Cocktail Liquid Perfume

When it comes to perfumes, I think it is incredible that a mere three years ago, I did not own one single perfume. I saw no reason to lather myself with wonderfully exotic smells, as I always felt clean enough just having a shower and rolling on some deodorant. However, it was on the fateful day I made the decision to invest in a bottle of Karma perfume, that I became hooked into buying as many as I could. Luckily, I've never had the ambition to collect perfumes outside of Lush, as I'd probably be living on the streets right about now; sleeping on a bed of empty bottles...

Lush describe Cocktail as a 'perfumed portrait of a Hollywood star's dressing table' - a strangely non-telling but equally descriptive review. Initially, I imagined this fragrance to be quite a crisp and almost clinical smell; in some ways similar to one of my favourite perfumes, Ponche. However, the more I thought about the above comment, the more I began imagining the Hollywood scene in the 20's and 30's, and I began to conjure up a scent that wasn't too far off of what this product actually smells like.

Described as a homage to Fresh perfumery, this fragrance gets it's smell from a combination of ylang ylang, cananga, jasmine, rose, orange blossom, oakmoss and sandalwood. Whenever Lush release a product featuring rose, I always expect it to dominate it's overall scent. However in Cocktail, it is the ylang ylang that overrides the other elements, which is surprising as it's fifth or sixth in the ingredients list. Ylang Ylang is very similar in smell to that of Jasmine, but I find it has a slightly more woody fragrance, which makes it that little bit more sophisticated. 

When I first smelled this perfume, it reminded me a little of 1000 Kisses Perfume, with both it's fresh floral and sweet aroma. Except, unlike the above perfume, this one matures on your skin throughout the day and moulds into a delicate, feminine scent. It is the Ylang Ylang and Orange Blossom that dominate this smell, both inside the bottle and on your skin. 

On first sniff, I could smell the aroma of ylang ylang with just a hint of lavender and the after scent of orange blossom. However, throughout the course of the day, I began to recognise the sweetness of the jasmine and the powdery rose fragrance coming through on my skin. A few hours into my day, the smell had almost faded aside from the gentle lingering smell of the sandalwood, which was a little disappointing.

Cocktail definitely doesn't have the staying power of other Lush perfumes, and it's definitely not the strongest one to begin with. For this reason, it might be suited for those people who dislike heavy, dominating smells. This smell could also be described as a unisex scent, as there's nothing in it that I would state as being overly feminine.

Overall, it's not my favourite perfume by a long shot, but it's definitely better than a lot of perfumes I've had the displeasure of trying over the last couple of years. What is great about Cocktail, as with most of Lush's other perfumes, is that it smells similar to a lot of commercially available perfumes, yet it doesn't possess that acidic and rather domineering alcoholic tone that weighs down these sorts of perfumes. 

I definitely won't be rushing out to buy another bottle of this, but I'm not opposed to picking up a small sampler to wear every so often when I'm looking for a change.

Quantative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Lavender Oil, Bergamot Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Rose Absolute, Sandalwood Oil, Ylang Ylang Absolute, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, *Cinnamal, *Citral, Coumarin, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Isoeugenol, *Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, *Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Snow Fairy Body Spray

The Lush community is always torn around Christmas time: those who relish in everything Snow Fairy, and those that roll their eyes and turn the other cheek. While I used to be the former, I am probably far more like the latter group now - although there are still a few formats that get my heart racing and my mouth salivating. 

Snow Fairy Body Spray is a given really, especially with all of the body sprays that have been released this year so far. We've had Twilight; we've been gifted with Rose Jam, so it makes sense that this had to be one of the next ones to rear its head. While many were turn their cheek at this, you cannot deny that £15 for this large bottle of seasonal fragrance is an absolute bargain, and guaranteed to please those fans around the county that have been pining after the perfume for years. 

While I was expecting it to replicate the perfume, I found that the fragrance of the spray was actually far closer to the original body conditioner than anything else. Much like the seasonal gel and last year's Body Conditioner, this spray is super sweet and playful, and may be considered far too sickly some people's tastes. 

For those who aren't familiar with the scent family, Snow Fairy is supposed to smell like pear drops and bubblegum; cotton candy and vanilla musk. There is something both youthful and slightly synthetic about the fragrance. You can smell a syrup-like fruitiness, which does make it very much like a fresh bag of candy floss to my nose, yet the inclusion of the vanilla absolute gives it musky undertones that are a little the delicate sifting of icing sugar. 

Far from being one of Lush's most complex aromas, Snow Fairy Body Spray is still a lovely addition to the family. What I liked about this spray was that it stayed present on my body for a good many hours, and I appreciated the way the warmth of my skin developed the different notes over time. While the initial smell impressed me more than the liquid perfume did, as it was stronger, richer and sweeter, I also liked that the spray matures far better over time. The vanilla and synthetic musk definitely come forward more over the first 30 minutes and create a sweet, warming fragrance that invites short bursts of scent for a good 2-3 hours.

Ultimately, Snow Fairy Body Spray was never going to be a product that I would be overly excited about. However, the fragrance has definitely ignited an interest in the scent family again, and I have been enjoying the shower gel and Body Conditioner alongside this as a result of the spray. Given the pattern of body sprays that have been created so far, it's only a matter of time before Honey I Washed The Kids and The Comforter are created, I'm sure. 

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Water, Perfume, Glycerine, Synthetic Musk, Limonene, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £15 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

Best Washes Wash Card
Bubblegum Lip Scrub
Candy Fluff Ballistic
Candy Fluff Perfume
Candy Fluff Dusting Powder
Fairy Dust Dusting Powder
Father Christmas Bath Bomb
Fluffy Egg Bath Bomb
Godmother Soap
Lush Mechanic Cold-Pressed Soap
Magic Wand Bubble Bar
Melting Marshmallow Moment Bath Oil
Mmmelting Marshmallow Bath Melt
Pink Easter Egg Ballistic
Snow Fairy Body Conditioner
Snow Fairy Body Spray
Snow Fairy Cold-Pressed Soap
Snow Fairy Jelly Bath Bomb
Snow Fairy Lip Tint
Snow Fairy Liquid Perfume
Snow Fairy Naked Body Conditioner
Snow Fairy Naked Shower Gel
Snow Fairy Shower Gel
Snow Fairy Solid Perfume
Snow Fairy Sparkle Jar
Snow Fairy Sparkle Massage Bar

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Icon Liquid Perfume

After years of pining, I finally managed to snag myself a bottle of Icon Liquid Perfume - an occasion that should have been marked with happiness and elation. Instead, I found myself rather disappointed when I removed the lid and found that I didn't appreciate the smell that greeted me at all. It was nothing like I remember the soap being, and this was devastating. Even spraying it onto my skin heeded little comfort to me, and I began to question whether I had truly loved the soap as much as I had remembered I had. That was until I left the fragrance to settle and develop on my skin, and discovered that a little patience is all it takes to bring this aroma we very much to life.

Sharing its scent with the soap of the same name, Icon Liquid Perfume is a product that has a lot to live up to, given the nature of its title. Anything less than near-on perfection would be inadequate for a fragrance of its calibre, and luckily it doesn't disappoint.

Much like the soap, what I love about this smell from Lush is that it's so incredibly complex and robust on the skin; it's not a perfume that's merely worn, but instead one used to make a statement. A bold one at that. If you're looking for a signature scent, this fragrance ticks every box and leaves a lasting impression - one that will turn heads and no doubt inspire many a compliment.

Strangely, the ingredients list appears fairly simplistic, and almost boring when compared to the aroma Icon offers. Featuring bergamot, tangerine and mandarin oils as the key ingredients, you'd be mistaken for thinking this is similar to the likes of What Would Love Do? or 1000 Kisses Deep. In fact, the perfume probably wouldn't be too far off either if it wasn't for the inclusion of the myrrh resinoid - a component that I truly believe makes this perfume as special as it is. 

Lush describe the smell of Icon as having 'lots of deep, heavy layers which build up to make the whole sound, with high light notes dancing up above it'. While this description may be rather cryptic about the actual smell of the fragrance, it's a good description of how the perfume works on the skin. For me at least. 

Firstly, much like the soap, I was able to pick out a spicy, mandarin fragrance that gave this perfume a warming, sensual layer to it. This note reminded me a little of crystallised fruit peel (also known as candied peel) and so Icon to me is a very wintery scent because of this reason. There is definitely a delicate spicy element present that teases and tantalises your senses, whilst it is working with the heat of your skin, and offers a very sophisticated twist to the usually quite bitter fruit. 

With the inclusion of both sandalwood and myrrh resinoid in the ingredients, this perfume also has an element of smokiness about it - something you'll either love or hate. Although very subtle in the overall smell of the soap, this pungent, woody, smoky smell definitely dominates the scent as a whole - sitting comfortably as the base note and encouraging that rich, sultry Iconic aroma to captivate the user. In hindsight, it is only through the inclusion of the orange blossom and mandarin oil that stops Icon from being too heavy a scent. These citrus notes give the soap subtle uplifting qualities that help to elevate all of the other ingredients and give them all a chance to shine through.   

From the bottle, the myrrh is far too dominating and over zealous on the skin, and I can imagine many people will be deterred from using it for this reason. However, within five minutes of it being sprayed, that's cloudiness to lifted and you are left with a wholesome, very comforting aroma that is both delicately sweet and wonderfully rich and complex.

As I mentioned above, Icon is one of Lush's most interesting and charismatic fragrances, and one that definitely needs to be tried and tested by anybody who calls themselves a Lush fan. It's truly unforgettable and remains one of my favourite scent families from Lush - if only the company would offer us a shower gel or jelly to divulge in.

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Water, Glycerine, Tangerine Oil, Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Myrrh Resinoid, Orange Flower Absolute, *Citral, *Geraniol, *Farnesol, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £39.50 for 30ml.

Year Of Original Release: ?

Scent Family:
Icon Bubble Bar
Icon Dusting Powder
Icon Liquid Perfume

Icon Soap

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Amelie Mae Fun Bar

Reflecting on the various scented FUN bars that Lush have released over the years, I really wish that they had the incentive to do the same with their shower gels. While I am very much in love with the jellies, gels and creams that the company have brought out over the last five years, there has been some superior choices made in the FUN range - this one being no exception.

To coincide with the global Gorilla Perfume tour, Amelie Mae FUN was released and sold in small batches at the various shows - available alongside most of the Volume 4 perfumes that were featured in the showcase. Sharing its scent with the liquid perfume of the same name, this gorgeous looking bar is exquisite in every way, and may even trump the fragrance itself.   

Created by Simon Constantine for his youngest daughter Amelie Mae, this FUN bar is not only a homage to one of the perfumer's biggest achievements, but it's also rather fitting, given that FUN is primarily designed with children in mind. Sporting bright shades of both green and pink, this limited edition also happens to be one of the most attractive FUN bars to date, and I couldn't wait to rip the wrapper off and use it for myself.

Featuring notes of lavender, ylang ylang and rose, you would expect Amelie Mae to offer a highly floral fragrance. While there is definitely a floral theme running throughout, there is something rather sweet and playful about this scent as well. As I said in my review of the liquid perfume version, if you think you are able to imagine what this smells like from the ingredients list alone, you are most likely going to be proved wrong.

From the wrapper, I get what I can only describe as a juicy rose smell - one that does have traits of the popular Rose Jam family, albeit sweeter and perhaps a little more jam-like. There is also a thread of fruitiness running through, which reminds me a little of raspberry bubblegum, but again I would be underselling it if I said this was all I could detect.

Much like the perfume version, the gentle note of lavender is very subtle in the mix, and almost adds a base that all of the other components rest on. You can definitely smell that the lavender is there, but the other components make much more of an impression on me.

There is something fruity about this FUN bar that makes me salivate when I smell it, and I love that it offers something quite playful and youthful. However, there is also something a little mature about the notes of lavender and violet that make it as delectable as it is sophisticated.

As with all of Lush's FUN bars, you can use this one in replacement of a shower gel, bubble bar or shampoo. To create bubbles in your bath, simply break off the amount that you wish to use and hold it under the running water. If you're using it in the shower, take a small grape-sized piece, add a little water and lather between your hands. 

Although it is not as moisturising as any of the products that you may replace it with, for the price tag it is great value for money. I found that when used across my skin, the scent was really strong and stayed with me for a good hour after I had towelled myself down. In fact, I am now convinced that Lush need to bring out a body lotion version because it would be delicious.

My only warning about this and every one of Lush's FUN bars, is that you have to ensure that the rest of the product is kept both cool and dry in between uses. In addition, you need to ensure that the bar is stored in a container if you wish to keep it in the bathroom. If left exposed, FUN Bars will sweat and melt, and leave a horrible mess all over the counter it's perched on. 

Overall, this may in fact be my favourite FUN Bar to date. It smells exactly like the perfume, although I would even go as far as to say that it may even be slightly stronger than the fragrance itself. I really hope this is made available in the near future - for everyone who loves this scent, or for those who has not had the opportunity to try this out for themselves, as it is truly delicious. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Cornflour, Talc, Glycerine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lavendar, Ylang Ylang Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute,

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 for 200g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Amelie Mae FUN Bar

Amelie Mae Liquid Perfume

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Secret Garden Liquid Perfume

When I first tried out all of the Volume 4 perfumes, I was convinced that I still preferred the previous Volume, as there seemed to be more 'staples' in that range. Having spent the last few months religiously using all of the new fragrances, I am now of the opinion that this is easily my favourite collection from Lush. Every fragrance is so very different, and the stories behind each and every one have a poignancy that makes them even more lovable. 

Having said that, there are a couple of week contenders, and Secret Garden is unfortunately one of these. While I wasn't bowled over by Sweet Grandma either, I at least appreciated the meaning behind the creation, which allowed me to see it as rather endearing and 'sweet'. However, the combination of notes in this fragrance, and the rather uninspiring story behind it, leaves me a little uninterested.

As an optimistic gardener, Simon based this combination of osmanthus and immortelle on his struggles to create the perfect, permaculture plot. Unable to muse a collaboration of plants and flowers in the manner that suited him, he decided to turn his hand at creating a perfume that would do the job instead.  The name 'Secret Garden' plays homage not only to the person who taught him all about permaculture in the first place, but to how he imagined his plot would smell like after it had been finished.

Dark in colour, Secret Garden Liquid Perfume at least has an alluring appeal in the bottle. Just like the recently reviewed Road From Damascus, it is also an extremely powerful and rather heavy floral aroma - one that almost saturates your skin with its different components, and stays on your body and clothes for hours on end. 

Unlike the aforementioned fragrance above, this one isn't as playfully sweet: it's far more resinous and smoky, and touches upon more of a wet, exotic floral smell as opposed to a bright and uplifting one. From the bottle, there is something almost aniseed-like about the smell, although I wouldn't claim that this is what the perfume smells like on the skin. However the combination of the ingredients does remind me slightly of liquorice a little - almost like there is a syrupy, resinous note to it.

Once sprayed on the skin, the osmanthus offers a slightly spicy, green-like floral note - the immortelle absolute supporting this with a gentle smoky smell that pads the aroma out. Intertwined is the myrrh resinoid, which not only expands the fragrance out even more, but brings about a rounded warmth, and gives Secret Garden a very unique and very heavy scent. 

Imagine walking through an overgrown garden after a night of rain: with trees drooping above you, wet with dew; and plants and bushes bursting with hundreds of threads of fragrance, and you may begin to understand what this limited edition perfume smells like. It's like nothing that Lush have ever released before, and offers much more of a pessimistic impression than most of Lush's other floral smells.

Despite how unique it is, and how impressed I was that it lasted on my skin for so long, it wasn't a smell that I grew to appreciate all that much. For those who enjoy more exotic floral smells, you will no doubt enjoy how unique this one is. However, I can safely say that this one is my least favourite from the Volume 4 collection.

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Osmanthus Absolute, Everlasting Flower Absolute, Myrrh Resinoid, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Geraniol, Eugenol, Farnesol, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: ?

Year Of Original Release: 2016.

   

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Road From Damascus Liquid Perfume

I say this time and time again: I have never understood how or why Lush work in the way that they do. On the one hand, I understand and agree on their stance for allowing the consumer to promote their products as opposed to them doing it themselves. This incites a level of honesty that most companies try to diminish, which means that promotion from companies other than Lush don't  very often offer a true reflection on the products on sale. However, Lush's 'exclusivity' is both confusing and frustrating, and from an outside perspective I just cannot make sense of it all.

Road From Damascus Liquid Perfume is yet another fragrance from Lush's recent Volume 4 collection that hasn't made it to commercial release. After attending the Gorilla Perfume exhibition in Edinburgh, this is one that I was convinced would be a popular seller, and it left a lasting impression on me: not least because it was the opening act as you walked through the door and into the gallery. 

Inspired by perfumer Simon Constantine's travels into and across Lebanon, this fragrance is a full-bodied and very powerful combination of bitter orange and Damascus rose. During his time in the country, Simon learned the struggles and the dangerous journey that thousands of refugees had to make on a daily basis to flee the neighbouring, war-torn Syria. Witnessing the ordeal of having to cross checkpoints that were guarded at gunpoint, and collecting hundreds of stories from the people around him - fleeing their livelihoods to survive, the harsh reality was enough to inspire him to create a perfume in homage of his ordeal.

For starters, Road From Damascus is a strong, powdery combination of rose, orange and violet. Sharing its scent with both the bath oil that was released last year in the Lush Kitchen, and Magic Bubble Bar that came out at the Lush Summit, this limited edition fragrance is perhaps one of the strongest perfumes from the Volume 4 range. One for floral lovers, for sure.

While I shouldn't really compare this to Rose Jam Liquid Perfume, I will say that the initial burst of smell holds a very small remnant of similarity. There is something very cloudy about the rose smell that gives that impression, although this is quickly diminished when the underlying note of violet leaf steers it away from being 'strictly rose'.

Both of these ingredients create a sweet but equally very powerful floral aroma - one that showcases all three of the key components by themselves, while also working in harmony so that they combine perfectly. The orange absolute not only supports the naturally sweet element of the other two ingredients, but offers a thread of bitterness that comes through the longer it is on the skin.

This latter note sets Road From Damascus apart from other Lush floral perfumes, and it is this gentle tartness that gives this fragrance its poignancy. It's a perfect reminder that while life is and should be sweet, there is always that element of bitterness that makes itself known.

This is one of my favourite perfumes from Volume 4, despite not really being a huge advocate of floral smells. The perfume is strong enough that it lasts for hours on the skin. In fact, I can spray this in the morning before work and still smell remnants of the scent as I'm leaving to go home. Lush would be silly not to celebrate this fragrance in other formats, and I look forward to seeing these releases in the near future.

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Rose Absolute, Orange Flower Absolute, Violet Leaf Absolute, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Farnesol, Eugenol, Citral.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £50 for 30ml.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Magic Bubble Bar
Road From Damascus Bath Oil
Road From Damascus Liquid Perfume

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Blackcurrant Angel Liquid Angel

For those who have been following my blog for a while, you'll know that blackcurrant is one of my favourite scents from Lush. Like a lot of people, I fell in love with The Comforter Bubble Bar at the very beginning of my Lush journey, and the experience was so incredible that it solidified my faith in the company. Too many times I have come across, what I would term loosely, 'berry-scented' cosmetics, only to find that they're synthetic and far-removed from the natural fruity fragrance that they should be. When it comes to Lush, they know how to do it well. 

Blackcurrant Angel is one of the latest creations from the company - a limited edition from the Volume 4 range that is strangely not part of the general release, and has so far only been made available at specific Gorilla Perfume events across the globe. With it being so exquisite and unique, I do hope that it becomes commercially available at some point in the future: it's one that needs to be experienced. 

As with all of the Volume 4 perfumes, this one is based on the life and workings of Hal Samples - an eccentric and very interesting artist that Lush have chosen to pair up with, to bring you an eclectic and very unique range of fragrances. This particular perfume is inspired by the people that Hal met when he was exploring the streets of Dallas a number of years ago. 

During his exploration, he came across a homeless man who made a big impression on his perception of those souls living on the streets. As the conversation transpired, Hal asked the man what superpower he would opt to have, if he was given a choice. His response was: “I just want the power of visibility. People walk past me all the time and they don’t see me.”

The effect this had on Hal inspired him to begin documenting other homeless people - particularly focusing on their thoughts, dreams and fears. When Lush and Hal began working together, this was one of the stories that had the biggest impressions, and they set about creating a scent that represented what they termed as the 'Blackcurrant Angels'. Thus this perfume was created.

If there is one thing that I should make clear, it's that this scent has no connection to The Comforter, or any product that features in that scent family. This is a completely new fragrance, and there might even be people who appreciate this, even if they're not a fan of the aforementioned staple.

Containing guiacwood oil as the key ingredient, with both osmanthus and blackcurrant absolute supporting underneath, this limited edition is a calm, woody fruity fragrance, with just a subtle hint of spice to give it a beautiful, well-rounded edge. It is light and refreshing, while also offering a grounded base that stays on the skin for a good 4-5 hours.

Initial sprays showcase a sweet, fruity blackcurrant that you could almost describe as being a little like The Comforter. However, almost immediately afterwards you get a resinous hit from the osmanthus, which adds a grassy, floral element and removes some of that fruitiness. On the skin, the guiacwood develops with the heat of the body, and adds a warming, woody note to seal the deal. 

If anything, I think the blackcurrant component takes a back seat slightly, and the other notes are what makes this perfume so special. While there is a fruity element to the fragrance, I would describe this as being more of a sweet, floral aroma - with gentle hints of both wood and green alongside this.

What I do love about Blackcurrant Angels is that it develops and changes over time, and you will notice different notes throughout the day. I found that I only had to spray this twice - once in the morning, and then again about five hours later, and the warming fragrance offered me bursts of beautiful scent all day.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this fragrance, and I just wish that Lush would make it more commercially available. While I don't quite know whether or not this would work in other formats, I would definitely be intrigued if the company did decide to bring other products out in this scent. 

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Water, Glycerine, Guiacwood Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Osmanthus Absolute, Blackcurrant Absolute, Citral, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £35 for 30ml.

Year Of Original Release: 2017. 

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Sweet Grandma Liquid Perfume

When I was invited to attend the pop-up Gorilla gallery in Edinburgh, I had no idea what to expect. Aside from knowing that the showcase was created to display and celebrate the finer details of Volume 4, my expectations of what I was going to learn and discover were non existent. What I took away from the experience completely blew my mind. Not only did it rekindle that flame of passion that had be dwindling slightly for the company, but it made me fall deeply in love with every single one of the new fragrances on offer at the event.

Inspired by the life and work of Hal Samples, Sweet Grandma is definitely the most personal perfume in the collection. A homage to the woman he called his 'mother' and 'best friend', this exquisite fragrance is inspired by his Grandma, Mary Ellen, who he says made him feel safe at times in his childhood when he was anything but. 

His memories of his grandma are filled with funny stories and anecdotes that helped to shape him into the person he is today. It was also the support of Mary Ellen and her encouragement to film and document the good times that they shared, that helped Hal to establish and grow as a photographer and an artist. Sweet Grandma is a loving tribute to her life and the memories he holds most dear, and this just makes the fragrance appear even more beautiful to me.

In the bottle you get a wonderful floral sweetness that reminds me a little of Death and Decay, albeit brighter and more pronounced. To me, the rosewood is one of the strongest elements - offering up a delicate and very dainty fragrance that comes alive on the skin, and stays present for a good few hours after you've sprayed yourself. While subtle, the rosewood adds gentle woody notes that intertwine themselves around the rose and jasmine oils, so the three components work in harmony as opposed to standing alone. 

Although not fruity in the usual sense, this fragrance has what I can only describe as a gentle fruity floral undertone. In addition, the jasmine adds a light but noticeable sultry note, and I think it is this layer that gives the perfume its richness, and helps to make it as sensual as it comes across.

I would describe Sweet Grandma as a perfume that sits in between being both youthful and mature. As a homage to Mary Ellen's entire existence, this fragrance offers both the youthful optimism of her early years, as well as the sophistication of her later life. It is both light and refreshing for those who prefer the less cloudy or potent scents; yet it also has an ageless appeal to it that would attract fans of the more classic smells. In as many words, Sweet Grandma is both a modern and yet old-fashioned smell at the time. While it doesn't smell anything like this, fans of Lily Savon will no doubt be able to appreciate this scent for its light feel and delicate touch. 

On the skin, each of the three components interlock with each other and intensify from the heat of your body. I found that although the fragrance wasn't at all what I would call potent, the three ingredients do last for a good while on the skin, and I was able to enjoy bursts of this perfume for a good 4-5 hours before I needed to reapply. 

Overall, while I wouldn't say that this is a favourite scent of mine, there is something rather lovely about it that is comforting to me. As I said to begin with, the stories behind its creation make Sweet Grandma one of Lush's most personal fragrances to date, and I feel incredibly privileged to be able to share that experience while I am wearing the scent.

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Water, Glycerine, Rosewood Oil, Rose Absolute, Jasmine Absolute, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Eugenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Farnesol, Butylphenyl Methylproplonal, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £?

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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Flying Fox Solid Perfume

Despite the shower gel not being vegan, I have never been particularly interested in trying Flying Fox out all that much. While I am not opposed to jasmine, and certainly don't have an issue with the strength that it holds itself in this scent family, there is just something that I don't find all that desirable about the overall aroma.

Although the differing ingredients lists suggest that Flying Fox Solid Perfume doesn't share the same scent as Lust Solid Perfume, the two are so similar that you'd be hard-pressed to find much of a difference. While I will compare the two products below, for the interest of the consumer, I should probably state that these differences are so minor that many noses will probably not be able to detect these changes.

While Lust contains jasmine, ylang ylang, rose and vanilla, Flying Fox swaps the latter two ingredients for cypress and palmarosa oil - a transformation that surprisingly does very little to the overall smell of the perfume. What I will say is that Flying Fox does have better longevity on the skin - with it lasting almost double the time that Lust offered me, making this a good investment for fans of this scent.

From the tub, this solid fragrance is very much dominated by the jasmine. Heady and rather potent, this sweet and sultry floral component presides over every other ingredient - offering a smell that is intoxicating and sophisticated. As jasmine is an aphrodisiac, this perfume will make you feel rather sexy sporting it on your skin, and as I said in my review of Lust: encourages your primal needs to come to the forefront.

Alongside this are notes of ylang ylang, cypress and palmarosa: the former giving Flying Fox an element of 'green' about it, while still maintaining that sickly-sweet aroma; the cypress oil adding a gentle woody aroma that grounds the fragrance; the palmarosa adding to the sweetness of the jasmine and bringing its own subtle herbaceous element that I think makes this solid perfume rather intoxicating for the wearer.

On the skin, the jasmine settles back a little in the mix, and allows the ylang ylang and the cypress oils to come forward more. The warmth of your body will break apart the different elements here and give you a much lighter, pretty floral aroma. For those who find Lust Liquid Perfume too potent on the senses, but appreciate the use of jasmine, you may find that this solid perfume will work far better for you.  

While it's not one of my favourite fragrances from Lush, I will definitely say that this solid edition is very subtlely superior to Lust. While I don't think there is enough of a difference to warrant buying one, there is minute difference that will draw some Lush fans to invest and see for themselves. Those with a very sensitive nose, who love Flying Fox, might appreciate being able to experience a replica of their favourite shower gel. However, I feel as if the production of this is a little bit of a waste, and I would have been much happier if another fragrance had been chosen to during the voting week.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Candelilla Wax, Perfume (synthetic), *Linalool, Jasmine Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Cypress Oil, Palmarosa Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Isoeugenol, *Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £9 for 12g.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:

Floating Flower Bath Ballistic
Flying Fox Body Lotion
Flying Fox Shower Gel
Flying Fox Solid Perfume
Godiva Solid Shampoo Bar
Lust Liquid Perfume 
Lustre Dusting Powder
Lust Solid Perfume
Yes Yes Yes Massage Bar

Youki-Hi Bath Ballistic

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