
I was a massive fan of the Body Shop back in the day when I would save my pocket money to buy a strawberry lip blam, however it wasn’t until recently when I was picking up something for a friend that I remembered how much I liked this shop. The Body Shop sells a range of body products– soaps, shampoos, bubble baths and make-up, most of which smell absolutely deeelicious. Im particularly a big fan of this chain because of their stance against animal testing, their values on fair trade, and their continuing campaign to protect our environment. Go them!