Get Closer Solid Deodorant

When the Lush Oxford Street store first opened some five years ago, the company brought out so many new dusting powders: one of which was called Get Closer. While not strictly advertised as a deodorant, most of Lush's dusting powders are versatile enough that they can be used in this way, and this is perhaps the reason why this solid rendition appeared at the Showcase event last year.

What I will say about this solid deodorant is that it does a good job at replicating the scent of the original dusting powder, which features neroli oil, jasmine absolute and lemon oil. Alongside an extra dosage of jojoba oil, this naked block of deodorant is very close in scent to the wonderful Happy Happy Joy Joy Hair Conditioner and Frozen Bath Bomb, albeit slightly lighter and not as floral-dominated. Instead, imagine HHJJ with a heap of calamine and kaolin powders thrown on top, and you may begin to understand what this exclusive smells like.

On the skin, you can definitely detect the neroli - a light and slightly bitter citrusy aroma that intertwines with the lemon oil and intensifies the fruity element. To compliment this, the jasmine adds its own soulful floral aroma that gives the deodorant a slight sweetness, making it delectable and utterly refreshing on the senses.

Alongside these elements, Get Closer then offers a strong herbal note of calamine, coupled with a dry and slightly earthy note of the kaolin, which I happen to think is perhaps a little more prominent in this format: more so than it is in the dusting powder. Either way, the smell you get is definitely not as clinical as many of Lush's other deodorants but there is still something very clean-smelling about this fragrance that I think works well.

At risk of repeating myself, I was initially worried about the strength of this solid deodorant, as I imagined it would just crumble when I applied even the slightest amount of pressure: it is definitely not as resilient as the likes of Aromaco Solid Deodorant by any means. However, it is fairly straight forward to use and the product comes away really easily on the skin, so you don't need to apply much in the way of pressure at all.

What was great about this deodorant was the fact that it was far easier to apply as a block as opposed to bottled powder. Trying to apply a powder without spilling it all over the place is a rather tricky task. However, when it came to The Get Closer Solid Deodorant, I found that simply massaging it gently under my armpits was enough to get what I wanted out of the product. While my armpit was left slightly dusty afterwards, it certainly didn't cause me any problems and I certainly didn't develop any stains on my clothes from it being this way.

Like most of Lush's dusting powders and deodorants, this one has a great level of absorbency - thanks to the inclusion of the kaolin - so any sweat that develops on your skin across the day will be absorbed fairly quickly and your armpits will be left fairly dry.

As I have stated in other reviews, this deodorant is not an antiperspirant, so it will not prevent you from sweating at all. Instead, it just helps to absorb the sweat so it doesn't have time to go stale and develop an odour, and if you sweat quite profusely at times, reduce the amount of 'damp' that remains on your skin.

After using it for near on a month, I found that Get Closer definitely worked at eradicating smells that may have accumulated throughout the day, and it was very easy to reapply the product whenever I felt like I needed to. In a typical day, I felt I needed to reapply about 5-6 times, although this may just have been my desire to be super clean: you may be able to reduce this number by half and preserve the life of the deodorant for longer. 

However, what I should point out is that this solid deodorant wasn't very effective both before and after the gym. As I work out most days, I really noticed that I would start to smell my sweat a little more prominently if I used this deodorant over my usual Nivea variation. As I have found with some of Lush's deodorants, this solid product is not as effective when you're someone who sweats a great deal or when used during a time when you're perspiring a lot because of physical activity. In these moments, I had to reply on my regular shop-bought variation to see me through my workouts.

Ultimately, this solid deodorant is actually quite effective at what is does and offers a rather lovely floral aroma to boot. I honestly think that I just need to continue using this for a few more months and I should hopefully notice even more changes in the way that my body responds to this.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Cornflour, Magnesium Carbonate, Water (Aqua), Calamine Powder, Kaolin, Organic Jojoba Oil, Perfume, Neroli Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Lycopodium Powder, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, *Cinnamyl Alcohol, *Citral, *Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Benzyl Cinnamate, *Cinnamal. *Farnesol

Vegan?: Yes.

2019 Price: £8 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2018.

Eskimo Bubble Bar

Products come and products go and there are few that really make an impression on me enough to want to use them across three consecutive baths. However, when it comes to this brand new limited edition bubble bar, I could quite happily use this every single day, and I don't think I would ever get bored of doing so.

Eskimo is a silent assassin - sneaking into the Oxford Street store as an exclusive, before branching out to selected stores across the U.K a matter of days later. Rumoured to be a Christmas pre-release before the season had begun, this adorable product shares its scent with Christingle, and is everything a fan of the body conditioner could possibly hope for. 

Containing peppermint, spearmint and grapefruit oil, this is a Bubble Bar for those who are looking for something refreshing and cooling. While initially it may, on paper, sound more like a bubble bar you'd benefit from using in the summer months, I can assure you that this Christmas exclusive is the perfect 'wake up' remedy for the colder months as well.

Much like the conditioner, it is the minty element that hits your senses first. Both the peppermint and the spearmint offer a crisp, refreshing journey that not only stays with you for the entire bath, but also offers a cooling effect on the skin when you're in the water. Those with chronic illnesses or muscle conditions will find that the sensation this offers will help to relax and soothe aches and pains; people who work very physically-demanding jobs, or those who exercise quite regularly, will discover that this bubble bar eases away that tension and almost massages away the soreness that can present itself after a workout. 

Your entire body will feel so crisp and clean after using one of these; and even after climbing out of a steaming-hot bath, you'll feel a little like you've had a bucket of ice cold water thrown over your head. While this may sound like the worst experience in the world to those who take comfort from the heat of a good soak, I love how much it helps to clear the mind and bring about clarity, and this would definitely be a product I use after an unsatisfactory night's sleep. 

As if its icy powers weren't enough to entice you already, there is also the fact that Eskimo offers a stunning shade of blue in the bath tub, as well as being one of the most moisturising bubble bars I have used in a while. My skin was left feeling so smooth and soft after bathing with one of these, that I didn't need to apply body lotion afterwards, which is a rarity for me.

While I am a greedy minx who likes to over indulge and use the whole product in one single sitting, this bubble bar could easily see you across 3-4 equally wonderful baths. It's super soft when crumbling so wouldn't be difficult to divide this into multiple pieces, and I think along with a Snowdrops Bath Bomb or a Thundersnow, would make for a stunning winter-themed soak.

Overall, I really wish this product had been chosen to feature as a because I think it is almost criminal that only certain Lush fans will be able to get their hands on this limited edition. As the Lush Kitchen is currently closed, I can't imagine this appearing anywhere else aside from the selected branches. For this reason, if you can sweet-talk someone into getting you some before they disappear  I highly suggest that you do. You will not be disappointed.

Quantitative Ingredients: ? 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each. 

Year Of Original Release: 2017

Scent Family:
Christingle Body Conditioner
Christingle Naked Body Conditioner

Eskimo Bubble Bar

Satsuma Bath Bomb

After the initial excitement of the seasonal collection, and once I have had an opportunity to test out the majority of the products, I love to look back and reflect upon those that I was most excited about and whether or not they lived up to my expectations. There is something rather enjoyable about reliving my preconceptions and then comparing them to what I actually feel about the items after using them for myself.

Very rare is it that I have a product that makes a strong impression on me, only to waver during my experience. However, there are a few exceptions, and unfortunately Satsuma Bath Bomb is one of these. To say I am underwhelmed by this bath bomb is an understatement. While I wouldn't say it's a terrible bomb in the slightest, it is definitely not one that I feel compelled to buy again.

Sharing its scent with last year's Dashing Santa Bath Bomb and this year's Santa's Postbox Soap, this bath bomb has a lot of promise in its description. Containing mandarin and bergamot oil, not to mention a generous splash of fresh satsuma juice, the overriding aroma you get from this seasonal ballistic is a subtle, fruity one. 

Just like the aforementioned bath bomb, this one smells like the freshly-squeezed juice of a mandarin. It has a gentle, non zesty fragrance - one without the kick that you would expect a fresh satsuma to offer. It's almost like mandarin sherbet with a delicate note of bergamot that makes it's refreshing yet not as potent as most of Lush's usual fruity fragrances. If I was just rating the smell alone, it would definitely score a strong five out of six.

On the positive side, those who want something bright and vibrant in the bath tub, without being overwhelmed by a strong smell, will no doubt appreciate the delicacy in which this bath bomb offers its scent. In the tub it turns the water a beautiful and very bright shade of orange, and this in itself is enough to warm even the most stubborn of bathers. 

Unfortunately, I was disappointed to find that the scent made very little impression on me in the tub. In fact, after filming one in action and then using a second Satsuma while I took pictures to accompany this review, I discovered that even combining the two didn't strengthen the overall aroma, and I couldn't detect anything at all within five minutes of being in the bath. 

At one point I even left the bathroom and reentered a while later to test out whether or not my senses had become accustomed to the aroma, and found that I still wasn't able to make out very much. After resorting to sniffing the water up close and identifying nothing still, I resigned in the knowledge that this was a bath bomb of little power.

Thinking perhaps I had received a bad batch from the Lush Kitchen, I have since tried specimens from Oxford Street and online, and I have reached the conclusion that this bath bomb is one of the least generous, scent-wise, that I have had in a while. 

Upon contact with the water, this bath bomb crackles and pops like an open fire and shoots out streams of bright orange colour across the surface of the tub. It doesn't take more than a matter of seconds for the water to turn a vivid shade of tiger and in its favour, this colour remains prominent throughout the entire experience. While there is glitter listed in the ingredients list, I didn't find much of trace in the water, besides from an occasional, delicate shimmer of silver when the water was disturbed.  

While Satsuma did leave me feeling smooth and soft after I had towelled myself down, I wouldn't say that it was overly moisturising, and you may wish to cocktail it along with a bath melt or bubble bar to add those additional oils to your experience. However, what the bath bomb did do, thanks to the inclusion of the bergamot oil, is make me feel more awake and cheerful for the rest of the day.

Overall, this bath bomb is definitely my least favourite from this years seasonal range, and the handful I acquired from the Lush Kitchen will be the only ones I invest in this year. While the description sounds like something I would love, the reality is that the redeeming features of this product is its colour and effect it has on the mood, and these merits are not enough for me to mask my disappointment. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Bergamot Oil, Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Orange Flower Absolute, Fresh Satsuma Juice, Cream of Tartar, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, *Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Tangerine; Radiant Gold; Spring Green Lustres, Colour 47005.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £3.75 each (Sold Individually at Oxford Street only)

Year Of Original Release: 2016.

Scent Family: 

Dashing Santa Bath Bomb

Santa's Postbox Soap

Satsuma Bath Bomb

Satsuma Soap

Satsumo Bath Bomb

Creme De Menthe Mouthwash Tabs

Lush are all about the weird and the wonderful - pushing those boundaries within the cosmetics world to produce some pretty outstanding results. Yet at the same time, this is a company that know that their products need to be more than just a novelty concept; they wouldn't have made it very far had they not been very successful at it. 

Despite their confidence in pushing boundaries, they also know that many of their consumers don't have the desire for unique flavours and scents. They just want to purchase from a company that are ethically and morally sound, without the fanfare that other Lush fans might relish in. With the release of their new solid mouthwash tabs, they've clearly made a conscious effort to appeal to a wide range of tastebuds - Creme De Menthe standing out as the product they've created to replace the regular mint variety that people might have been using up until this point.

As I stated in my review of Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster Mouthwash Tabs, one of the reasons why Lush's solidified versions of liquid cosmetics are so popular, is because they're highly practical and can withstand a lot more than their bottled counterparts. When choosing between a product that: could leak or smash in your suitcase; wouldn't be allowed through customs; and needs preservatives to retain the product in its particular state, and then a product that doesn't harvest any of these worries, you're going to pick the latter choice. Hence, the reason for the release of Lush's new range of solid mouthwash tabs.

As you would expect from Lush, the ingredients that have gone into making all three of the mouthwash varieties have also been carefully crafted and serve a purpose. Firstly, they all contain sodium bicarbonate, which is a natural softening ingredient that is also known for its ability to clean and deodorise at the same time. This is a key component that will help to clean your tongue, gums and teeth when you're swishing, and will help to rid your mouth of any strong odours that might be present at the time, freshening your breath in the process.

Each of the mouthwashes also contains xylitol - a natural substance that is found in certain fruits and vegetables and is used in foods and cosmetics as a refined sweetener. This ingredient has been proven to cause none of the harmful effects that sugar can have on the teeth, is perfect for diabetics as it doesn't effect blood sugar levels at all, yet offers the sweetness to help give these tabs their interesting but enjoyable flavours.

Out of the three varieties, Creme De Menthe is the one that I can imagine most consumers gravitating towards to begin with - not only because the tabs are a spectacular green-colour and are decorated with a coating of lustre to make them sparkle, but because they're the least complex out of the three flavours.

This product contains a combination of menthol crystals, peppermint oil and peppermint powder, which is rather telling of the fragrance, even before you've opened the bottle. Immediately, you can smell a strong, crisp minty aroma. The peppermint is definitely out in full force here, and has a presence that replicates that of the bottled mouthwashes you can purchase in pharmacies and supermarkets.

Alongside this, the menthol offers a cooling background note that actually makes your eyes water if you inhale too much. The smell of Creme De Menthe reminds me very much of Trebor's Extra Strong Mints or tinned mints, in particular Altoids. Yet what makes them outshine regular mouthwash is that you don't experience the slight clinical smell of alcohol that often accompanies these liquid versions.

To use, I found it easiest to take a sip of water and then pop a single tab into my mouth - nibbling it with my back teeth before swishing, gargling and spitting out. Adding the water first meant that I didn't get any bits of tab left in my mouth during or after the experience, and this saved me from having to carry out a second swish to clear these bits between my teeth.

Furthermore, it's recommended that you keep the mouthwash in your mouth for a good minute. This allows the ingredients to get to work at cleaning the mouth and deodorising the tongue so you get the maximum results possible. It's important to note that you should try to avoid rinsing your mouth out with water after using one of these tabs. This could stop the mouthwash from being as effective as you'd be removing the traces of ingredients that would have otherwise been working on keeping your mouth as clean as possible.

Not surprisingly, Creme De Menthe offers a strong, minty experience - one that completely clears the palette, removes any nasty or unwanted smells and leaves your mouth feeling super clean and refreshed. Using one of these after brushing your teeth means that you get that extra burst of freshness every time you inhale and this stays with you for a good while.

I should pre warn you that these particular mouthwash tabs do have a tendency to make both your tongue and your gums tingle and sting a little while you're swishing. However, I wouldn't describe the experience as being particularly unpleasant, and once you've spat out the product, this sensation disappears.      

One of the interesting side effects of this mouthwash is that it stimulates the production of saliva, which is owed to the inclusion of the xylitol. Whereas other varieties of commercial mouthwash often contain alcohol and will dry the mouth out because of this, Lush's solid tabs do the very opposite - just another way that they support a healthy mouth.     

No matter the length of your journey, these are handy to use at any time of the day: before you head out on your adventure; after a meal; or anytime you feel you need a little freshen up. Despite their vivid colour and shimmery finish, these tabs will leave your mouth feeling and smelling really clean, 


Overall, I enjoyed using these as much as I did the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster variety. These are definitely more suited for those who want a basic, recognisable flavour to clear their palette with, and the beautiful emerald design gives them extra appeal, without taking away anything that might hinder their success.

A bottle of these will be slipped into my bag and used while I'm both at work, and out and about, and I look forward to the many conversations these alluring yet wonderful tabs will surely inspire in the future.

Quantitative Ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate Anhydrous, Sodium Bicarbonate, Silica, Citric Acid, Sorbitol, Malic Acid, Glycerine, Stevia, Xylitol, Flavour, Frosty Holly Lustre, Menthol Crystals, Peppermint Oil, Peppermint Powder, *Limonene.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £5.95 for 45g.

Year Of Original Release: 2016.

Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster Mouthwash Tabs

Despite it being a bit of a mouthful, pun very much intended, this is easily one of the greatest but equal weirdest sounding products to be released from Lush. Although they cannot take credit for the rather wonderful sounding name, which serves as a reference from the classic book Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, they can take credit for the original product that lives inside the bottle.

Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is one of three brand new, innovative solid mouthwashes that Lush have designed and unleashed upon the world. Being the first of its kind to ever grace the cosmetics world, these tabs have a lot to live up to, and Lush have made sure that there's more behind these tongue-twisting names than just a novelty concept.

One of the reasons for Lush's release and expansion of their solid hair care, oral care and solid perfume ranges is to support the growing need for products that are compact, clean and effective and can travel well. With the ease in which people can and do travel around the globe, there is a much larger demand for products that can withstand being thrown around in a bag or suitcase, and definitely ones that can fit inside people's hand luggage and avoid them having to empty their pockets before boarding.

These solid mouthwashes are great for this very reason. Whether you're popping out for a day at the beach, making a weekend trip to see family or jet-setting to somewhere exciting, these 45g bottles can be tucked away with the assurance that you wont arrive at your destination with soggy luggage. Furthermore, they're also alcohol-free so these beauties wont cause you any issues when you're going through customs. No matter the length of your journey, these are handy to use at any time of the day: before you head out on your adventure; after a meal; or anytime you feel you need a little freshen up.

As you would expect from Lush, the ingredients that have gone into making all three of the mouthwash varieties have also been carefully crafted and serve a purpose. Firstly, they all contain sodium bicarbonate, which is a natural softening ingredient that is also known for its ability to clean and deodorise at the same time. This is a key component that will help to clean your tongue, gums and teeth when you're swishing, and will help to rid your mouth of any strong odours that might be present at the time, freshening your breath in the process.

Each of the mouthwashes also contains xylitol - a natural substance that is found in certain fruits and vegetables and is used in foods and cosmetics as a refined sweetener. This ingredient has been proven to cause none of the harmful effects that sugar can have on the teeth, is perfect for diabetics as it doesn't effect blood sugar levels at all, yet offers the sweetness to help give these tabs their interesting but enjoyable flavours.

Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is unique in the fact that it contains menthol crystals, lemon and aniseed oil. From the bottle you can immediately smell the menthol - its crispness intertwines with the bright, fresh lemon oil and forms a light but almost medicinal smell. They remind me a little of cough sweets in a way, with a slight warmness from the aniseed oil in the background.

To use, I found it easiest to take a sip of water and then pop a single tab into my mouth - nibbling it with my back teeth before swishing, gargling and spitting out. Adding the water first meant that I didn't get any bits of tab left in my mouth during or after the experience, and this saved me from having to carry out a second swish to clear these bits between my teeth.

It's recommended that you keep the mouthwash in your mouth for a good minute. This allows the ingredients to get to work at cleaning the mouth and deodorising the tongue so you get the maximum results possible. I should warn you that these tabs do have a bit of a bite to them so you may find that you'll feel the menthol getting to work while you're using one. However, I should point out that this mouthwash was not as harsh on my senses as some of the big-branded ones I have tried from the supermarket.

After using Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, you are left with a combination of all three flavours in your mouth. The lemon is the least prominent but it does work wonders at making your teeth look vibrant and feeling squeaky clean. The menthol takes a back seat post-swish and the aniseed comes through a little more. However, the taste is not overly strong, and while it's recommended that you don't eat for 30 minutes afterwards for 'ultimate oral health', I found that if you do decide to eat, the taste does not overpower the flavour of your food.

It's important to note that you should try to avoid rinsing your mouth out with water after using one of these tabs. This could stop the mouthwash from being as effective as you'd be removing the traces of ingredients that would have otherwise been working on keeping your mouth as clean as possible.

One of the interesting side effects of this mouthwash is that it stimulates the production of saliva, which is owed to the inclusion of the xylitol. Whereas other varieties of commercial mouthwash often contain alcohol and will dry the mouth out because of this, Lush's solid tabs do the very opposite - just another way that they support a healthy mouth.    

Although I haven't had a chance to try this yet, taking these with you on a night out would probably be really beneficial for your oral health. As I mentioned above, alcohol drys out the mouth and overconsumption on a night out could lead, amongst other things, to you feeling parched and with perhaps unsavoury breath. Giving a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster Mouthwash Tab a whirl would definitely perk you up and give your mouth a much-need spring clean.  

Overall, I was really impressed with this product. I loved the taste - I found it very different from the generic mint varieties you can buy in pharmacies and it really did leave my mouth feeling super clean and refreshed. My gums and teeth felt super shiny and this stayed with me for hours, even after I had consumed food.

While these tabs were released in limited numbers in both the Lush Kitchen and Lush Oxford Street, I hope they become permanent members of the Lush family soon. I for one see myself using these regularly, and while two days ago I wouldn't have even considered making a mouthwash part of my daily routine, I now can't imagine going anywhere without a bottle of these beauties to boldly go wherever my life takes me.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate Anhydrous Sodium Bicarbonate, Silica, Citric Acid, Glycerine, Malic Acid, Stevia, Xylitol, Menthol Crystals, Lemon Oil, Aniseed Oil, Gardenia Extract, Sorbitol, Quinine, *Citral, *Limonene, *Linalool, Flavour.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £5.95 for 45g (toughly 80 tabs)

Year Of Original Release: 2016.

Plum Rain Shower Gel

When Lush bring out a brand new product, you'd assume that it would build excitement and intrigue for the majority of Lushies across the globe. However, as of late I feel as if these emotions have been replaced with the likes of disappointment and frustration at times. Not to sound overly dramatic, because ultimately they are just cosmetics, but I can relate to the annoyance of knowing your favourite brand has brought out a new product and you're simply unable to access it. 

As someone who lives a tube ride away from the flagship store, I am what some consider, among the lucky ones. The mere thought of living too far away to make regular visits, is a horrible thought to endure, and one that I hope I never have to experience. With the sudden release of Plum Rain Shower Gel last week, it just brought home to me how very privileged I am right now.

While nothing has been stated officially from Lush, my guess is that this product is somewhat of a tribute to the late musician, Prince. Sporting a vivid, rich and very sultry shade of purple, this product is stunning through and through, and it just so happens that the fragrance is rather spectacular as well.

Interestingly, the ingredient that makes up the base of this shower gel is an umeboshi infusion - a component that hasn't featured in an awful lot of Lush products, and definitely hasn't acted as the key ingredient in any of the company's previous shower gels. This means that Plum Rain stands out as being very different from all of its predecessors, in both scent and texture.

Umeboshi, which translates as 'Japanese Salt Plums', is a popular pickled fruit - one unique in the fact that its taste is both sweet, sour and salty, all at the same time. What makes this ingredient extra special is that its texture, taste and smell sits somewhere in-between a plum and an apricot, and it is this very element that you pick up straight away from the bottle.

From the bottle, the fragrance is very sickly but naturally fruity, and definitely has a strong element of plum to it. When I first sniffed this, it reminded me somewhat of stewed red plums, without the addition of any sugar to mask the natural sour element of the fruit. The more I used the shower gel, the more I recognised the slight resemblance to Welch's Red Grape juice, and I could almost place specific elements of the smell to that of the Capri Sun juice drinks I used to enjoy as a child.

In regards to my comparisons above, I will state that Plum Rain is definitely on the plum side as opposed to smelling of grapes. However, for those who have smelled the aforementioned beverage, you should hopefully understand when I describe the drink as being 'dry, fruity and slightly sour on the senses'. This is not a smell that has made its presence known by Lush before - this is a brand new invention, and one that can't really be compared to any other of the company's gels and creams.

How this shower gel also stands out from the crowd is that the consistency is incredibly thick - easily on par with Butterball but more elasticated and far more generous when it comes to its lather. This product needs very little with each use - a factor that makes the Oxford Street exclusive great value for money and one that I reckon will see me through a year before I need to replace.

In the shower, this beauty lathers up a treat - producing a thick, fragrant foam that coats the skin with ease and leaves you feeling beautiful all over. As I stated above, you need very little with each use; I found that an amount the size of a large raisin will easily coat half of my body and leave me feeling clean and refreshed. My only qualm with Plum Rain is that I found the scent didn't cling to the skin like other Lush gels are known to do, and given how beautifully juicy the fragrance is, I would have hoped I could have worn it around for a while after showering.

Aside from its wonderful smell, its unique consistency and its utility in the shower, the ingredients featured are also highly beneficial to the skin, making this an all-round great product. Umeboshi is known for its ability to reduce the feelings of fatigue and supports the immune system to rid the body of coughs and colds; mandarin oil uses its citrus powers to brighten the skin and revive your senses, so it's an well-rounded crowd pleaser.

Overall, this shower gel is so different from anything that Lush have brought out before, and is so refreshingly unique that I have fallen head over heels in love with it. The colour, the smell, the productivity - this shower gel is a blanket of warming, fruity smells - perfect to brighten your summer days, yet equally comforting in the colder months. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Umeboshi Infusion, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Glycerine, Water, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Limonene, Fresh Plum Juice, Osmanthus Absolute, Petitgrain Oil, Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Lactic Acid, Carrageenan Extract, Linalool, Colour 17200, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

Year of Original Release: 2016.

2017 Price: £5.50 for 100g, £10.95 for 250g, £18.50 for 500g, £32.95 for 1kg.

Scent Family:
Hedgewitch Soap
Plum Pudding Bath Melt
Plum Rain Body Spray
Plum Rain Naked Shower Gel
Plum Rain Shower Gel
Plum Snow Bubble Bar
Ticket To Scrub Salt Scrub

  

Lush Oxford Street Wine And Perfume Pairing

To put the record straight - my experience with wine is far removed from the classy and sophisticated one that wine-drinking is normally associated with. In fact, the last time wine touched my lips, I vowed never to drink again - a statement I'll leave you to decipher for yourselves.

Yet, while browsing in Oxford Street last night, I stumbled across an event that happened to have a couple of places left. Jumping at the chance to not only 'live in the now' but also to experience Lush in yet another context, I signed myself up - a decision that resulted in an incredibly insightful and very life-affirming evening.

Held in the same room as Lush's current perfume gallery, this intimate gathering consisted of seven participants, two very knowledgeable employees and a rather humungous hat. Featuring four of Lush's most complex and interesting fragrances; The President's Hat, B Scent, Breath Of God and Stayin' Alive, the evening began with the former - one of two perfumes featured in the very instalment we were nestled in at the time. 

While the wine was being poured and the atmosphere was setting, we were retold the story of the The President's Hat - a novel written by Helene Gestern and one of Mark Constantine's favourite novels. The inspiration behind this perfume stems from not only the story itself, but because of the founder's love for the book, which makes listening to the beautiful words even more captivating. 

Dining alone in an elegant Parisian brasserie, accountant Daniel Mercier can hardly believe his eyes when President François Mitterrand sits down to eat at the table next to him, and then later departs, leaving behind his hat - one that Daniel decides to keep as a souvenir.

Passed from person to person, the story follows the journey of said hat, and how it leaves an impression in the life of each and every single person it intercepts. We are to believe that the last person it meets is a perfumer who takes inspiration from the smells radiating from the hat - one of warm suede, blustery weather and the remnants of past wearers, and in turn creates a perfume that embodies these notes - welcome to the birth of The President's Hat.

As the story is retold, we are encouraged to smell and savour the wine paired with the fragrance, and breathe life into the story through the use of our senses. There are moments where we share our own journeys with the scents and tastes, and other moments where we are left to enjoy the changes that occur as our senses heighten throughout the evening. 

In turn, we looked at all four of the featured perfumes - the wines that had been chosen to accompany the fragrances and why they had been paired with said scent. This in turn allowed me to explore each of the perfumes in far greater depth than I have ever allowed myself to do so, and I developed a much better, well-rounded appreciation for all four of the fragrances.

What enraptured me was the fact that for the first time in my life, I was able to actually detect the various layers that made up the wines, and I was able to appreciate how and why they had been paired with the perfumes on offer. These wine choices actually intensified some of the perfumes for me as I enjoyed the tipple, and I left having fallen in love with all four of the fragrances all over again.

I went fully expecting my lack of expertise in wine to betray my knowledge and appreciation of smells, and left feeling as if I'd been given a valuable lesson in fragrance along with a generous dose of respect for the complexity of wine. The hosts of the evening (Teddy and Roya) were so knowledgeable and warming in their approach - so much so that I am now inspired to attend future pairing events that Lush decide to organise. What a wonderful way to break into the weekend.

Bouncy Bunny Gift Set

Before now, the appeal of these types of gift sets have never really been that prevalent in my purchases. I much prefer the boxes and tins that I can reuse afterwards, as I find designs such as this one is more of a novelty, and doesn't really serve much of a purpose once the products have been used up. 

Having said this, as one of only two regular gift sets containing Spring Bunny Bath Bomb, I couldn't resist the idea of stocking up in case I didn't manage to grab any of these Oxford Street exclusive ballistics in the store itself. And in  fairness to this brand new release, I think the selection found inside is more than worth the price tag.

This gift set contains:

Spring Bunny Bath Bomb

Bouncy Bunny Shower Jelly

Somewhere Over The Rainbow Soap

Miniature Brightside Bubble Bar

What is great about Bouncy Bunny is that it offers a lovely selection of seasonal and regular products - a set that showcases some of the more popular bath and shower items from this year's Easter range. Given that there is a both a jelly and a soap featured here, it's surprising to consider the fact that collectively this gift set could easily stretch out across a couple of months. While you'll need to  top up with a couple of bath bombs if you're a regular bather, the shower items have longevity, and this would be very appealing to someone looking for a set that's going to last.

Priced up at £18.95, the price tag might at first seem a little high. For the size of the collection and the small list of products inside, I can completely understand why some people might shy away from purchasing this to begin with. However, when you consider the fact that the four products inside add up to a little under £14, and the full-size knot wrap that decorates the outside would cost £4 by itself, I think it works out good value for money. 

Overall, this is a great little gift to offer someone who is not looking to over-indulge in chocolate during the festive season. For a cosmetics fan, this is the perfect pint-sized alternative - one that gives them an overview of some of Lush's new releases, while offering at least one epic night in the tub.  

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £18.95 each.