All Things Lush UK: Karma Sutra Bath Bomb

Knowing how popular Karma is, I am really surprised that they don't have a permanent ballistic and/or shower gel featuring the scent. Given how quickly both products have sold out this week in the Kitchen, it's strange that Lush reserve these products for one-off releases. However, I was very excited to get my hands on some old incarnations of this wonderful scent - so much so that I ended up buying ten of this bath bomb alone.

Karma Sutra was first released back in 1997/1998 and was Lush's first attempt at releasing a bath product featuring this wonderful scent. Although at first I was a little discouraged by the fact that it was a small bath bomb, I only had to peel open the box to understand why Lush have chosen to keep it this way. This bath bomb stinks! Had they chosen to increase it's size, I can imagine that even Karma fans might have found it too overwhelming.

If like me you love the Karma scent, the strength of this product's aroma will surely be a blessing. Packed with patchouli, elemi, orange and pine, this ballistic offers the consumer a gorgeously bright and uplifting summer fragrance - an aroma reminiscent of the beautiful, easy-going sixties. It's exquisite yet equally simple and appealing -a spicy yet citrus convergence that forms a strong but light smell that'll brighten up anyone's day.

My first impression of this bath bomb was that the scent was more in-keeping with the perfume than the bubble bar or body lotion. The patchouli is definitely at the forefront here and offers a strong, spicy and slightly woody smell; the orange sits alongside this, giving off a fresh, zesty but equally sherbety scent. Behind these two smells is an offering of pine and lemongrass, which work in perfect harmony with the patchouli to offer consumers a natural experience. Whereas the lotion and bubble bar are slightly sweeter and remind me of old fashioned cola bottles, the aroma is definitely more mature and more patchouli-orientated here.

As I mentioned above, the fragrance of Karma Sutra is very strong and despite it's size, this bath bomb dominated the entire room with it's smell. It didn't lose any of it's fragrance when it was dissolving in the bath and remained with me a long time after the water was drained. It lingered on the skin and hair for hours after I had exited the bath and only required a single top up of perfume to see me through the day.

Unfortunately, it's downfall is what it offers consumers in the bath. It's a fast dissolver so it will disappear a little over a minute after it has hit the water. Once it has dissolved, you're left with a weak and rather murky looking orange colour, which dissipates quite a bit during your bath. Unlike The Enchanter, which gave consumers the amazing Calacas smell whilst offering a show in the water, this doesn't do anything that you'd want to watch.

What I did notice was that once dissolved, there is a faint shimmer on the surface which is from the essential oils present in the bath bomb. I did find that the water was a little softer than usual but I wouldn't say it was as silky soft as one of Lush's bubble bars.

Karma Sutra is a revitalising and refreshing bath ballistic - one that will entice avid fans and new recruits alike. It retains it's scent and does help to invigorate you before or after a long day in the sun. However, it could be made better by offering Karma fans a far more entertaining experience in the tub. Although I have awarded this product a solid five out of six, I can't help but think that it would have probably scored one mark less had it not been for the Karma element.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Patchouli Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Lavendin Oil, Pine Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Elemi Oil, Gardenia Extract, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Colour 14700.