All Things Lush UK: Yog Log Shower Smoothie

When Lush opted to replace their potted shower smoothies with a solid, package-free alternative, it was a step in the right direction - not just because of the environmental impact that it would have, but also because of the gateway that opened up for the company to bring out a greater range of variations for consumers to enjoy.

Yog Log is one of two brand new roulades to make an appearance this season, and one of nearly ten releases in this format so far. It seems that Lush are onto a winning formula, as while these roulades seem to grace the shelves quietly and are barely the topic of conversation across social media, there must be quite a demand for them because they keep being brought back time and time again.

Lush state that this product shares its scent with the Yog Nog family, which includes a bath bomb, soap, perfume and FUN bar. A fairly recent invention when you consider the length of time that the company have been producing products, this family of items have each made quite an impression on the community. It's a regular occurrence to see fans desperately searching for a spare perfume on both Instagram and Facebook, and the speed in which the bath bomb and the soap sold out in the Kitchen this month, demonstrates that there is quite a cult following behind the family.

While I would say that fans of all of the above would no doubt love and appreciate this seasonal smoothie, I will say that I don't think the scent mirrors that of any of the products mentioned above. There are definitely similarities here, that much is true, but this solid rendition sports many differences, which was a little disappointing at first.

Yog Log is described as smelling of 'comforting caramel' and for this part I agree. There is definitely something reminiscent of freshly made chunks of sticky caramel; of sweet, decadent butterscotch ice cream with ripples of nutty caramel threaded throughout; a hot, malted glass of milk infused with vanilla pods, a sprinkling of brown sugar and a generous helping of salted caramel.

To claim that this fragrance will leave you salivating, is very much an understatement. It will leave you raiding the biscuit drawer and demolishing a packet of Hob Nobs before you even realise what you're doing. It's an enabler of the senses, and if you're one for foody smells, this is right up there as being one of Lush's best achievements.

What I would say is that it is a smell all by itself. Whereas the other products in this scent family have a very sweet, buttery aroma, Yog Log is much more grounded and far nuttier than its siblings. It takes on more of a fudge-like smell, as opposed to the bath bomb and soap that are far more sickly-sweet and syrup-like.

The inclusion of sesame seeds has definitely had an impact on the overall aroma. Although I wouldn't say that you can smell the seeds, there is definitely something about the smoothie that reflects the fact that they've been put in there to begin with.

To use, you can choose one of many different methods, depending on how you feel most comfortable. One way is to wet the piece and then massage the roulade straight across your body. This is the easiest way of ensuring you don't drop the product during use, and it's easy enough to pat down afterwards to retain its size and shape. With this method, I found that the smoothie wasn't very generous when it came to leaving lather on your skin, and I had to rigorously massage it in circular motions to ensure that the whole area was coated before rinsing away.

As Lush have explained, the way it's intended to be used is to break off a small piece (roughly the size of a large grape), and then massage it in between your hands first. Squishing it and manipulating the piece in this way will allow the oils and butters to be released easier, which then means that it's more effective at cleaning and moisturising your body. This way might mean that more of the product is used each time, but it is definitely easier to stimulate a lather across your skin.

Despite the above comment, Yog Log doesn't produce much of a lather either way, and instead you will find that you'll get a thin, oily residue that coats the skin. This is rinsed off and will leave your skin feeling really soft and smooth. While it didn't leave my skin overly nourished, it was definitely more effective than a large majority of soaps.

What I found even more wonderful is that the fragrance was robust enough to stay on my skin for a short while after my shower. This means that, when I use this before bed, I can smell traces of caramel on my pillow and duvet while asleep, and the next day.

Overall, I will say that I definitely prefer the other variations of Yog Nog to this one. While I'd say that the bath bomb is probably the closest in smell to this smoothie, there is still quite a difference between the two, and I can imagine Yog Nog fanatics might even be a little disappointed at the noticeable difference between this and everything else.

However, this is still a lovely-smelling product, and I cannot imagine that anyone would be too disappointed if they discovered a generous chunk of it in their Christmas stockings. From the standpoint of a gym-buff, this is a great 'cheat meal' that you don't have to worry about overindulging in; as a lover of puddings and sweets, this is the enabler you don't want near you when you're trying to resist the cookie jar.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Glycerine, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa, Butter Fair Trade Colombian Cocoa Butter, Fresh Honeydew Melon Pulp, Organic Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Perfume, Clove Bud Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Citric Acid, Sesame Seeds, Gardenia Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Bicarbonate, *Eugenol, *Linalool, Colour 19140:1.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £5.95 for 100g, £14.90 for 250g.

Year Of Original Release: 2016.

Scent Family:

Six Reusable Bubble Bar