It's rare for me to find a product that I don't recognise all of the key ingredients in it. In fact, that's one of the reasons why I gravitate to Lush more than any other company; seeing an endless list of components that you've never heard of before only makes me wonder just what these 'things' are doing to my skin and hair. When I first read about Himalaya Liquid Perfume however, that was exactly how I felt.
Containing ylang ylang, spikenard and zanthoxylum oils, this is a perfume that doesn't exactly speak volumes about what it's going to offer your senses. Given that I don't think the latter two ingredients have featured in any Lush products over the last ten years, it's safe to say that I needed to carry out a little research before I experienced this perfume for myself.
What I found out was that spikenard is a herb that belongs to the same family as the honeysuckle, and according to Lush has 'carried a sacred aura from its use in religious rites across the centuries and continents.' Zanthoxylum on the other hand is a small berry that has a pungent, citrusy type of smell. Why this perfume is called Himalaya is partly due to the fact that the latter oil was purchased from Lush in Nepal, where it grows in abundance and is harvested sustainably.
From the bottle, I can smell what I would describe as being a resinous floral fragrance. There is something quite rich and musky about the three components, that work together to create a really alluring and powerful aroma. Himalaya is thick, powdery and heady, with the natural sweetness of the ylang ylang coming through to give this perfume an almost playful edge; and an element of woodiness lacing through the smell to ground the components together.
On the skin, the immediate note is quite a bitter and almost green-like berry scent - one very interesting and different from anything I have ever smell from Lush before. In all fairness, I didn't like the initial smell of this perfume, and it took a good twenty minutes for the perfume to settle on my skin, and allow for the other ingredients to come forward a little more.
This is a perfume for those who like strong and very unique fragrances. This is definitely not the sort of scent you would find in other commercially successful companies. This is Lush through and through, and that's why I really enjoyed using this one. Ironically, my partner was travelling across Nepal whilst I was indulging in this, and he actually finished his eight day trek across the Himalayas when this review was published.
Originally released in 1993, Himalaya is a perfume that just smells like old-school Lush. And while this description isn't very helpful for newer fans of the brand, retro Lushies should understand what I mean when they spray it for themselves.
My only qualm with this exclusive Gold Label perfume is the fact that its silage is not as impressive as you'd imagine a perfume of such magnitude to be. I found that it had all but disappeared within about three hours on my skin, and I needed to reapply multiple times a day to enjoy the scent whilst I was at work.
Overall, this is a rare piece of Lush history that should definitely be experienced by anyone who can. While not a favourite of mine, this will definitely be coming out when I want something unique and alluring to wear to a big event. I am incredibly grateful that I've had the opportunity to purchase a bottle of this for myself.
Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Ghanaian Ylang Ylang Oil, Spikenard Oil, Zanthoxylum Oil, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Cinnamate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Cinnamal, *Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, Isoeugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool.
Vegan?: Yes.
2019 Price: £39 for 30ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2019.
Before I lived in London, and back when I dressed like a fully-fledged heavy metaller, Camden was the place I longed to be almost every weekend of the year. Everything about the place excited me immensely, and on the rare occasions I was able to afford the train journey up to the big city, I would spend the day exploring every anex possible to see what magic awaited me. In fact, my experiences whilst in Camden were one of the biggest draws for me when deciding which university to apply to.
When I read the description of Never Ever Om, I can honestly say that I was rather excited about this one, perhaps even more so than any of the other Gold Label exclusives. Originally released in 2004, this fragrance was designed to replicate the hustle and bustle of Camden Lock, with all of the different notes replicating both the twist and turns of the infamous borough, as well as the stillness and harmony that the place can offer as well.
Firstly, I should say that this is a really 60s and 70s smelling perfume. There is something very old-fashioned about this fragrance that reminds me of scented candles and 'hippy shops', and the rather exotic smell you get when burning multiple incense sticks all at the same time. This is definitely a perfume that will divide consumers down the middle because of its intensity, and I’ve unfortunately reached the conclusion that I don’t think I appreciate this fragrance very much.
What I will say is that the smell of Never Ever Om would be one that I burn in my house, as there is something really comforting and homely about it. The smell itself is definitely not a bad one, and not one that I dislike either. However, as a perfume, it doesn't work for me, and it's not something I would wear out of choice.
From the bottle, you can immediate smell the dry, spicy touch of the patchouli, coupled with the fenugreek that comes through and adds both a resinous yet slightly herbal note as well. While it doesn’t smell exclusively like this, there is something slightly fennel-like about the fenugreek that gives the perfume what I can only describe as a liquorice aroma.
Now I know the word 'liquorice' will have some consumers running in the opposite direction very quickly; it's a smell that creates some very passionate responses. However, I should explain that my choice of wording is the best way that I can describe this aroma when comparing to other familiar scents. It doesn't by any means 'smell like liquorice', but those who have experienced it will know what I mean when I use that word in my description.
Having said that, when sprayed on the skin, the smell changes somewhat and the various notes begin to take on some very different personalities. While the patchouli is still there, the osmanthus becomes the more dominant layer: creating a sticky, almost cloying smell that has a damp, woody edge to it. Alongside this, spicy undertones of the patchouli are still present but they're a little more reserved.
Coinciding with these layers, there is also an almost syrup-like/maple syrup edge to the perfume that gives the fragrance a burst of sweetness, while the orange flower absolute brings about a light, cloudy floral aroma to round all of the different components together. There is a lot going on here in this perfume, and many wearers will find it rather heavy and perhaps a little too intense for their liking. Whilst I usually enjoy perfumes that offer something strong and compelling, I found this one a little too invasive for my senses.
Lush describe Never Ever Om as having a sultana-esque core, which at first I found a little confusing. While I couldn't smell anything that even vaguely reminded me of sultanas at first, I have come to recognise that there is something sweet like maple syrup, which has been combined with the bitterness of some sort of citrus fruit, which I think is what Lush means by this description.
What is great about the perfume is that it stays on the skin for a good 5-6 hours; constantly evolving throughout the day so that at different times you'll experience a whole array of different notes. I found after it had settled down quite a bit, that the warmth of both the patchouli and the orange flower absolute were the most prominent layers.
Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Patchouli Oil, *Limonene, Osmanthus Absolute, Orange Flower Absolute, Tonka Absolute, Fenugreek Absolute, *Anise Alcohol, *Citral, *Citronellol, *Coumarin, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Linalool.
Vegan?: Yes.
2019 Price: £75 for 30ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2019.
With the recent release of the Gold Label perfumes, I really feel as if consumers are being given an incredible opportunity to experience a piece of Lush history: one that I genuinely thought was forever lost in the past. Sometimes it's beneficial to bring a little history into the present moment, and this is one of those such occasions.
When I first heard the name Fantabulosa (originally called Ladyboy) my immediate thought went to the popular fizzy drink. The very thought of a perfume encompassing the sweet, juiciness of fizzy orange soda was enough to make me salivate. In fact, I convinced myself so much that this is what the perfume would smell like that, for those who have experienced this retro scent before, you can imagine my confusion when this little beauty finally found its way into my life. To put it simply, this fragrance couldn't be any farther away from what I initially envisaged.
From the bottle, my first impression was that of a perfume overly consumed by a strong thread of oakmoss. There was something very damp and earthy about the fragrance, which made it a very heavy and overpowering. Coupled with a naturally sweet and slightly grassy violet note, the heaviness of the perfume is definitely not one that would appeal to everyone.
Having said that, when the perfume is given the freedom to breathe on your skin, something magic happens. Firstly, the oakmoss takes a little step back, and while it is still there, it offers more of a base for the other components to perform on. Then a strangely alluring but equally sticky-sweet note of banana comes through, which elevates the fragrance overall and gives it so much character.
As I mentioned above, the violet leaf continues to deliver its sweet but slightly grassy floral notes, but on the skin it softens a little and creates something very comforting and beautiful. Alongside this, the chamomile offers a calming herbal smell that dances between the other notes and brings the perfume together.
Simply put, Fantabulosa is incredibly complex and interesting: a perfume that stands alone as being a truly incredible experience. This is one of those fragrances that takes you on a powerful journey with every wear, and one that I can never being chosen lightly. I don't think even the world's best wordsmith would be able to do this as much justice as trying it out for yourself would. You need to experience it to truly understand when I say that it's a work of art.
As to be expected, the perfume remained on my skin for ages: eventually wearing off some five hours after I had initially applied it. During this time, I received many compliments from strangers in shops and on the streets, and I felt the power and responsibility that comes with wearing such a signature scent.
Why this perfume was ever relegated to the darkest vaults of Lush's past, and made to sit there going unnoticed, I will never know. I can only hope old and new Lush fans will now have a chance to make this a regular part of their Lush collection, and I only hope it doesn't disappear before I buy myself another couple of large bottles.
Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Chamomile Blue Oil, Labdanum Resinoid, Seaweed Absolute, Oakmoss Absolute, Violet Leaf Absolute, Oakmoss Extract, *Limonene.
Vegan?: Yes.
2019 Price: £39 for 30ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2019.
When I found out that Lush were bringing some of their earliest perfumes back from the vaults of Cosmetics To Go, my excitement was off the chain. As a collector of the company's products, there is nothing more exciting than being given the opportunity to try something out that I always assumed I would never ever get the chance to.
Originally released in 1993, Pansy Liquid Perfume is a fragrance that seems to have strangely divided the Lush community, and I have seen some quite strong reactions from people who have purchased this for themselves. For such a beautifully peaceful-smelling scent, I find this a little hard to understand.
While it is not a direct replica, Pansy does indeed smell almost on par with that of The Olive Branch: so much so that I would class this as being from the same scent family for certain. Yet strangely, the ingredients list of this perfume reads very differently from any other product that features this same aroma.
Containing orange flower absolute as the key ingredient, this exclusive fragrance offers a sweet, delicate, floral aroma, with an almost nutty warmth that acts like huge comforting hug as the perfume dances across your skin. From the bottle, you can smell both the labdanum and galbanum oils, both of which add a rich, sultry and slightly resinous aroma. These work harmoniously with the floral aspect - as well as the very subtle touch of fruitiness that features here - to create a simply beautiful perfume to indulge in.
Whether it's because my nose is familiar with the many other products featuring The Olive Branch scent, or because Lush have included other components here as well, but there is a layer to Pansy that reminds me of expensive olive oil, with all of its wonderful nuttiness. Gentle floral notes infuse with these layers to offer a delicate balance of smells, while there is also something subtly herbal about the fragrance as well, which comes from the inclusion of the rosemary oil. This is a very rich but equally very beautiful fragrance, and one that stands by itself as being exquisitely unique.
What makes this Pansy Liquid Perfume so gorgeous is the fact that the smell deepens and becomes even more rounded when it's sprayed directly onto your skin. One spritz on each wrist in the morning lasted me all of the way into the early afternoon, and I was still able to detect remnants of the fragrance when I reapplied some more around 2pm. While by this point the scent was very subtle, my nose was still able to connect with the perfume for almost 6 hours.
What I loved about Pansy, which I didn't find happen with The Olive Branch Liquid Perfume, was that it acted a little more like the body spray and offered different layers while it was resting on my skin. An initial spray offers a fresh, uplifting collaboration of both the orange flower absolute and the galbanum oils. However, every new burst came with slightly different elements, and I was able to enjoy the sweetness; the nuttiness; and the delicate herbal notes at various times throughout the day.
While the name doesn't necessarily suit the smell of this perfume, and it may prevent some consumers who dislike floral aromas from buying it, if you're a fan of The Olive Branch scent, you'll want to get your hands on this right away. This is definitely my favourite so far of the Gold Label Liquid Perfumes. Simply yummy!
Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Orange Flower Absolute, Rosemary Oil, Galbanum Oil, Labdanum Resinoid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, *Benzyl Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, *Citral, Coumarin, Oakmoss Extract, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene,*Linalool.
Vegan?: Yes.
2019 Price: £35 for 30ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2019.
There are times when my mind works a lot slower than I would like to admit, and I occasionally find myself rolling my eyes at the sheer silliness of what I've either done or said. When it comes to the confusing conundrum of Lush products, there are times when I struggle to make links between scent families, or completely miss the pun in the name altogether.
This particular product did just that, leaving my brain stewing over why I recognised the fragrance, and only tying it all together when I was re-organising my Lush stash and just happened to come across a product that sparked my recognition. That product was the limited edition SOS Solid Shampoo Bar, which alongside the wonderful Orangutan Soap, shares the same scent as this brand new Lush perfume.
What I will say is that SOS Liquid Perfume offers the best version of this fragrance, in my opinion. There is something longer-lasting and more prominent about each of the notes on offer here. However, the exclusive is still very much on par with the products I mentioned above, and fans of this smell will no doubt want to buy a few bottles of this to keep close.
From my experience, it took a few minutes for the perfume to really start getting to work on the skin. At first you get a very dry, earthy almost smouldering patchouli scent. I use the word smouldering because it actually smells very slightly burnt to my nose, which is unique when compared to other patchouli products. However, immediately after this the orange oil comes through on its own, adding a brightness to the fragrance and coaxing the patchouli to come out of its shell a little more.
The orange oil itself is what I’d describe as dry and fruity, which means that it’s lost the juiciness of the fruit in this format, but you can still smell the distinctiveness of the fruit. In fact, it's almost like a rounded combination of the fruit itself and the bitterness of the skin being peeled as well.
Overall, I would describe SOS as being a very green and sweet aroma, yet one with an underlying exotic and slightly spicy note as well. There is also a rather gentle note of what I can only describe as being like dirt, but this is not intended to be seen in a bad way. This earthiness tends to sit underneath the other more prominent notes and just keeps the perfume grounded when its on the skin. Ultimately, I think that this fact is why the orange oil sustains itself for much longer rather than just dispersing quickly as we see in other Lush fragrances.
In all fairness to SOS, the perfume projects itself well during the time it is on your skin, as I found that I could really detect bursts of the fragrance throughout the day, especially when I was doing anything that warranted the heat of my body to rise. Furthermore, the perfume has good silage as it stayed on my skin for a good three hours or more after applying it in the morning. To increase the life of this perfume, I also discovered that I could prolong the aroma by spraying it on my clothes instead. This way I was still able to smell the fragrance over five hours later.
This is definitely a very wholesome fragrance and one that shows just how unique Lush perfumes can be. Fans of this aroma will definitely appreciate the scent of this on the skin, and will definitely appreciate how close in smell it is to the other mentioned products. However, this isn't a perfume I particularly enjoyed wearing, and therefore not one I will be using on a regular basis.
Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Dark Sumatran Patchouli Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, *Limonene, Geraniol, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Farnesol, *Isoeugenol, *Linalool.
Vegan?: Yes.
2019 Price: £39 for 30ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2019.
If there's one aspect of trying new Lush perfumes that I love, it's the journeys that come from the natural evolution of the smells present in a given fragrance. While your reactions and opinions about a single smell will change and fluctuate like the weather, so too will the fragrance you are wearing at that moment in time. No two days are alike, and this can be said for the experiences you have whilst wearing a wonderful aroma.
Junk Liquid Perfume has witnessed so much change over the last few weeks that I feel that it's almost become a member of my family. Not only have I been to the poorest parts of India; and the driest areas of the Canary Islands, but I've also experienced such a huge mental shift - all of which has been paired with this latest perfume release from Lush.
Containing lemon, mandarin, rosemary and sage oils, this 'Gold Label' perfume has a rich, alluring and very intoxicating scent. When I first sprayed this on my skin, I could really see the comparison between this and Lush's recent Scrub Scrub Scrub Body Scrub. There are definitely similarities between the two that may help consumers to get a little insight into what this perfume smells like before they purchase it. However, it wouldn't be right of me to describe the scent of this as a being a direct replica, as there are huge differences as well.
From the bottle, the first wave you get is a fruity one. In fact, despite the simplicity of the ingredients list, I was surprised to find that the fragrance actually pertained a strong note of blackcurrant rather than the citrusy layers that you would expect. While I could smell that both the mandarin and lemon oils were there in the mix, the inclusion of the rosemary also twists these two to create something a little more like Blackcurrant Angel with a stronger, herbal twist.
The initial spritz offers quite a heavy combination of herbal and fruity elements, and there is something quite intense about this pairing for a short while. Once it's begun to settle on the skin, you can definitely detect the currants far more, and the herbal elements of the both the sage and rosemary linger behind the blackcurrant, to give Junk a wonderfully complex and beautifully unique aroma.
Other Lush fans, who have already been rather vocal about their descriptions, have even suggested that there is something medicinal and clinical about the smell, which I can sort of relate to. There is definitely something rather clean and almost mint-like about the scent, which does remind me a little of throat soothers and cough medicine.
What is great about Junk Liquid Perfume is that it does have an impressive silage on the skin. I was still able to detect it some four hours after initial application on my wrists and temple points, and even longer on the areas I sprayed it onto my clothes. As far as Lush perfumes go, this is super impressive, and definitely one of the selling points for me.
As for how it matures on the skin, I found that the herbal elements tended to disperse quite a lot over the first thirty minutes, and the dry and rather warming fruity components lingered by themselves for the duration of the time. Once it gets to this stage, the fragrance tends to remain intense for a few hours before it slowly disperses.
Overall, this is one of Lush's best perfumes in recent years. It's one that stands out above most of the Volume 4 range, and indeed nearly all of the limited editions that made an appearance. Junk is the epitome of what Lush is all about, and I am excited to see what other ideas may see the light of day in the coming years.
Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, *Limonene, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Green Mandarin Oil, Rosemary Oil, Sage Oil, *Citral, *Linalool.
Vegan?: Yes.
2019 Price: £35 for 30ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2019.
Although my bank account worked itself into a state when it first caught wind of the new perfume release, my heart skipped a beat at the mere thought of experiencing some of Lush’s oldest perfumes. This particular reappearance was easily the one I was most excited about.
First released in 1995, when I was a mere nine years old, V has been described as a perfume for people who don’t use scent. With its light, sweet and rather refreshing floral aroma, I cannot imagine anyone finding this smell at all offensive: yet at the same time I wouldn’t say it’s one with enough character to become a signature scent.
This exclusive fragrance has been described by Lush as both unsettling and unusual, which I find rather an odd choice of wording, given how rather nondescript this perfume is. I’m not for one second saying that this fragrance is in any way bad, just that it’s quite pretty and gentle - definitely not something that’s all that unsettling or unusual.
From the first spray, this perfume offers up a beautiful collaboration of violet and ylang ylang: a dainty, powdery pairing that reminds of Bathos Bubble Bar very much. It doesn’t contain any of the grassiness that Kerbside Violet does; nor is it as sweet or as sultry as Tuca Tuca.
Alongside these components, the sandalwood adds a very gentle base from which the other notes are able to dance around on; and the clove bud oil offers a burst of warmth that elevates the fragrance even further on the skin.
Once sprayed, all of the above elements work together at replicating the same smell from the very first spritz to the last fading note on your skin. While this does mean that you won’t really experience the perfume maturing at all over time, as you would with many of Lush’s other perfumes, the smell is still very wonderful, and is unlikely to put anyone off appreciating this fragrance in the slightest.
Having said this, V does seem to have a shorter life than some of Lush’s stronger offerings. I found that I could still smell the perfume on my skin, clothes and hair for a good couple of hours after the initial spray, but it’s longevity didn’t stretch much further. As far as Lush perfumes go, this is not particularly impressive, but then the delicate nature of the smell itself is perhaps why this isn’t as powerful as some of the more potent perfumes.
Overall, I really appreciate Lush offering this old-school fragrance to consumers, as not only is it is a chance to appreciate one of Lush’s original ideas, but the smell itself does have a very ‘classic Lush vibe’ about it, which reminds me of the first scents that made me fall in love with the company. While nothing outstanding to my nose, there is something very pretty about V that will make it a very popular fragrance, and one I will continue to use in the coming months.
Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Alpha-Isomethyl, Ionone, Cedarwood Oil, Ghanaian Ylang Ylang Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Cinnamate, *Cinnamal, *Cinnamyl Alcohol, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Linalool.
Vegan?: Yes.
2019 Price: £35 for 30ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2019.
I remember when I first discovered Zen Soap at the bottom of my Oxford Street Haul, how excited I was about the brand new fragrance that greeted my nose. As a huge fan of patchouli aromas, the soap left a lasting impression on me and I couldn't wait to see what else Lush would bring out with the same scent.
Fast forward almost five years and the Goddess Bath Bomb appeared on the scene like a hurricane - promising the same aroma but in a brand new format. While I appreciate the premise, I wasn't as bowled over with the fragrance as I had been with the original soap, and I certainly wasn't left as excited as I had been when it came to Zen.
When the Goddess Liquid Perfume finally made its way to me, I honestly didn't know what to expect, and I'll be honest and say that it took me three weeks of travelling around India with my little bottle to truly appreciate what the perfume had to offer. While I'm still not completely bowled over by this release, I can definitely appreciate it a lot more than I did when I first gave it a sniff.
What I will say is that this may not be a smell that you appreciate to begin with. From the bottle, Goddess is far from the fairly light and tame aroma that the bath bomb has to offer, and instead feeds your nose with a very strong, dark, woody aroma. The oudh oil is thick and resinous on the surface, combining with the sandalwood to create a strong, wholesome note of woodiness. In addition, there is almost a slight earthiness to the perfume as well, that saturates the smell and adds a thick note to the initial spray.
Given time, these key components settle down on the skin, and that's when you can begin to appreciate the other notes that are present. The rose oil and jasmine absolute brings a delicate natural sweetness, that takes some of the initial sting away from the oudh oil; the osmanthus adds a subtle fruitiness that adds a much needed uplift and helps to elevate the other notes a little more.
What I will say about this fragrance is that it is both exotic and alluring, and definitely not a delicate perfume in the slightest. A Goddess exerts dominance and strength to give her such a title, and this perfume does just that. If you want something pretty and simple, this is not the perfume for you as Goddess makes a statement for anyone choosing to wear it.
Having said that, I did find that the fragrance didn't last as long as I expected that it would, and I was no longer able to detect it on my own skin after a couple of hours of wear. However, I was able to prolong the life of this perfume a little by spraying it directly onto my clothes, where I could still smell remnants of it after a full working day.
While not a favourite perfume of mine, I do really appreciate how unique and interesting the smell of Goddess is. It's definitely a smell that will evoke a reaction of some kind, whether that be negative or positive, and the strength and depth of the key notes here only serve to empower all who choose to wear this - in true Goddess form.
Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol Perfume, *Linalool, *Limonene, Jasmine Absolute, Osmanthus Absolute, Rose Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Oudh Oil, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Citral, *Citronellol, *Eugenol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol.
Vegan?: Yes.
2019 Price: £45 for 30ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2019.
Sometimes I find myself lost for words, which is why I give myself a few days of rest before I continue to blog about the products I've been using. Other times, I find it difficult to describe something in a way that will allow others to experience the fragrances in the same way that I did. When this happens, I often turn to the company themselves to help me out.
Lush describe Grass Perfume Oil as being like 'the first flushes of summer', and I couldn't agree more. There is something so light and summery about this fragrance that genuinely makes me feel warmer just from the smell it offers from the bottle. The company go on to say that this limited edition is like 'freshly cut grass meets arresting neroli, with just a hint of violet.' They describe the aroma as having earthy notes of sandalwood; a touch of smokiness; a little herbal kick; and a splash of fruitiness. When I read this statement out loud, I envisage a perfume that is heavy and condensed, and far more complex than I genuinely think it smells and acts on the skin.
Just like the liquid perfume, my nose immediately picked up on the fact that this is far more like the aforementioned bubble bar than the shower gel. While this limited edition replicates the scent family really well, the shower gel is slightly heavier when in use, whereas the bubble bar is lighter and more crisp on the senses. This perfume oil is more like the latter, and so much like the liquid perfume it's amazing: so much so that I'm going to describe it in the same manner.
As its name suggests, this perfume oil smells like a freshly cut lawn, with the dampness of the soil underneath and the sweetness of the sunshine entangled in a bouquet of pure bliss. The bergamot and neroli oils work together to create a smell that is fresh and light, whilst also offering a natural sweetness that can only be replicated if you head outside to smell the actual grass in your garden. Finally, the sandalwood adds a subtle note of woodiness, albeit very low down in the mix, which works as a base on which the other ingredients simply flourish.
On the skin, Grass Perfume Oil offers all of the above, although the aroma dampens a little after the first couple of minutes. Mixing with the air allows the sweetness, the crisp notes of neroli, and the greeness of the bergamot to elevate themselves, so you can smell this wonderful fragrance ever time you whip your arm past your nose, or a gust of wind disturbs the perfume again. Fans of this aroma will be incredibly pleased with the creation of this product and as somebody, who like I said, doesn't class this as a personal favourite, even I was bowled over by how delicious this perfume oil is.
Just like all of the other perfume oils, this one can be used in one of many ways, which is what makes these little bottles of oils so versatile. The traditional way is to actually apply the oil directly to your clothes, which you can do so by popping a couple of drops into the palm of your hands; massaging it between your hands; and then gently stroking your hands across your clothes to allow for even courage. The perfume oil doesn't actually absorb into your skin at first so you can do this without losing very much on your hands, and I found that the scent lasted longer when I applied it like this, compared to how long it lasted when I dabbed a little on my skin.
The reason why you're supposed to do it this way, and not apply it directly to your clothes, is that it's very difficult to control the amount of oils that come out of the bottle at any one time. Too much oil applied to a piece of clothing could potentially cause permanent oil stains, which are very hard to remove. Furthermore, it also makes it very difficult to spread the oil across a large space, as it will have automatically soaked into the garment as soon as it made contact with it.
As most consumers will no doubt want to do by default, you can also apply the perfume directly to your pulse points: your inner wrists, your temples, and even along your jawline. Simply dab a little of the oil straight from the bottle to these areas, and then briefly massage a little to stimulate the oils from the heat of your skin. The warmth of your body will help to strengthen the sillage of the fragrance, and help it to remain on the skin for as long as possible.
As I tend to do with my solid perfumes, you can also apply this to your beard, or ends of your hair, to carry the perfume in another manner. In fact, this is probably my favourite way of wearing solid perfumes and perfume oils because every slight breeze will offer you a little taste of the smell you are using. In addition, the oils featured in the ingredients will also help to moisturise your hair a little whilst its on there.
What was interesting about Grass Perfume Oil was that it seemed to outlast the liquid version when applied to my skin. I could still smell remnants of the oils 2-3 hours after I had initially applied them on my pulse points, and probably close to four hours on my clothing I was wearing. While it wasn't an aroma that was particularly powerful, a little gust of wind would remind me of the neroli and bergamot in short, sharp bursts throughout the day.
Surprisingly, this is my favourite perfume oil from the selection that Lush released a couple of weeks ago, and I will be carrying this little beauty with me when I travel to Europe for Christmas. As it's not possible for somebody to bottle the summer, this is the closest we are ever going to get to making it a reality. What a lovely surprise!
Quantitiative Ingredients: Organic Cold Pressed Jojoba Oil, Perfume, Sandalwood Oil, Bergamot Oil, Neroli Oil, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Citral, *Citronellol, *Coumarin, *Eugenol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Isoeugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool.
Vegan?: Yes.
2018 Price: £18 for 15ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2018.
Scent Family:
Against Animal Testing Soap
Autumn Leaf Bath Ballistic
Grass Body Lotion
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Containing ylang ylang, spikenard and zanthoxylum oils, this is a perfume that doesn't exactly speak volumes about what it's going to offer your senses. Given that I don't think the latter two ingredients have featured in any Lush products over the last ten years, it's safe to say that I needed to carry out a little research before I experienced this perfume for myself.
On the skin, the immediate note is quite a bitter and almost green-like berry scent - one very interesting and different from anything I have ever smell from Lush before. In all fairness, I didn't like the initial smell of this perfume, and it took a good twenty minutes for the perfume to settle on my skin, and allow for the other ingredients to come forward a little more.
