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Christmas Sweater Bath Bomb

Bath, Bath Bomb, Christmas, christmas 2017, clove, coriander, Ginger, Lemon, limited edition, mustard, Seasonal

My first impression of this year's Christmas range was that I was rather disappointed by the lack of new bath bombs. While there seemed to be enough bubble bars to bring down Santa's sleigh, the two bath bombs that featured amongst these did not do much to excite me about the range as a whole. Having said that, I should point out that the 2017 seasonal collection over all is perhaps far more impressive than it has been for years.

Christmas Sweater confused me for two reasons. Firstly, as a British company, I assumed that they would have chosen the more appropriate term 'jumper', as that's what most of us Brits would have related to more. And secondly, the list of ingredients rang alarm bells for me because they seemed far too familiar.

As it turns out, this seasonal ballistic is very nearly a replica of my least favourite bath bomb ever: Fizzy O' Therapy, albeit far more attractive. In fact, the only difference between the two, scent wise, is that this latest edition features the inclusion of Sicilian lemon oil, which adds a subtle hint of fruitiness to the occasion.

For those not familiar with my terrible experiences of Fizzy O' Therapy, you should know that it is not the scent that deters me from using it. While the design might not be particularly attractive, it is the sewage-coloured water that sends alarm bells ringing, and the gritty consistency that has me running in the opposite direction.

When it comes to Christmas Sweater, neither of these two are relevant, and in fact I happen to think that this bath bomb heeds some of the most stunning bath art that I've seen in a long time from Lush. With a yellow core and red outer shell, this seasonal ballistic creates beautiful rainbows of colour that pattern the surface of the water, and the deep shade of red that the water transpires into afterwards is gorgeous. Having said that, the fragrance is very similar to the aforementioned bath bomb above, and the effect it has on you is equally familiar.

Smell-wise, this bath bomb offers a gentle but very warming fragrance. From the start, you can smell the sweet, spicy layer of cinnamon. It is not anywhere near as 'hot' as it is in Cinders Bath Bomb - instead offering a gentle and very comforting herbal layer. Alongside this, the ginger gives the bath bomb a delicate note that is almost floral, while both the cloves and lemon oil round the fragrance off with a sweet and subtley fruity smell.

Despite the bath bomb featuring many quite potent ingredients, I was surprised to find that the overall affect is quite a subtle one. This is not a bath bomb that will blow your socks off; this is one that will gently ease them from your feet and coax the warmth back into your bones. This is a wonderful remedy to enjoy after a long, hard day at work.

What is great about Christmas Sweater Bath Bomb is that not only does it smell like a winter wonderland, but that each ingredient has been added to stimulate the muscles, release the tension and banish the chills that you may be harvesting in this often unforgiving season. Although this bath bomb isn't the most nourishing one that I'd had from Lush, it does leave your skin feeling smooth, soft and moisturised - enough to banish those dry areas brought on by the harsh conditions outside. While I'm not looking forward to the colder weather setting in, I do know that I'm now prepared for what to use, if and when that eventually happens.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Ginger Powder, Mustard Powder, Perfume, Coriander Seed Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Water (Aqua), Propylene, Glycol Cinnamyl, Alcohol *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 14700, Colour 15985:1, Colour 19140:1, Colour 47005, Colour 45410, Colour 17200.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Hokkaido Bath Bomb

cedarwood, clove, cocoa butter, Discontinued, Ginger, lemongrass, limited edition, Lush Kitchen, sandalwood, soya milk

With so many products left to review, I have found myself reaching for the most interesting ones as opposed to the ones that have been in my possession for the longest amount of time. Therefore, a miniature bath bomb with very little colour, doesn't have any hope of being noticed when its competing with far more interesting counterparts.

Hokkaido Bath Bomb was first released in the Lush Kitchen back in January 2017 - appearing to generate little excitement as it remained available for the whole week and into the successive week as well. Although it wasn't a product that I had tried before, I found myself placing an order without feigning too much excitement. Upon arrival, it joined the stack of bath bombs that were waiting to be tried and tested, and it wasn't until I used one for the first time yesterday, that I realised how much I had underestimated this little gem.

One of Lush's smaller bombs, this limited edition ballistic appears a little on the expensive side to begin with. However, while I would say that the £4.25 price tag is definitely on the high side and doesn't necessarily reflect the overall quality of experience that you get, there is good reason as to why it is more than you would expect it to be.

Containing a bigger range of oils than perhaps any other bath bomb I have seen from Lush, Hokkaido is surprisingly subtle in smell: a factor that would normally dampen my experience with a product, but in this case made me appreciate this ballistic far more than I initially thought that I would.

A combination of ginger, clove bud and cedarwood oils gives this product a gentle, spicy and rather warming aroma. Firstly, I should start by saying that I was surprised by how subtle the overall fragrance was. This is perhaps one of Lush's most delicate scents that features clove bud oil, and it's one so gentle that you would almost expect to lose the smell completely in the bath tub.

The cloves and ginger offer a light, herbal aroma, while the inclusion of the lemongrass gives this bath bomb an element of grassiness to it. What is rather peculiar about this arrangement is the fact that the lemongrass doesn't offer any of the citrus elements that you would normally expect. If you were to compare Avoshower to this bath bomb, it's unbelievable to think that the two products could share the same component: they are so far apart in fragrance.

Alongside these different smells, this bath bomb also contains cocoa butter, rice bran oil and soya milk powder. Together, these three components make this one of the most moisturising bath bombs that Lush have ever released. For something so small, you would not believe how thick and nourishing the water was after one of these had fully dissolved.

While the bath water ends up a slightly murky shade of green, there is an impressive blanket of foam that rests on the surface, and you can see the droplets of oil in the water as your bathe. For this reason, this is definitely not suited for bathers who dislike the greasier bombs, as you can definitely feel the impact of the cocoa butter in the water. Furthermore, I would not recommend that you try to wash your hair in the water as it's likely to impact the overall condition of your locks. Moreover, I would ensure that you give the sides of your tub a wipe down afterwards as some of these oils tend to smear themselves across the surface.

Overall, the only aspect of this bath bomb that lets itself down is its colour performance in the water. Yet, the purpose of Hokkaido is to provide a sensual experience with additional skin-softening properties, and so I cannot actually imagine the bath bomb working as well if these additional colours were included. This is definitely one that I would buy again in the future - it's just a shame that many people would have missed out on this one because it isn't the most interesting to look at, nor the most exciting on paper.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Laureth 4, Soya Milk Powder, Perfume, Rice Bran Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Cedarwood Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Ginger Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Gardenia Extract, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.75 each.

Year Of Original Release: ?

Spice Curls Soap

cardamon, cayenne pepper, chilli, clove, Ginger, kaolin, limited edition, Lush Kitchen, paprika, rice, Soap, spearmint

A good percentage of those who grew up in the 90's will remember the Spice Girls with at least a small bout of fondness. Whether they joined one of the thousands of tribute groups that formed in playgrounds across the country, or simply bopped to their favourite songs in the comfort of their own bedroom, everyone was caught up with the Brit-pop sensation in some small way.

While the inclusion of ginger seems to be the only reference Spice Curls Soap has to the famous group, there is something very sassy and sultry about the aroma. It is this very factor that makes me believe it is the ingredients and powerful aroma that form a link between the product and one of the biggest girl groups of all time.

So where to start with this complex and very interesting soap? I'll begin by stating that Spice Curls is a wholesome cluster of herbs and spices - a thick crescendo of smells that lace together to form one of the strongest smelling soaps I have ever experienced from Lush. While its use is definitely limited to the colder months of the year, this is a soap that leaves a lasting impression on both your body and your mind; it's not one that you forget easily, for better or worse.

With cardamom as the key ingredient, this soap is warm and slightly smoky, with very dry but subtle notes of what I can only describe as lemon. This is a byproduct of the cardamom though, not a stand alone ingredient, so don't expect this soap to be fruity. Alongside this, there is also an accumulation of cloves and cinnamon underneath, which add an equal measure of heat and spice. Both of these two components have their own natural sweetness, but I would not describe this soap as being sweet in the same way that you might describe the likes of Hot Toddy or Cinders.

Instead, the layers of ginger, paprika, ground chilli and cayenne pepper make this a strong, grounded spicy aroma, while the inclusion of peppermint adds a crisp but full-flavoured fragrance. This reminds me of both Pumpkin Soap and Jacko Ballistic, albeit much stronger, slightly creamier and more rounded.

What I will say is that Spice Curls is one of the most full-bodied soaps I have ever come across from Lush. It's potency will greet you before you've even opened the box, and it continues to dominate any room you leave it resting in. As you can imagine, the smell transpires well in the shower, and is definitely an effective alternative to minty or bright citrusy smells, if you're looking for something to wake you up.

This is quite a soft soap, as in it gives way a little when you squeeze it, so I would suggest that you pat it dry in between uses so as not to allow the water to shrink your block quicker than you would like. Having said that, the consistency works in your favour as it is such a generous latherer, and takes very little stimulation to produce a thick, creamy and very fragrant foam to wash yourself with. I'd say that this is a soap you don't need to hold under the running water too much in the shower: it would probably diminish fairly quickly this way, and you could easily create an amass of lather away from the stream and then massage this across your skin.

Featuring ground rice as one of the key ingredients, you'll notice that this soap also has a slight gritty texture to it. This allows the product to offer a gentle exfoliation while you're cleaning yourself, and I love how soft my skin felt without needing to put too much pressure on my body while I was using the soap. This would be great for those who dislike scratchy scrubs, or for those who have sensitive skin, as you barely notice the exfoliation because it is so gentle. However, the results are just as impressive as some of Lush's sugar-based scrubs.

As to be expected, the smell of this stayed on my skin for a long time afterwards, which is part of the reason why I believe it is more suited for the winter months. I don't quite know how I'd feel being able to smell a strong thread of cloves and cardamom on my skin when the sun was out and making me sweat!

Impressively, once I had towelled myself down and let my skin completely dry, I was surprised to find that my hands and arms felt really soft and shiny - my hands in particular sharing the same feeling I get when I've applied hand cream to them. The only negative aspect about this soap, aside from it being suited to certain seasons, is that I also feel as if I'd have to be in a certain mood to use this. As it is very heavy on the senses, this is not a soap I would want to use all the time; neither is it a soap that I think would sit well as a hand soap - its potency would be quite off-putting for those wanting to wash their hands.

Overall, I found that I liked this soap a lot more than I was expecting to. The combination of its strong smell, soft appearance and lasting smoothness means that this is a soap I reckon that you need to try at least once, if only to Spice Up Your Life. However, if you dislike potent fragrances, this is one you are gonna Wannabe missing.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Kaolin,Ground Rice, Sorbitol, Fresh Ginger Root, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cardamom Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Spearmint Oil, Organic Hungarian Paprika, Fair Trade Organic Cinnamon Powder, Organic Ground Cayenne Pepper, Organic Ground Chilli, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearate, *Cinnamal, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Colour 15510.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.50 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2008.

Elf On The Shelf FUN Bar

Bath, Christmas, christmas 2016, cinnamon, FUN, Ginger, Grapefruit, limited edition, Seasonal, Shower, Solid

The last couple of years has seen an explosion in the amount of new FUN bars that Lush have brought out for us, seasonal and regular. It seems that there is something very appealing about those scented tubes of squidgy dough, and the fact that they're great value for money as well as incredibly versatile means that I can envisage the empire of FUN will continue to expand with each and every passing year.

As expected, the seasonal range is no different this year - with three brand new variations to choose from, each with a very different fragrance to enjoy. Whether you're buying for yourself or grabbing a few for stocking stuffers, Elf On The Shelf is definitely one that I would wholeheartedly recommend that you try for yourself.

Sharing its scent with the now discontinued Jilted Elf Shower Jelly, this is the first time that vegans will be able to enjoy this fragrance as the aforementioned product unfortunately contained honey - a fact that has caused me many a heartache during my time as a Lushie. With such a unique smell, this is one that needs to be experienced by anyone in need of a 'pick me up' this winter, and the fact that this product will be readily available across the world fills me with joy.

The fragrance found in this FUN bar is based on a cocktail that the creator came across whilst visiting New York, and although there isn't a trace of vodka in this brand new release, the shower jelly did feature the alcoholic beverage to help replicate the scent of the original drink. Perhaps it is this latter fact that makes Elf On The Shelf so much more appealing to me - I strongly believe that the aroma lends itself better in this format. Perhaps the exclusion of the vodka alongside the honey makes it slightly less potent and more emphasis can be placed on the fruiter side.

Containing grapefruit, cinnamon and ginger oil, the smell of this is rather difficult to describe and it's one you have to experience yourself to fully understand what I mean when I say the following. Firstly, the grapefruit is definitely the overall governing note. However, the fruit is not anywhere near as citrusy or tart as the likes of Happy Hippy or Bom Perignon Bath Bomb. It reminds me more of the grapefruit slices you can buy in tins, where they've lost their sourness and reside in more of a gentle, sweet and very pleasing fruity smell.

Alongside this, both the cinnamon and the ginger thread layers of spice without being too overpowering. You can smell the warmth of both ingredients from get go - they offer a fragrance that almost reminds me of spicy tea, yet neither takes away any of the natural sweetness of the fruit. They remind me slightly of old-school chewy sweets but I cannot for the life of me place the exact sweet it's almost identical to.

What you should consider is the fact that this aroma smells like absolutely nothing else that Lush have ever released before. There is no point me trying to compare the scent to other items - it's as original as they come and this is such a great selling point to me.

As if the smell wasn't enough, I could not believe just how strong the fragrance was when in use, and even more impressive was how strong it was on the skin and how long it lingered on me afterwards. I found that I could smell traces of this aroma some 4 hours after I had used the bar and this has never happened to me with any of Lush's FUN before.

Whether or not it's because this year's FUN bars are preservative free, but Elf On A Shelf also happens to be the smoothest and most gentlest FUN bar I have ever tried. While some can feel quite starchy and gloopy - two traits I put down to the corn flour and talc, this particular variation was light and soft and lathered up a treat when stimulated with water.

As with any FUN bar, you can hold a small amount under the running water to create a bubble bar, use a smidgen in replacement of your regular shower gel or soap, or even lather a little in your hair to use as an alternative to shampoo. Whichever way you decide to indulge in your FUN, just know that this is easily one of my favourite favourites and definitely a product I am going to want to stock up before the season is out.

Quantitative Ingredients: Cornflour, Talc, Glycerine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Ginger Oil, Grapefruit Oil, Gardenia Extract, Limonene, Eugenol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Lillal, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Perfume, Rosie Red Lustre, Colour 14700, Colour 42090, Paper Legs.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £5 for 200g.

Year Of Original Release: 2016.

Scent Family:
Elf On The Shelf FUN Bar
Jilted Elf Shower Jelly

Elf On The Shelf FUN Bar

Bath, Christmas, christmas 2016, cinnamon, FUN, Ginger, Grapefruit, limited edition, Seasonal, Shower, Solid

Hot Java Bath Bomb

Bath, Bath Bomb, cinnamon, coriander, Ginger, juniperberry, limited edition, ylang ylang

Lush tend to release products with particular spices at certain points of the year. For example, cinnamon and cloves are very much associated with the winter/Christmas period, so it's unlikely you'll find much with this smell throughout the rest of the year. This is a royal shame as sometimes I just need something to perk me up in the evening, and a ballistic with fruit and spices would do the job perfectly. That's why, when Lush released Hot Java Ballistic as a year-long bath bomb, many Lush fans were very happy indeed.

Unfortunately, this happiness was short-lived. First released in 2005, the bath bomb only lasted a little over a year on the shelves, and was discontinued in 2007 due to reasons unknown. Whether it was removed to offer space for new releases, or down to its unimpressive turn over, this product barely left the ground before it was removed from stores and never seen again. Thankfully, Lush brought this beauty back a couple of weeks ago in the Kitchen, and the dust was removed on this rather unique bath ballistic.

Packed full of natural uplifting herbs; cinnamon, coriander and juniperberry, Hot Java offers a warming, spicy fragrance with a twist. With a surplus amount of ginger in here, in the form of oil, powder and absolute, this bath bomb is the perfect remedy for anyone needing to banish a cold or coax out any unwanted sniffles. Although not one of my favourite smells, I will admit that it gives the product a lovely warm and rather hot after-scent. It's not sweet like Hot Toddy or Glogg - rather more dry and dusty with a warming musky ginger smell, a touch of herbal coriander and a big helping of spicy cinnamon. To finish off, Hot Java also has a touch of orange zest which gives this ballistic a warming, well-rounded, multi-layered scent.

As you can see in my demonstration video, this bath bomb is a fast fizzer - bleeding out waves of red colour across the surface of the water and producing one of the brightest baths I have had in a while. This vivid display remained prominent throughout the entire bathing experience, and even though the bath bomb was stimulating enough, the colour aided this feeling of warmth and comfort.

Unfortunately, it also filled the tub with a surplus amount of cinnamon sticks, which sunk to the bottom of the tub very quickly, but definitely didn't eradicate the many problems that they created by being there in the first place. For those of you who dislike bathing products with 'extra baggage', you'll often make an exception for the ballistics that might have one or two bonus surprises. This is because it's easy enough to scoop out the flowers/herbs etc. before you get in.

However, with Hot Java, my entire bath tub was full of shards of cinnamon sticks, which when you tried to scoop them up would form a flurry under the surface and make it very difficult to grab. This meant that I had to sit on the rough pieces throughout the entire bath, and be careful not to cause too much movement in the water for fear that the shards would get into my hair or coat my body.

As for the smell, I was able to pick up both the cloves and cinnamon, which intensified when the bath bomb had been dissolved. I was also able to pick up the heated scent of ginger, which mellowed in the bath tub and let the other fragrances come through. Overall, this ballistic was surprisingly weaker than I was expecting for one so full of spices and herbs. This is not to say that this is a bad thing - in fact it was refreshingly original.

Lush describes Hot Java as being a ballistic you can rely on 'every time you need warming up. It's for cold days or days when you've got a cold or when you've been out in the cold and need warming up right through. It's good for when you're feeling creaky after exercising too. Run a warm bath, drop in the Hot Java and let the spices soak right in.'

Despite my distain for some aspects of this bath bomb, I will admit that it did make me feel really relaxed and warm. The deep red-coloured water helped me to feel sleepy and contented, wherein the slight fragrance massaged my tense body parts and helped me to unwind. It even got rid of the headache that was threatening to erupt at that moment!

Overall, this is a bath ballistic that probably won't be making a permanent comeback. With the likes of Melting Snowman Bath Melt, Phoenix Rising and Hot Toddy Bubble Bar, Hot Java somewhat pales in comparison and cannot compete against these far more superior products. If Lush were to bring it back, I would definitely be tempted to buy a couple more. However, it's one I could live without.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Cinnamon Stick, Perfume, Ginger Oil, Cinnamon Powder, Ginger Powder, Coriander Oil, Ginger Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Juniperberry Oil, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Farnesol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Colour 14700.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £3.95 each.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2005.