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24 April 2017

Up The Wooden Hill Emotibomb



It's still hard to believe that there are people who choose to live without a bath. In a world where I rely on my regular soaks to survive the week, it would be a big adjustment to lose this luxury that I take for granted. However, I recognise that spacing in some places makes it near on impossible to find a flat with a bath, and there are obviously those that don't see bathing as a priority.

For Lush fans who don't have need of a bath bomb, there is the 'emotibomb', which according to Lush, works in the same way that you would expect a bath ballistic to do, only in the shower instead. Simply pop one of these on the floor by your feet and go about your normal shower routine. When the warm water meets the bomb, it'll fizz away and release a cloud of fragrant steam that alters your mood, dependent on the purpose of the emotibomb.
This emotibomb was first created back in 2008 - inspired by something Mo Constantine used to say to her children. Originally called  Up The Wooden Hill to Bedfordshire, this limited edition product came out for a short period of time, and is one of the only emotibombs to be created to send the user to sleep, rather than perk them up. 

Containing a strong dosage of lavender and chamomile oil, this rather plain-looking product is definitely impressive when it comes to the scent. The smell of this dominated my bathroom long after the product had dispersed, and I think it would probably leave an impression on the skin as well, if you chose to bathe in its waters.

Fans of Dream Cream Body Lotion, Dreamwash Shower Smoothie, Dreamtime Bath Melt and Waving Not Drowning would appreciate the very cooling chamomile aroma, but equally love the herbal elements from the lavender offering. This is definitely for those who enjoy gentler, more 'clinical-smelling' cosmetics. 

As with all of my emotibombs, I decided to put the plug in during my shower so that I would be able to enjoy the fragrance of this product for longer. After previous experiences with emotibombs, I found that if the product was too close to the plughole when I was in the shower, the scent was far too 'in your face',  and it would end up masking anything I was using in the shower at the time.

At the same time, putting the bomb directly underneath me meant that it dissolved in record time and only gave me a small window in which to enjoy the aroma before the product was washed away with the water. Not only this but it's rather annoying when you have to watch where you stand and how you move around in the shower with a product by your feet.

To prevent this from happening, I placed Up The Wooden Hill about a metre from the plug so it wasn't constantly submerged under the running water. This time I found that the product lasted a lot longer and offered me a strong scent throughout the entire shower. Some Lushies even suggest that you break the emotibomb in half and use it for two different occasions. However, I can imagine that this would take away a large proportion of the fragrance and render it almost pointless for those of us who want something strong to send us to sleep.
Despite the fact that it's designed for the shower, I don't see any reason why this couldn't be used as a bath bomb. While I don't think it would be as strong or as moisturising as a regular ballistic, nor would the product heed any colour in the water, I think fans of Ickle Baby Bot and Dream On would appreciate having another lavender-dominated product to bathe with. 

What I liked about this product is that it did make me feel a little sleepy. Often I am torn about whether or not it's a good idea taking showers before bed. Stimulated by the heat and senses engulfed by the various aromas of the products you're using, it often wakes me up to the point that I am no longer ready for bed. However, I found that this emotibomb allowed me to enjoy the strong aromas of neroli, lavender and chamomile, without overloading my senses too much.

Up The Wooden Hill was generous enough that the smell did radiate up my nose during the shower, and placing it further enough away so that it didn't dissolve within a matter of minutes, meant that it was one of the more successful emotibombs that I have tried so far.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that I would buy a load more of these to use, as I do prefer my baths. However, it was part of a routine that helped me to get a good night's sleep. And if anything is able to do that to a chronic insomniac, it's worthy of a mention in my books. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Lavender Oil, Lavender Absolute, Chamomile Blue Oil, Neroli Oil, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2008.


21 April 2017

Think Pink Bath Bomb (2017 Updated Edition)



Once you've been a fan for a number of years, you'll begin to notice that Lush will often tweak and change products to keep them updated and relevant with the times. This is no doubt how they ensure that new fans will be enticed into the shops, while established fans will remain excited and interested in products that have been around for a good many years.

Given the fact that I often forget about this bath bomb, Think Pink is one of the items that I'm surprised is still popular enough to be a member of the regular range. As one of only two small bath bombs left, I can understand why consumers might overlook this one in favour of its bigger, more fragrant counterparts.
For this reason, I am not at all surprised that Lush have chosen to revamp this stale bath bomb and turn it into one of the most exciting products of the year. While there has not been a date set for when this officially makes it into all stores, the general consensus is that this ballistic will be replacing its older sibling at some point in the coming months.

Featuring tonka, vanilla absolute and neroli oil, Think Pink is a delicate, candy-inspired delight. Both of the former ingredients offer a creamy, musky layer of vanilla, while the inclusion of the neroli adds a fruity sweetness that makes this one of Lush's most interesting 'pink smells'. When compared to its older sibling, I feel as if the new bomb is both stronger in scent and in sweetness: it is definitely more fruity before and during use. 

Although there is also lavender absolute in this product as well, I find that this has the smallest impact over all. You can smell a very gentle lavender fragrance underneath the other elements, but it's very subtle, and not an ingredient you'd necessarily list as being featured, unless you were told it was present to begin with.
In the water, the bath bomb is a fairly silent fizzer - emitting waves of thick, frothy white foam that ebbs and swirls across the surface. Alongside this, trails of pink begin to taint the water a beautiful pastel pink colour, and clusters of vibrant, colourful bubbles settle in puddles around the tub.

As the bath bomb continues to dissolve, the core reveals itself to be a sparkly silver layer of lustre. While you cannot really detect this lustre while the ballistic is showcasing its magic, you will definitely be able to enjoy it afterwards, as it pulsates under the surface whenever the water is disturbed.

All in all, Think Pink takes a good five to ten minutes to fully dissolve, leaving  you with a wonderfully rich and very sultry smelling bath to enjoy. The fragrance was present throughout the whole experience, making it much more effective than its predecessor, and I found that my skin felt wonderfully soft and clean afterwards. Furthermore, I was able to detect a very slight lasting aroma on my skin once I had towelled myself down. However, it wasn't anywhere near as strong as I would have liked, and I wasn't able to smell it an hour later.    
What is great about this reimagined product is that I feel as if both the scent and the design offer a much more mature experience for the consumer. Think Pink makes a much stronger impression, both visually and sensually, and I would be far more inclined to pick one of these up regularly, if they replaced the smaller ballistic. 

Quantitative Ingredients: ?

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family: 
My Two Front Teeth Bubble Bar
Pink Custard Shower Jelly
Think Pink Bath Bomb





19 April 2017

Which Came First? Bath Bomb (2017 Edition)





No one aside from the Lush team knows why the name of a product is ever changed. Don't get me wrong - I can understand why a design might be tweaked and improved upon: whether to appear better suited for a seasonal range, or just because it needs a little updating to cater to current consumer needs. However, I've never understood why the name of a product needs to be discarded and replaced, unless it caused offence in any way when initially released. 

Originally known as The Immaculate Eggception, this bath bomb was updated and re-released under the guise Which Came First? for the Easter 2016 range. This year has seen it undergo yet another transformation in the form of its new design. However, the name and indeed the scent has remained the same as its predecessors. 
Containing grapefruit, lemon and vanilla as its key components, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this bath bomb was going to be a bright, citrusy affair. Surprisingly, it is very far from the fragrance I envisaged upon first reading the ingredients list. In fact, it is sweeter and far lovelier than I originally expected it to be.

The inclusion of the latter ingredient is what gives this bath bomb its smell, although the vanilla absolute is not the dominant scent at all. Both the grapefruit and the lemon give Which Came First? its wonderful fruity aroma. However, it is the vanilla that rounds these two components together and gives the overall musky scent that you experience when you first smell this ballistic.

As with The Immaculate Eggception, Lush have included the grapefruit oil to help clear the mind and refresh the body, while the lemon oil is added to brighten, tone and cleanse the skin. Together, they create a beautiful fragrance that invigorates the senses whilst leaving your body feeling velvety soft and clean. There is something rather complex about the aroma of this bath bomb - one that comes alive when it meets the water and lasts on your skin long after you've left the bath.
This year's renditions feature two of the same colour bath bomb, yet both have been etched with slightly different markings that set them apart from each other. As to be expected, both varieties perform the same in the bath tub - sending out an array of vivid colour that immediately darkens the water and creates a sultry pink haven to submerge yourself beneath.

As I mentioned in my other review of this bath bomb, I always felt as if the pink variation was a little more pleasing on the eye, and I found the scent appeared a little more rounded in this format. For this reason, I am very pleased that Lush has seemingly replaced the yellow version of this ballistic in favour of the pink version. 

The only downside I found with Which Came First? is that the bath bomb tends to dissolve very quickly, so its not one that you get much of a show out of. Furthermore, if you're someone who enjoys snapping shots of your baths, you might find this one is fairly difficult to photograph, hence why my pictures are not up to the standard that other bath bombs might heed. 

Ultimately, I really enjoyed using this ballistic, and it's one that I would buy again if Lush choose to release it next Easter. Priced at £6.95, it is a little on the expensive side. However, I think that as a seasonal product, you can justify purchasing it as a one-off luxury treat for either yourself or a loved one. It's definitely something that I would rather receive as opposed to a chocolate one.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Grapefruit Oil, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Vanilla Absolute, Water, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 47005, Colour 14700, Colour 17200, Colour 45410, Orange Pip.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017 (for this version)






18 April 2017

Cafe Latte Bath Bomb




It's thanks to Lush that I now incorporate a daily dosage of coffee into my life. Before I became heavily involved in the company, I had no interest in drinking the famous brew; nor did I appreciate anything that tasted or smelt like the popular beverage. However, after discovering the wonders of Cup O' Coffee Body Mask, I found a new-found appreciation for the unique aroma, and I'm now far more susceptible to the fragrance than I originally was.

While it is still not a smell that I would immediately list as a personal favourite, my lips couldn't help but salivate when I received a couple of Cafe Latte Bath Bombs in the post the other morning. If you think you've tried anything like this product before, think again. This wonderful ballistic is unlike anything to come before it, and indeed anything that has made an appearance since. 

Containing a combination of actual ground coffee and dried soya milk, you'd expect this bath bomb to smell very much like your average cup of coffee. Wrong. Just as the name suggests, there is so much more to this beautiful bath bomb than you would expect, and whether or not you're a fan of coffee-scented items, there will be many who appreciate this for what it is. 

Imagine a freshly-made latte with a sprinkle of cocoa powder on top and a drizzle of burnt caramel sauce, and you may begin to envisage how this bath bomb smells. While the fragrance offered is distinctly coffee-orientated, it's not anywhere near as strong as the body mask mentioned above. There's a creamy, sweetness to it that stops the coffee element being so overpowering, and instead what you get is a creamy, sugary coffee smell to die for.

On the negative side, the smell of this bath bomb also reminded me a little of the mould smell you get when leaving food in a damp container for a number of days. Now, this may sound very off-putting for those considering buying some, and I don't mean to deter you away from investing in any of these Cafe Lattes. However, the combination of ingredients does give two very different aromas overall, and once you have a fresh one to sniff, I'm sure most people will be able to understand what I mean by this.

What is great about this bath bomb is that not only does it have a very beautiful, foody smell, but it also lives up to its name by the way that it performs in the tub. Upon contact with the water, the bath bomb begins to foam up very quickly and produce waves of thick, creamy froth - almost like the milk on top of the very drink this product is trying to mimic.

The bath bomb is a very slow fizzer, and also a very quiet one - not to mention the fact that it takes a good 20 - 30 minutes to fully dissolve in the water. For this reason, I suggest that you climb in the tub and enjoy the show as the bath bomb brews in the heat of the water. 

During the experience, Cafe Latte also throws out hundreds of little specks of coffee, that either float on the water or sink to the bottom. These don't really make the bath that much more interesting, but it's definitely something unique and does help to retain some of the scent. Some people have complained in the past that these specks of coffee cause a little chaffing, as you do tend to find yourself sitting on them. However, I didn't feel them at all and my only issue was that I forgot to rinse the tub out afterwards so these little pieces stuck to the tub and needed to be wiped down.

Once the product has fully dissolved, you're left with a very uninteresting bath (the water doesn't change colour). However, I found that there is enough of a smell to make this a very relaxing experience. The caramel-esque aroma did dampen a little, once the bath bomb had dissolved, and the coffee note came to the forefront just slightly. Having said this, there was still enough of a smell to make for a relaxing bath. 

As with most of Lush's bath bombs, this left my skin feeling very nourished and soft, although I wouldn't say that it was particularly moisturising to the point that I think it is more than others. However, it is definitely a very calming bath bomb and one that I recommend, if only because it is very different to any other bath bomb that has made an appearance over the last eight years.

Would I buy this again? Definitely. Unless you despite coffee, I would like to suggest that you give this one a go at least once. It's not strong or as smoky as you might expect, and you may be surprised by how much you enjoy this one. Like a much-needed hug, this is a bath bomb that leaves a good impression, and I only hope this a sign of other coffee-scented products to come. Yum!

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Cocamide DEA, Ground Coffee, Dried Soya Milk.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 1999.





17 April 2017

Chocolate Melt Bath Bomb




When I envisage a bath bomb with a name such as this one, I picture something rather squishy and sickly: a product that looks more like a massage bar and acts more like a bath melt. I also imagine the mess said bath bomb would make in the tub - skin decorated in a gloopy mess and a not so wonderful splatter of brown gunk reminiscent in the tub afterwards. 

For this reason, I was surprised to discover that Chocolate Melt Bath Bomb was absolutely nothing like I imagined it would be. In fact, this ballistic is not actually all that chocolate-orientated at all, and I had a far better experience with it than I ever imagined that I would.

Sharing its scent with After 8:30 Massage Bar, this Butterball-sized bath bomb is predominantly more mint then it is chocolate. Sporting a pastel green outer layer, with flecks of dark chocolate scattered across the surface, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the size of this would somehow hinder how strong this product was in the tub. However, what also surprised me about this bath bomb was that it was just as strong as a regular sized ballistic, and would no doubt be far too overpowering if it was made an bigger.

As I mentioned above, it is the spearmint and the galbanum oils that make the biggest impression from the get-go: the former packing a punch immediately and staying prevalent throughout the entire experience. I could smell the spearmint on my skin for quite a while after exiting the tub, and it left me feeling really refreshed.

The galbanum oil is equally as potent in the mix - offering an intense 'green' smell that almost gives this bath bomb a fragrance reminiscent of Mask Of Magnaminty or Green Party Bath Bomb, albeit stronger. If anything, I'd say that the chocolate is probably the least prominent feature of this bath bomb, which is strange given that its name suggests the very opposite. 

In the tub, Chocolate Melt Bath Bomb is a very fast fizzer - disappearing completely in a little under two minutes. While it expels a sea of pastel green across the water, small flecks of dark chocolate also make an appearance - swirling around beneath the surface before settling on the floor of the tub. You would think that these tiny pieces would create a mess on both your skin and the bath. However, I was surprised to find that they dissolved quickly into the water and helped to soften the overall experience. 

What I loved about Chocolate Melt was that the combination of shea butter and cocoa butter made for a really moisturising bath. Yet there was never a moment when I felt like the water was too greasy or oily at all. By the end of the experience, I was left feeling really soft and smooth, while the cooling mint properties left me feeling equally refreshed.

Overall, I would highly recommend that you try this product at least once. It wasn't one that I had any expectations beforehand, and I was actually expecting to dislike this one quite a bit. However, it is the great ballistic to release during springtime, as it's a perfect product to use during the transition between the colder and warmer months. It's comforting, uplifting, and makes for a far healthier alternative to a bowl of mint-chocolate chip ice cream.    

Quantitative Ingredients: Bicarbonate Of Soda, Citric Acid, Dark Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Perfume, Spearmint Oil, Peppermint Oil, Galbanum Oil, Shea Butter, Gardenia Extract, Colour 61585.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 1998.  

Scent Family:
After 8:30 Massage Bar (non vegan)
Chocolate Melt Bath Bomb





16 April 2017

The Comforter Body Conditioner


Unlike Snow Fairy, The Comforter is a scent family that draws you in fairly early on into your Lush career, and seems to be one that keeps you hooked throughout your experience with the company. Even though you will ultimately discover a handful of other amazing and very unique fragrances during your time as a Lush fan, you can always rely on that cassis-dominated aroma to sweeten your life a little.

When the Kitchen announced that The Comforter was one of the five new body conditioners coming out in limited batches, I was very excited. Although I barely use the bubble bar (due to surplus stock) and I'm not that much of a fan of the liquid perfume, I am head over heels in love with the body lotion: I just find the format to be perfectly suited to the fragrance, and it makes me salivate every time I use it. 
It only took a mere five seconds of opening the lid and giving it a sniff, to realise that I had stumbled upon a pot of gold. This is everything you could wish for if you're a Comforter fan, guaranteed. 

Featuring bergamot and cypress oil, as well as a generous helping of cassis absolute, a robust, fruity aroma greets you from the tub. Interestingly, I found that the scent deviated a little from the usual Comforter smell to begin with - there was something rather 'plastic' about the initial smell which I found a little off-putting. However, once I began using it, I found that this wasn't the case at all, and I only had to use it a single time to realise that it smells very different when on the skin and around the hot water. 

In fact, much like the body lotion, the blackcurrant is stronger and far richer in this format, and the aroma is equally as sweet as it is succulent. The smell of this product reminds me of a blackcurrant compote on top of a cheesecake: refreshing and very fruity. Furthermore, the aroma stays on the skin for quite a while afterwards, which is the perfect reward after a long, hard day at work.   

As with most of Lush's products, this one is incredibly versatile, and while the £29.95 price tag may seem a little daunting to those unsure of such a big commitment, it is definitely worth the investment. You can use this as both a body conditioner and a shaving foam, and I've even heard of people using this in replacement of a body lotion. Whichever way you choose to use yours, I can guarantee that you'll not be left disappointed with the results. 

First and foremost, you can use it as Lush intended - as a body conditioner. After using a gel, jelly or soap to clean yourself with, step out of the flow of the water and apply the product across your skin, as you would a body lotion. It wont lather up, and may disappear really quickly, but this is because it is designed to permeate the skin. The heat from the shower will have opened up your pores and made your skin more susceptible to the butters and oils featured in the ingredients list. Once applied, you can either step back under the flow of the water to rinse your body down, or exit the shower immediately and pat yourself down lightly.

Unlike a body lotion, a conditioner creates a barrier of moisture around your skin, which may feel slightly greasy to some, and might prevent you from being able to apply your clothes until you've given it time to absorb into the skin. I can assure you that this will lessen within the first thirty minutes of application, and you'll feel much better afterwards.

As with most of the other conditioners, I found that an amount equal to that of a heaped teaspoon was more than enough to coat an entire leg, so you really don't need to use that much each time to get amazing results. Please also be aware that you wont necessarily be able to see the product when you're massaging it across an area of skin as it does tend to absorb really quickly. However, this does not mean that you should apply any extra and waste the product - the results after you rinse yourself down will speak for themselves.

Secondly, this body conditioner works as an excellent shaving foam. Simply apply a small amount across your legs and shave your legs as usual. You'll be left with super-soft skin, and one of the closest shaves you have ever experienced. While the product may get stuck in your razor blade, a gentle tap and a rinse will alleviate this problem very easily.

Finally, you could also use this as a body lotion, as there doesn't appear to be anything featured that could damage or irritate your skin if left on for long periods of time. The only issue I have with this latter method is that it may leave your body feeling rather greasy, so may only work as an intense moisturiser for those who have incredibly dry skin. I have yet to try this as I have a surplus amount of body lotions I am trying to get through at the moment, but it is something I would like to try out in the future.

As with all of the body conditioners this time around, my skin felt incredibly soft,  supple and plump after using this. Furthermore, my experience showed me just how quickly the skin can be replenished, as I found the dry patches on my legs and hands completely vanished after my first use. In addition, my body pertained a radiant glow about it that remained with me for the entirety of the day and into the night. For this reason, this will be a product I use in the summer months, when I want to keep my skin smooth and hydrated.

Ultimately, it is a shame that this has only made as a limited release to date. Alongside nearly all of the limited edition body conditioners from the Kitchen, this one would make a fantastic (and very popular) addition to Lush's normal range. I do hope that the company bring out other body conditioners in the foreseeable future, and I also wish that they make a few of them, including this one, permanent fixtures. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Organic Jojoba Oil, Glycerine, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Bergamot Oil, Cassis Absolute, Cypress Oil, *Limonene, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.


2017 Price: £29.95 for 440g.


Year Of Original Release: 2017.







15 April 2017

Tea And Sympathy Bath Bomb




For someone who considers them self to be fairly intelligent, I don't know why I didn't think about the ingenious concept of bathing alongside a tea bag or two. Known for being incredibly detoxifying and softening on the skin, it's the perfect bathing companion, and one that will be making a reappearance alongside many of the cocktails that I concoct in the future.

Tea And Sympathy Bath Bomb is easily one of the most boring ballistics that Lush have ever produced. However, it doesn't need to be particularly attractive when the name is enough to warrant a good many sales. Add in the unique feature of including a tea bag at its core, and you've already appealed to the British mentality - enough to sell a batch or two without too much of a problem.

What immediately struck my about this bath bomb, when it arrived, was that it smelt very different to what I had envisaged. Described as being 'like white and green tea', I was expecting something very two-dimensional and perhaps a little bitter. However, what I found was that this bath bomb was far sweeter and prettier than I had initially given it credit for.

Containing calamine powder and chamomile oil as the two key components, I expected the bath bomb to be very overpowering and medicinal smelling. Instead I found Tea And Sympathy had all of the refreshing, herbal properties of both ingredients, but with a wonderful musky layer alongside this. The olibanum oil really does work its magic at sweetening the chamomile and offering an almost resinous quality to the bath bomb.

While the clary sage is one of the last ingredients, I could really appreciate the prevalent herbal thread that is featured because of this. Despite the fact that every component works in harmony with each other, you can definitely make out each ingredient individually as well, which makes this one of the prettiest smells that I have experienced from Lush in a while.

Having said this, the bath bomb still wouldn't win any awards in the tub. Upon contact with the water, Tea And Sympathy begins to froth and fizz, and it doesn't take more than a couple of minutes for the product to dissolve completely. While puddles of white froth and bubbles pattern the surface, these disappear very quickly, and you are left with a very boring-looking bath. This bath bomb does not colour the water at all, and if it wasn't for the lovely smell radiating off of the water, and the single tea bag floating across the water, you wouldn't really be able to tell that you've used a product in there at all.

In it's defence, the bath bomb is rather moisturising and softening, without being at all greasy. The inclusion of the tea bag definitely helps to purify and detoxify your skin during bathing, and you'll find that your pores will feel much clearer afterwards. 

Having said that, I found that the fragrance faded during my experience, and after using a couple of stronger products, I was no longer able to detect the smell at all. Furthermore, the aroma didn't permeate my skin enough to leave any sort of impression afterwards either.

Overall, this bath bomb is definitely one you have to try, but perhaps not one you need to rush out and buy. Although its not one that I need to have at all times in my life, I would definitely say that adding a couple of colours to Tea And Sympathy would make it far more appealing, and one that I would be far more inclined to buy.   

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Soya Milk Powder, Calamine Powder, Perfume, Chamomile Blue Oil, Olibanum Oil, Clary Sage Oil, Water (Aqua), Chamomile Tea Bag, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 42090, Colour 19140.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: ?







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