Elsie The Giraffe (You're Havin' A Bath)

Elsie the Giraffe (You've Havin' A Bath) begs the question: what does it mean to be an adult. Time and time again, Lush bring out limited edition cutie pies such as this product, and the whole community goes a little gaga over its cute factor and whimsical merits. It seems that bathers all appreciate a little company in the tub, even if that company comes in the form of a giraffe-shaped Bubble Bar. 

As I have said in the past, I do not rate reusable bubble bars as much as regular ones, if only because I don't believe that they are as moisturising or as strong in scent. Having said this, I was rather impressed to discover that this limited edition Mother's Day product was definitely noticeably more nourishing in the bath tub than its predecessors, and the fragrance also appeared to be more prominent.

Featuring lime, grapefruit and lemon oils, this is a Bubble Bar with a strong, zesty citrusy aroma. Whereas it is normally the lemon oil that takes centre stage, this time around sees the lime making the biggest impression, which is perfect for someone like myself who prefers the lesser-used spritzy aroma. 

While it doesn't appear to share its scent with anything else, there is definitely something very familiar about the aroma, which I've put down to its simplicity. This is a very straightforward zesty smell - different from Calacas and Five 'O Clock Whistle in that it is far brighter and citrusy overall. Imagine the intensity of the Brightside Bubble Bar (or Cheer Up Buttercup for those lucky enough to have tried one), but lime-orientated instead of orange or lemon.

Alongside this is a fresh, uplifting note of grapefruit, which elevates and intensifies the lime, and gives it a smell that isn't far off what the green Starburst sweet smells like, albeit far stronger. This would be a great product to use alongside a bath bomb or bath melt - to elevate and intensify the overall smell of the bath cocktail. However, by itself it is also suffice at what it does, and I found that I enjoyed it far more than I was originally expecting.      

As with all of Lush's reusable bubble bars, this one works in the same way: simply hold the bar under the running tap, and the running water will stimulate a mass of fluffy bubbles. While I didn't find the bubbles as velvety-soft, or as prevalent as I would with a regular bubble bar, the water more than made up for this.

After submerging myself in the tub, I found that my skin felt smoother and appeared a little brighter than it had beforehand. The inclusion of so many citrus oils in the ingredients, means that this product was not only radiant in smell, but also left my skin feeling like it has been kissed by the sun. I was also surprised to find that the smell was strong enough to withstand all of the other products I used alongside it, and it did permeate my skin enough that I could smell it faintly on my body afterwards.

On the negative side, I found that the colour of the water wasn't as vivid as I was hoping it would be. While I tend to have an issue with yellow-coloured water, due to the nature of where my mind goes when I think about other liquids of similar colour, I was hoping that this would heed a bright colour to match the design. Instead, I found that the water turned a very pale shade of yellow and needed a little top from another bath bomb, to make it colourful enough for my liking.

Overall, this is definitely going to appeal to those who love bright, zesty, citrusy scents. Although it wouldn't win any awards for complexity, it does offer a wonderful, uplifting fragrance, and one that pairs really nicely with Lemony Flutter Body Conditioner - if you're looking for a bathing companion to pair it with. 

The enticing design and child-like playfulness will definitely make Elsie The Giraffe (You're Havin' A Bath), a product that you may wish to buy someone who would appreciate a good bath over a chocolate egg this Easter. The two I have will be more than suffice to last me across the year, but I would definitely consider another couple if it was to appear in next year's line-up.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Perfume, Cornflour, Titanium Dioxide, Bergamot Oil, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute, *Limonene, *Linalool, Geraniol, Colour 17200, Colour 42090, Vegan Dark Chocolate, Candy Leaf Candy Flowers.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017 In The UK.

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Mother Earth Bath Bomb

Lush seem to be on a roll with their magnified bath bombs at the moment: 2017 is definitely the year to 'go large' in that respect. Yet, up until now, I have not really had an opportunity to appreciate the full merits of the monstrous releases, if only because my experiences have been limited to extra large versions of bath bombs that I'm not not particularly enamoured with to begin with.

However, my perceptions were immediately altered after trying out Mother Earth for the first time. This seasonal release is a marvel in its bigger format - not only because the design is perfect suited to being made on a much larger scale, but because the fragrance is also one that deserves to be celebrated in a higher dose.

Made primarily of tangerine, pine, cypress and peppermint oils, this limited edition bath bomb is as refreshing as it is relaxing. Sharing the same aroma as World Piece Bath Bomb, this magnified beauty has a wonderful thread of peppermint. This is as crisp and as refreshing as you would expect the mint to be, but it is not as sharp or potent as the likes of Intergalactic. 

Alongside this, there is a wonderfully robust layer of cypress oil - offering a warm, woody element that works at removing the sting of the mint. This component gives the bath bomb a more rounded fragrance, and adds an almost resinous sweetness to it, which makes it that much more wonderful.

Both the pine and the tangerine add their own subtle layers of smell. The latter ingredient works more at elevating the other ingredients, and adds a very gentle but not very pronounced citrus smell; the pine oil brings its own dry, green-like aroma, which only heightens the bath bomb's refreshing qualities and makes it a little more interesting.

Despite its size, Mother Earth is not necessarily as vivid as you expect it to be, to look at. With its pastel green and blue exterior, it's not one that would draw much of a crowd merely because of its design. However, you only have to place this one in the water to experience a display so spectacular that you'd be hard pressed not to want to buy another one straight after using it.

At first, the bath bomb begins to spin violently: projecting waves of white foam across the surface, while bobbing up and down as it makes it way across the tub. This goes on for a good five minutes until you start to notice that the water is turning a beautiful turquoise colour, as streams of pink begin to ooze and froth across the water.

As Mother Earth continues to dissolve, the water slowly darkens until it forms a deep purple colour. On the surface, the multiple colours intensify and begin to pattern the surface with vivid greens and pinks, blues and whites. The whole of the tub is quite literally decorated with colour, and then stays for a short time before dissolving away. In the end, you're left with a beautiful purple bath, and layers of white foam that act a little like a blanket during your experience. In addition, the bath bomb also heeds a little lustre, which floats under the surface and shimmers when you run your hand through the water.

What I loved about this bath bomb was that it was not that much more intense than the normal sized World Piece, which meant that the aroma was far from potent in the bath. Yet this limited edition offered a much more colourful experience than its older sibling, far outweighing what you would get if you used two of the originals (which would match the price of one of these.)

At the same time, the fragrance stayed throughout my entire soak, and I was impressed when I discovered that I could still detect the bath water after using a potent amount of Avoshower Shower Gel alongside it. Having said that, I was a little disappointed to find that I could not detect the fragrance of this at all, once I had towelled myself down. As I said in my review of World Piece, this would be impeccable as a liquid perfume, so any chance for me to wear the smell on my skin would have been a very welcome bonus.

Overall, I think the £7.95 price tag is a bargain. You definitely get much more for your money than if you were to buy two smaller bath bombs. While not my favourite bath product from this year's Mother's Day range, I would highly recommend that you invest in one of these when you can, and I will be buying myself another couple before the season is finished.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Cream of Tartar, Water, Siberian Pine Nut Oil, Tangerine Oil, Cypress Oil, Peppermint Oil, *Limonene, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Candy Pink Lustre and Frosty Holly Lustre, Colour 45410, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £7.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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Your Mother Should Know Bubble Bar

In recent years, I've noticed an incline in the number of seasonal items that have been released with the same scent as another product. At first I thought this could have been a sign that Lush were running out of ideas for new fragrances; either that or they were being somewhat 'lazy' with their designs. However, I've come to realise that seasonal products are Lush's biggest selling point, and by getting new customers to fall in love with certain popular smells this way, it presents an opportunity for the company to convert these fans into long-term consumers.

Your Mother Should Know is by all means a beautiful product. Vivid in colour, vibrant in scent - this limited edition Mother's Day Bubble Bar is everything that fans, old and new, look for when they browse the shelves of their local Lush. Sporting a bright pink, blue and yellow demeanour, you'd be hard-pressed not to want to pick up this seasonal release and give it a sniff. 

Sharing its scent with one of Lush's biggest sellers, Frozen Bath Bomb, this Bubble Bar has an awful lot to offer new users, and won my heart over far quicker than I was expecting it to. While I do think that the price of this is a little expensive for what it is, especially when you consider the fact that it is marginally smaller than The Comforter Bubble Bar, it can be spread across multiple uses, which makes it better value for money than buying a handful of bubble bars.

Featuring a sensual blend of rosewood, grapefruit and neroli, this sweet floral aroma is perfect for those who are looking for something bright and uplifting. What I love about this fragrance is that, while the combination is both light and refreshing on the senses, it is also robust enough to hold its own in the bath. This makes it the ultimate aroma to entangle yourself in this springtime, and will be one that I stock up on before the season has finished.

What is so beautiful about the smell of this bubble bar is that the neroli and the grapefruit combine perfectly - offering an equal blend of sweet, heady floral components, with a gently, fruity layer alongside it. I would definitely say that the grapefruit is not at all zesty in this pairing - it's more spritzy if anything, making this a well-rounded but very delicate fragrance overall.

What makes Your Mother Should Know Bubble Bar so fitting for this time of year, is the fact that not only is it very vibrant, which helps to elevate your mood when you're in the tub; but it is also well suited to use when the weather is slightly warmer, and you want something that isn't particularly potent or cloying on the senses.

As if I wasn't already bowled over by the design and aroma of this bubble bar, the product went on to impress me even more when I discovered that it was so easy to crumble under the running tap. It felt almost like I had a slice of cake between my fingers, as I needed very little pressure to break it down. Furthermore, the different colours meant that I could either choose a particular coloured bath, or combine the three together to create a beautiful spring-green bath.

Being the indulgent person I like to be when trying out a product for the first time, I chose to use the whole bubble bar in a single go, and found that it produced an impressive amount of bubbles. I think that you cold easily get 4-5 uses out of this bar; each one heeding an amass of light, fluffy, fragrant bubbles that'll cocoon you inside the tub and make it very difficult to leave.

In addition, the bath water was silky-soft and velvet to the touch, meaning that my skin felt incredible after towelling myself down. This is definitely a very moisturising product, and one that people should use if they want something nourishing, without having to bathe in any of the excess oils that usually comes with bath melt and oils.

Overall, this bubble really elevated my mood. Not only is it visually pleasing and offers the perfect amount of fragrance in the bath, but it will leave you feeling and smelling like a spring fairy. While its name suggests that only mothers should be told about this bubble bar, this is definitely one that should be bought and appreciated by everyone.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Perfume, Neroli Oil, Grapefruit Oil, Orange Flower Absolute, Rosewood Oil, Rose Oil, *Limonene, *Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, *Citral, *Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Colour 42090, Colour 45410, Colour 47005.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £5.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017. 

Scent Family:

Frozen Bath Bomb

Frozen Liquid Perfume
Frozen Solid Perfume

Happy Happy Joy Joy Conditioner

Sea Spray Hair Mist

Shine So Bright Hair Balm

Snowie Bubble Bar

Your Mother Should Know Bubble Bar

Video coming soon

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Ups-A-Daisy Bath Bomb

Although it's rare for me to feign any level of enthusiasm when it comes to floral fragrances, I was definitely really excited about trying this brand new bath bomb out in the tub. Released earlier this week as part of the Mother's Day range, this brand new ballistic is reserved for anyone who enjoys a good, colourful soak.

Ups-A-Daisy Bath Bomb is a celebration of freshly laundered clothes - a homely, delicate smell that reminds us of clean sheets and mismatched socks strewn across the laundry basket. No matter what age we become, there is something very comforting and warming about these scents, and many of you will no doubt have fond memories attached to all of the above.

Containing rosewood, rose and orange oil, this limited edition ballistic offers a fresh, uplifting floral fragrance - one that is robust enough to stay with you throughout the whole bathing experience, even when you might use other products that have the potential to override the scent in the water. However, the aroma is not in anyway heady or overly potent, so would suit those who prefer lighter floral smells such as Frozen and Dorothy Bubble Bar.

All three of the components featured here compliment each other so well. The rosewood brings forward a light, citrusy fragrance with elements of woodiness that gives this bath bomb a wonderful grounded base. Alongside this there is a delicate note of rose. This is not anywhere near as musky or overbearing as it usually is in floral arrangements. Instead, it offers a gentle floral layer that adds a little sweetness.

Alongside both of these components, the orange oil is presented as a warming cuddle that wraps itself around the whole fragrance. Rather than offering the bright and zesty citrus aroma that you would expect the ingredient to do, the orange actually adds a gentle, almost musky fruit layer to the bath bomb. This  elevates the floral and woody notes found in the product and makes this a very beautiful aroma indeed.

In all fairness, Ups-A-Daisy Bath Bomb is definitely far more colourful than the aroma would suggest, which makes it a great investment for those who dislike strong-smelling products, but enjoy the elaborate displays that they create in the bath tub.

This is quite a slow, quiet fizzer and will float on the surface for a good ten minutes, so I would suggest that you submerge yourself into the water and enjoy the show from a front row seat. At first, the bath bomb releases a combination of orange and white waves of colour. These, accompanied with the shape of the bath bomb, create some truly stunning patterns across the surface of the water.

Once the outer side of the bath bomb has dissolved and the water hits the pink or blue centre, more and more colours begin to emerge from within the middle of the ballistic. Over time, Ups-A-Daisy Bath Bomb will paint the water with a whole rainbow of different colours, and you'll be left with swirls and green and blues, oranges, purples and pinks. I was amazed by how beautiful the water looked once this bomb had fully disappeared.

By the end, the water became a thick, translucent shade of orange and I was impressed to discover that there was a slight glean on the surface, which suggested that this bath bomb was going to be highly moisturising on the skin. As it turned out, I was correct - you can feel how soft the water is when you climb into the bath tub and my skin definitely benefitted from the various oils that were used to create this.

Once out of the tub, I was a little disappointed to discover that the fragrance didn't transfer that much onto my skin. While I felt soft and nourished afterwards, the scent was very weak; I had to hold my nose right up to my skin to detect any of the notes from the bath water, and I found even then that it was only really the orange that had survived the journey. 

Overall, this bath bomb is a great new addition to the Lush family, and I reckon it'll prove really popular. If you enjoy floral smells, if you're looking for a vivid display in the tub, and if you're looking for something to leave you feeling really well moisturised, this might be one you'll need to pick yourself up the next time you're in a Lush store.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Rosewood Oil, Rose Absolute, Cream of Tartar, Water, Sodium Laureth, Sulfate Lauryl Betaine, Geraniol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Snowflake Lustre and Fandango Lustre, Colour 45410, Colour 42090, Colour 47005.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.50 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017. 

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Baa Bar Bubble Bar

Lush know that no matter how old you are or how long you've been into Lush, if a product is released in the shape of a creature, it's going to be a big seller. As a consumer, I speak for most people when I say that we adore products in the shape of characters, as there is something even more entertaining about sharing a bath with a bubble bar that offers up a little of its own personality.  
      
For this reason, Baa Bar Bubble Bar was going to be a guaranteed favourite amongst Lush fans, even if it turned out to be one of the least popular fragrances within the Mother's Day range. As it so happens, the scent of this, along with the catchy name and 'cute factor' means that this limited edition ticks all of the boxes that make a great product.

Firstly, I was surprised to find that this bubble bar is a little on the small side. When compared to a regular-sized bar, this is probably about two thirds of the size, which does make it a little expensive, given that it still has the same price as the bigger ones. Having said that, I would still say that you can get two good quality baths out of this bar, so it does work out better value than a bath bomb.

Secondly, don't assume that this bubble bar is going to be a boring experience because of its mostly white design. What impressed me was the fact that when you break it open, the centre is filled with the same vivid purple colour that the bubble bar sports as a face. For this reason, expect to enjoy a beautiful, rich violet coloured bath when using this product. 

Featuring bergamot, clove and ylang ylang oil, with jasmine, rose and violet absolute, this limited edition smells like a packet of parma violets. It's a gentle, powdery aroma - one that is light enough to get lost when surrounded by other products in a shop, but one that comes out of its shell when you get it home and into the bathroom.

For those who have had the privilege of using Bathos Bubble Bar, you might recognise the fact that Baa Bar offers the same musky violet scent. While not as potent or as sugary as the likes of Tuca Tuca, this bubble bar is sweet and warming, with an almost cloudy floral smell. The inclusion of the bergamot oil adds a subtle grassiness to it, which makes it seem fresh and slightly refreshing, but it is not in any way as strong as Kerbside Violet Liquid Perfume or Ultraviolet Bubble Bar.

The bubble bar is easy to use - simply crumbled it under the running tap and allow the water to stimulate and produce a mound of fluffy, fragrant bubbles. While you may need to swish your hands around to generate a few more bubbles, this bubble bar is generous enough to leave you with a strong-smelling and very beautiful looking bath. 

The inclusion of the soya milk is definitely noticeable, as I found that the water was velvety-smooth to the touch, and my skin didn't need to be exposed to the water for very long to recognise how softening and moisturising this bubble bar is. In fact, I was rather impressed by how good my skin looked and felt, when I had only used half of one of these in the water.         

This is definitely going to be a really popular seller for those who like violet smells, or just sweet floral scents in general. I happen to love this bubble bar, and only wish that it was a little bigger for the price you pay for it. Although they haven't swept me off of my feet like the Tweet Bubble Bars did last year, I do plan on harvesting a flock of these limited editions before the season is over. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Rose Absolute, Violet Leaf Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Lavender Powder, Soya Milk, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 17200, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Coming soon!

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Pink Custard Shower Jelly

While I may be showing my age and perhaps my maturity levels when I say this, but when I first read about Pink Custard Shower Jelly, two thoughts immediately sprung to mind: a certain character called Mr Blobby and his obsession for 'Blobby Custard'; and the Teletubbies and their love for Tubby Toast. If either of these references confuse you, you're either much younger than me or far more mature, and for this you should be congratulated.

This brand new Mother's Day release is supposedly the hybrid child of jelly and custard - a concept that's rather alien to me because, dare I say it: I have never had jelly and custard as a combined dessert before. However, now is as good a time as any to test the waters for the first time, and what better way of doing this than by getting jiggy with some shower jelly.  

What confuses me a little is that Lush claim that this limited edition shares its scent with Think Pink Bath Bomb. To look at the ingredients list, there is definitely enough evidence to suggest that the two are related in some way. Yet, the reality is that the shower jelly pertains a very different aroma than the bath bomb, and when presented with the two together, there is clearly a defined difference.

Containing lavender, tonka, vanilla and neroli, Pink Custard Shower Jelly is a sweet and very comforting affair. From the tub, the former ingredient comes forward at once - offering a herbal and slightly malty aroma. Coupled with the tonka absolute, you might forgive these two components for presenting a smell reminiscent of Twilight Shower Gel, albeit very loosely I must add. I should perhaps point out that this jelly DOES NOT harvest the same fragrance as the popular shower gel, but fans who have tried both of these will be able to recognise similar traits that reference this scent family.

Underneath these two notes is a thread of neroli. This addition brings a gentle layer of sweet, honeyed floral undertones that helps to elevate the layers of lavender and tonka. There is something almost metallic about neroli, which gives Pink Custard Shower Jelly it's crisp and noticeably cooling properties. 

With the inclusion of both golden syrup and coconut milk, this jelly is a little different in consistency than most of the others. Firstly I noticed that the jelly was slightly softer in consistency - as in it was slightly squishier and more elasticated than the usual. This meant that it was marginally easier to manipulate between the palms of my hands, so I was able to generate a better lather without the jelly slipping between my fingers.

In addition, the jelly seemed to produce a slightly creamier lather, which when coupled with the carrageenan extract, made Pink Custard incredibly soft to handle and use. I was impressed when the jelly suds turned into thick, silky-soft foam between my palms, and spread across my skin to leave my body feeling instantly soft and moisturised.

What I discovered about this shower jelly was that the fragrance didn't develop any further in the shower, and despite the heat of the water the aroma didn't appear particularly stronger than it had been before I began to use it. Therefore, I would say that this is a product for those who appreciate quite mild and gentle smells, as although Pink Custard is by no means a weak scent, it's a little like American Pie in the sense that it's not so 'in your face'.

Disappointingly, I found that this product left very little impression on my skin afterwards, in regards to its fragrance. Strange however was the fact that it did linger in my bathroom for a good while after my shower was over, as both of my flatmates made a comment about the 'lovely sweet smell' that they could detect whenever they walked past.

Overall, I wouldn't say that Pink Custard Shower Jelly blew me away by any means. However, it was definitely one that I enjoyed using, and I do think the fragrance is very suited to this format. The calming properties of the lavender and tonka mean that this would be a great choice for those wanting something relaxing before bed, but something equally sweet and decadent to soothe a sweet tooth at the same time.   

To reiterate what I've already said above: despite this sharing the same ingredients as the Think Pink Bath Bomb, I don't think that it's an exact replica of the aroma at all. Fans of the ballistic will no doubt enjoy this rendition, and I believe that many people who may not even be a fan of the ballistic, might still appreciate this shower jelly for what it offers.

Despite this, I cannot imagine this being a release that people will want to bulk buy, and much like Bouncy Bunny last year, I don't know whether this will be popular enough to make successive Mother's Day releases. While I will continue to use and enjoy the two tubs that I have bought, these are more than enough to satisfy my needs when it comes to this jelly, and I won't be buying any more before the season is out.

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Carrageenan Extract, Golden Syrup, Lavender Oil, Tonka Absolute, Vanilla Absolute, Neroli Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Organic Coconut Milk, *Limonene, *Coumarin, Colour 14700, Colour 17200, Colour 45410.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 for 100g, £8.50 for 250g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family: 
My Two Front Teeth Bubble Bar
Pink Custard Shower Jelly

Think Pink Bath Bomb

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