Product Reviews and Tips

I constantly got sore throats and various other ailments as a child, and as a result had to endure countless doses of medication over the years. None of this modern over-the-counter orange or grape flavored remedies, either. I once had to endure a liquid concoction that tasted much like banana mixed with turpentine. Just the smell of it sent me reeling with revulsion. But by far, the drug of choice by doctors in those days was the cure-all penicillin.

I suffered through more shots, drank more bottles, and choked down more tablets of the nasty stuff than anyone else I knew. I almost preferred the liquid since no one had thought of coating tablets in those days. If I didn't get it swallowed on the first try, the pill started to dissolve in my mouth, and there was no escaping the horrid taste. By the end, just opening the bottle and smelling made me gag.

So what does this fascinating glimpse into my childhood history have to do with Watkins' Strawberry Escapes Gift Set? Well, it seems strawberry is a difficult scent to replicate. And alas, not even Watkins has succeeded with its Strawberry Hand & Body Lotion nor its Strawberry Body Wash. Instead, their attempt has ended up smelling more like--you guessed it--penicillin.

But perhaps I'm just prejudiced due to my life-scarring childhood experiences. I decided to test my theory on 14 co-workers at my day job (none of whom are Watkins associates.) I took a bottle of the Strawberry Hand & Body Lotion and asked them to tell me what it smelled like. Several guessed strawberry or raspberry as the scent without looking at the label. However, when I said I thought it smelled like penicillin, ten of them agreed that upon a second whiff, it did indeed have a distinct mediciney aroma. Ceclor and cough medicine were suggested as alternatives to penicillin. Only four still insisted it smelled like strawberries--and thought I was a bit off my rocker for suggesting otherwise.

So I leave it up to you to decide. If you've never been subjected to mega-doses of medication, the Gift Set may indeed be for you. But if you're forever seared with the memory of having to secretly spit out a penicillin pill into the bathroom sink and wash it down the drain because after five minutes of torturous swallowing you simply could not get it choked down, I suggest you pass. Instead, buy either the Aloe & Green Tea Hand & Body Lotion, which has a clean, fresh scent, or the Vanilla Hand & Body Lotion...which smells suspiciously like coconut suntan lotion...but that's another review.

Strawberry Escapes Gift Set

Strawberry Hand & Body Lotion 8 fl. oz.

Strawberry Body Wash 8 fl. oz.

Strawberry Lip Gloss** 0.35 oz.

All in a plastic carrying bag.

Part of the 2003 Gift Line. No longer available (thank goodness!)

**On the other hand, this Strawberry Lip Gloss actually does smell like strawberries. Or rather, strawberry-flavored candy. Yummy! Unfortunately, it isn't offered separately from the Gift Set at this time. If it ever is, I will recommend it to lip gloss lovers. It tastes great!