Metamorphosis Liquid Perfume

I've said before in the past that I have no idea how Lush come about choosing the scents that they convert into perfumes: what inspires them to choose a smell that from the outside doesn't seem to be high up in consumer demand. To gain an understanding as to the thought processes behind some of their creations would be a truly magnificent thing.

When Lush threw out a total of six limited edition perfumes yesterday morning, I was initially perplexed by their choice of fragrances, as I was excited. Equally, I was also a little concerned with how I was going to commit to eating food over the next month while also investing in a bottle of each. Ultimately, I reached the conclusion that food need never be a worry as long as you smell good.

What is strange is that the contents of Metamorphosis Liquid Perfume is completely different to the ingredients featured in the bath bomb of the same name. And yet the two appear to share a very similar scent. While the bomb contains tonka, grapefruit and patchouli, the liquid perfume features mandarin, clove and sandalwood, which would suggest that they have completely different smells.

My nose tells me that while they are definitely very similar, Metamorphosis Liquid Perfume is far more woody and grounded, whereas the bath bomb (and Rentless Liquid Perfume) is led by more of a fruity note from the grapefruit. For this reason, I wouldn't state the two as being from the same scent family. Having said that, in simple terms: this perfume is exquisite.

On the skin, the mandarin and clove bud oil dance on the warmth of your skin - merging together to create a crisp but equally warming aroma. The former ingredient isn't at all zesty or citrusy here. Instead, it's like someone has squeezed a mandarin into the air and just captured the fresh, spritz-like aroma of the fruit. It's light and delicate, but defintiely adds a little sunshine to the mix.

The clove bud oil brings a comforting peppery note to the perfume, that wraps itself delicately around the mandarin like a warm hug. The sandalwood acts as the base component here but holds an important role in not only grounding the smell when it's on your skin, but adding its own incense-like woodiness that helps to make this perfume so unique and so beautiful. A generous helping of labdanum rounds the fragrance off with an alluring smokiness that nestles into your skin and helps this perfume to last as long as it does after use. 

Combined, these ingredients create something that will turn heads when you wear it. Metamorphosis, quite simply, is one of those fragrances that is born to be a signature scent. There is nothing ordinary or 'nice' about the aroma: it was born to make a statement, and to be noticed.

Despite the strength of the four key components, I wouldn't describe this perfume as being at all overbearing or potent. Yes, it offers a smell that is going to linger on your skin for hours and hours; yes, there is a level of complexity here that some wearers will find a little too much. However, the perfume settles super quickly on your skin, and only serves to compliment you as opposed to take over and try and run the show.

Lush have described the fragrance as being one that 'speaks of hardship and loss, but also closure: the sense of time passing and wounds healing. It’s reassurance in the face of adversity. And ultimately evolution into something better.' Coincidentally, Metamorphosis was released during one of the hardest times in my life so far, and maybe that is why I have fallen so hard for the smell. 

This is definitely a perfume that consumers need to get their hands on and try for themselves. Lush are known for their unique scents and this is a prime example of an aroma that boasts that 'exquisitey': a fragrance that would never come from any of the generic perfume companies that charge upwards of £50 for something that doesn't smell half as good. Metamorphosis is easily one of my favourite fragrances to come from Lush over the last twelve months, and I can imagine this bottle wont be sticking around for very long. 

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Water (Aqua), Glycerine, *Limonene, *Linalool, Labdanum Resinoid, Sicilian Red Mandarin Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Neroli Oil, Sandalwood Oil, *Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl, Alcohol, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol.

Vegan?: Yes.

2018 Price: £25 for 30ml.

Year Of Original Release: 2018.