Golden Pear Soap

Once every so often, Lush bring out a product that completely defies the  general constraints of cosmetics, and showcases exactly why this company are at the top of their creative game in the industry. This particular product is artistically stunning and makes you feel almost bad that you have to use it to clean yourself with.

Golden Pear Soap must have caused major excitement when it was first created in the laboratory - a soap that is not only extremely beautiful to look at but also contains so many exquisite ingredients, should be celebrated without a doubt. In fact, each and every time I have used this product, I have felt extremely grateful that the opportunity for me to do so has been there. 

First and foremost, this soap contains an entire jar of pear puree - an ingredient that Lush don't use all that often, and certainly not to that extent. This not only brings out the extraordinary scent that I'll describe in a minute, but it also helps to give this soap a wonderful consistency when being used. There is something rather thick and wholesome about the lather that this product produces, and I think the pear puree has a big part to play in that. 

As if this wasn't enough, Golden Pear also features both sandalwood and cardamom oils. Neither of these components offer particularly strong notes of fragrance overall, but they do give a warmth that you can feel and smell in the shower. In as many words, this soap is a rich, dessert-like feast for the senses, and you can feel that decadence when using it in the shower. 

Surprisingly, I found that the soap was incredibly moisturising from the get-go.  In a rare feat from Lush, this soap not only produced a lather that immediately softened my skin, but one that continued to work long after I had exited the shower. In fact, it has only happened to me on two other occasions, that a soap has not dried my skin out or at least made me want to moisturise afterwards. For this reason, the soap is very much revered by me, and there is no doubt that I will be buying many more of these before the season is out. 

A combination of coconut oil and cocoa butter help to produce a thick, wholesome lather to wash yourself with. While it can be a little rigid at first, when massaging across your skin, I found that stimulating it between my hands first heeded better results. The inclusion of the murumuru butter that sandwiches both pieces together in the middle, help to add moisture to your experience, and you can feel that while you're massaging it across your body.

What I found most surprising was that, despite its size (which I thought was a little on the small side, given the price tag), the soap didn't seem to shrink as quickly as a lot of the other seasonal soaps that I was using around the same time. In fact, while a 100g chunk normally lasts me no more than a month with daily usage, this one is still sitting in my bathroom after almost two months. Unlike a lot of other soaps that also like to 'bleed' on surfaces, this one dries really quickly, and so you don't have to worry about finding messy glitter trails across your bathroom after you've used this. 

To describe this scent is like trying to explain what it must smell like to walk through Wonka's chocolate factory. For such a gentle fragrance, there are so many elements that tantalise the senses. To my nose, the scent is like hot stewed pears and oranges, with a little dash of cardamom to bring a warmth that is very much needed during this time of year. It's super sweet and fruity; sultry and rich - there is something rather succulent about the aroma that gives it a real rounded appeal. 

Despite the incredible fragrance that this offers, there were two downsides that I found. Firstly, the scent is not particularly strong to begin with. While some will no doubt appreciate the subtle sweetness that it offers, I would much prefer to enjoy this smell at a more intense level. Secondly, the aroma didn't linger much on the skin afterwards and it was completely masked after I had sprayed perfume on myself.

Overall, I would love to see this fragrance made into a body lotion or a shower gel. While I may have to wait another year to see this become a reality, the wait would be worth it I'm sure. As I stated above, I will be buying more of these, and I highly recommend that you grab yourself one to try before they disappear (hopefully not forever!)

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Pear Puree, Perfume, Glycerine, Cardamom Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Murumuru Butter, Almond Oil, Organic Agave Syrup, Citric Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Bicarbonate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Iron Oxides Silica, Tin Oxide, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, *Limonene, Colour 45410, Colour 45350, Fair Trade Whole Organic Clove.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £6.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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Spice Curls Soap

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.

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Cardamom Coffee Liquid Perfume

Tastes mature, people grow, and this product is a prime example of how my adoration of perfumes has grown and diversified since becoming a regular connoisseur of Lush. Never would I have expected the same girl, who five years ago was gushing over the exquisitity of Snow Fairy, to fall head over heels in love with a fragrance so unique and so far-removed from the simplicity of those early preferences. 

Cardamom Coffee is not just simply a perfume to me - it's both an experience in itself, and a memory - one that reverts my mind right back to a time when I was much less accomplished and far more pessimistic. It reminds me of nineties coffee houses and cold Saturday mornings - slurping on a hot chocolate while my mother enjoyed the rare luxury of being able to socialise with a friend or two.

Inspired by Simon Constantine's experiences in a refugee camp in Lebanon, you shouldn't be surprised to find that the main note of this perfume is Cardamom, through and through. This ingredient is very apparent from the start, and dominates a large part of the smell - both when it's in the bottle, and when it's been sprayed on the skin. For those unfamiliar with the key ingredient, cardamom offers this perfume a warm, spicy, aromatic note that is both sweet and subtly smoky at the same time. It's a robust and very intoxicating component, and gives Cardamom Coffee a heaviness that sits with you for the most part of the day. 

Alongside this is the inclusion of rose oil, and I found this to be almost as heavy in presence as the cardamom. This ingredient offers a fresh, naturally-sweet and slightly grassy floral aroma. It's quite difficult to compare the rose in this to anything else that Lush have brought out because it's so well intertwined with the aforementioned spice.

The combination of these two ingredients, along with a warm, sultry layer of olive oil absolute (which appears to be more predominant in the bottle than on the skin) creates a perfume of powerful proportions. This is not a fragrance you forget once you've worn it for the first time; this is a product that leaves a lasting impression.

While there's nothing to suggest where these other elements come from, there is a very subtle hint of coffee, although I wonder whether the name of the perfume leads you into believing that there is a note rather than there actually being one. I think it may be the dryness of the cardamom that brings about that impression. Furthermore, there is also an occasional burst of a dark, treacle-like caramel smell, that again comes from the unique pairing of the three main components.  

Initially, the smell is fairly potent, and some consumers may even be put off by how strong it is straight from the bottle. However, it soon settles on the skin, and within the first thirty minutes of wearing it, Cardamom Coffee is far mellower and much more rounded than it is coming from the bottle.

I was able to detect this fragrance on my skin for a good 5-6 hours after initial application, and appreciated the way the perfume was elevated by the warmth of my body. This meant that I experienced notes of both the cardamom and the rose at different times - sometimes together, sometimes with a buttery sweetness added in for a much-appreciated extra burst of deliciousness.

It's like a comforting blanket of smell and memory - a rich, decadent fragrance that offers both an exotic twist as well as a well-rounded, complex smell. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea (pun intended), Cardamom Coffee is an exquisite experience that needs to tried and tested by everyone who appreciates a well-rounded, carefully crafted, beautiful aroma.    

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Water, Glycerine, Cardamom Oil, Olive Leaf Absolute, Rose Oil, *Anise Alcohol, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Cinnamal, *Citral, *Coumarin, *Eugenol, *Citronellol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £50 for 30ml.

Year Of Original Release: 2016.

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Cardamom Coffee Liquid Perfume

Tastes mature, people grow, and this product is a prime example of how my adoration of perfumes has grown and diversified since becoming a regular connoisseur of Lush. Never would I have expected the same girl, who five years ago was gushing over the exquisitity of Snow Fairy, to fall head over heels in love with a fragrance so unique and so far-removed from the simplicity of those early preferences. 

Cardamom Coffee is not just simply a perfume to me - it's both an experience in itself, and a memory - one that reverts my mind right back to a time when I was much less accomplished and far more pessimistic. It reminds me of nineties coffee houses and cold Saturday mornings - slurping on a hot chocolate while my mother enjoyed the rare luxury of being able to socialise with a friend or two.

Inspired by Simon Constantine's experiences in a refugee camp in Lebanon, you shouldn't be surprised to find that the main note of this perfume is Cardamom, through and through. This ingredient is very apparent from the start, and dominates a large part of the smell - both when it's in the bottle, and when it's been sprayed on the skin. For those unfamiliar with the key ingredient, cardamom offers this perfume a warm, spicy, aromatic note that is both sweet and subtly smoky at the same time. It's a robust and very intoxicating component, and gives Cardamom Coffee a heaviness that sits with you for the most part of the day. 

Alongside this is the inclusion of rose oil, and I found this to be almost as heavy in presence as the cardamom. This ingredient offers a fresh, naturally-sweet and slightly grassy floral aroma. It's quite difficult to compare the rose in this to anything else that Lush have brought out because it's so well intertwined with the aforementioned spice.

The combination of these two ingredients, along with a warm, sultry layer of olive oil absolute (which appears to be more predominant in the bottle than on the skin) creates a perfume of powerful proportions. This is not a fragrance you forget once you've worn it for the first time; this is a product that leaves a lasting impression.

While there's nothing to suggest where these other elements come from, there is a very subtle hint of coffee, although I wonder whether the name of the perfume leads you into believing that there is a note rather than there actually being one. I think it may be the dryness of the cardamom that brings about that impression. Furthermore, there is also an occasional burst of a dark, treacle-like caramel smell, that again comes from the unique pairing of the three main components.  

Initially, the smell is fairly potent, and some consumers may even be put off by how strong it is straight from the bottle. However, it soon settles on the skin, and within the first thirty minutes of wearing it, Cardamom Coffee is far mellower and much more rounded than it is coming from the bottle.

I was able to detect this fragrance on my skin for a good 5-6 hours after initial application, and appreciated the way the perfume was elevated by the warmth of my body. This meant that I experienced notes of both the cardamom and the rose at different times - sometimes together, sometimes with a buttery sweetness added in for a much-appreciated extra burst of deliciousness.

It's like a comforting blanket of smell and memory - a rich, decadent fragrance that offers both an exotic twist as well as a well-rounded, complex smell. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea (pun intended), Cardamom Coffee is an exquisite experience that needs to tried and tested by everyone who appreciates a well-rounded, carefully crafted, beautiful aroma.    

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Water, Glycerine, Cardamom Oil, Olive Leaf Absolute, Rose Oil, *Anise Alcohol, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Salicylate, *Cinnamal, *Citral, *Coumarin, *Eugenol, *Citronellol, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £50 for 30ml.

Year Of Original Release: 2016.

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Ching Ling Soo Bath Bomb

It's been quite a while since I received a brand new bath bomb from Lush, and when I mean new, I'm referring to one that hasn't been seen for a good many years. Whether a blast from the past or a new release, there is something rather magical about being able to share your tub with a product for the very first time.

When the Lush Kitchen announced that they would be bringing out both Ching Ling Soo and The Sicilian Bath Bomb - both in close vicinity of each other, I was ecstatic. Here were two bath bombs that I could cross off my wishlist; two new experiences that I would be able to enjoy in the bath; and one opportunity to own a bath bomb that I never expected the company to release again.

Ching Ling Soo Bath Bomb is a strange choice for a remake - not only because I cannot recall ever hearing anybody even utter its name in the whole five years that I have been a member of the online community. Furthermore, I really cannot imagine it ever making it into anybody's top ten list either. That's not to say I am complaining in any way.

Described at the time as being the best magician in the world, Ching Ling Soo was a renowned illusionist - one that was known for his routine of catching a fired bullet between his teeth. Saturday March 23rd, 1918 was to be the last time he performed such a trick, as unbeknown to him, a build up of unburned gunpowder residue would cause the gun to fire and release one of the actual bullets encased, hitting him in the chest, where he died of his injuries the very next day.

While the story certainly doesn't have a happy ending, and perhaps makes you wonder why such a story would even inspire the creation of a bath bomb to begin with, Lush have taken the tragedy and attempted to put a happier spin on things. Inside each ballistic is a strip of paper with six numbers, and the idea is that these numbers should bring you luck - far more luck than the aforementioned magician that this product plays homage to!

Made from a combination of cardamom and tangerine oil, I was expecting this bath bomb to be quite spicy - similar to the likes of Jacko Bath Bomb, just without the mint element present. However, I was really surprised to find that the cardamom was barely recognisable at all in this bomb, and the overall scent was far more playful and fruitier than the description suggested.

From my experience, Ching Ling Soo is very similar in smell to the likes of May Day Bath Bomb, and gives me a fragrance that I could probably replicate if I took May Day, Bon Bomb and Star Dust Ballistic, and threw them all together. My initial sniff gave me a bright, fruity tangerine smell - one that reminded me of sherbet in the way that it had all of the fruitiness you'd expect from the tangerine, just without the sourness that you would expect from the actual fruit. Alongside this is a dry, powdery and sweet but not overly sickly vanillary note - one that confused me at first, until I carried out a little research into some of the ingredients present.

Upon further inspection, I discovered that it was the litsea cubeba that was dominating the smell. Described as being a sweeter, lemonier alternative to lemongrass, this mystery ingredient is definitely what gives this bath bomb its unique and rather wonderful scent. It's definitely a light, fruity smell, but the sweet, powdery element prevents this bomb from being at all zesty. 

As well as the beautiful fragrance, this odd-sounding component does wonders for your mental and physical wellbeing - acting as an antifungal and anti-inflammatory in the bath, which helps to banish colds, heal wounds and even help rid the body of minor infections.

Unfortunately, I found that this bath bomb was very boring to watch, and it wasn't that much better, colour-wise, once the ballistic had fully dissolved in the water. The ballistic left the water a gentle peach colour and also tarnished the sides of the bath with colour as well. However, a simple wipe down removed these marks and I wouldn't be worried about using the product again in the future.

While it was noticeably moisturising, and you could see a faint glimmer on the surface, where the oils were resting to nourish your skin, the rest of the experience was far from colourful and wasn't very entertaining at all.

On the other hand, I was impressed to discover that the scent did remain present throughout my forty-five minute bath, and the fragrance lingered briefly on my skin afterwards as well. While I wouldn't say it was the strongest bomb, there is definitely enough fragrance here to play with, and it does work wonderfully when cocktailed with one of the brighter, more colourful bubble bars. 

Overall, I love this scent and feel as if it would flourish in other formats. The bath bomb itself wasn't necessarily the best example of this fragrance in action, and it definitely wasn't the most interesting to observe in the water. However, it does its job well enough that I will continue to use and enjoy the handful of Ching Ling Soos that I now in my vicinity.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Gardenia Extract, Cardamon Oil, Tangerine Oil, Litsea Cubeba Absolute, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume, Colour 14700.

Vegan?: Yes.

Year Of Original Release: ?

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Ching Ling Soo Bath Bomb

It's been quite a while since I received a brand new bath bomb from Lush, and when I mean new, I'm referring to one that hasn't been seen for a good many years. Whether a blast from the past or a new release, there is something rather magical about being able to share your tub with a product for the very first time.

When the Lush Kitchen announced that they would be bringing out both Ching Ling Soo and The Sicilian Bath Bomb - both in close vicinity of each other, I was ecstatic. Here were two bath bombs that I could cross off my wishlist; two new experiences that I would be able to enjoy in the bath; and one opportunity to own a bath bomb that I never expected the company to release again.

Ching Ling Soo Bath Bomb is a strange choice for a remake - not only because I cannot recall ever hearing anybody even utter its name in the whole five years that I have been a member of the online community. Furthermore, I really cannot imagine it ever making it into anybody's top ten list either. That's not to say I am complaining in any way.

Described at the time as being the best magician in the world, Ching Ling Soo was a renowned illusionist - one that was known for his routine of catching a fired bullet between his teeth. Saturday March 23rd, 1918 was to be the last time he performed such a trick, as unbeknown to him, a build up of unburned gunpowder residue would cause the gun to fire and release one of the actual bullets encased, hitting him in the chest, where he died of his injuries the very next day.

While the story certainly doesn't have a happy ending, and perhaps makes you wonder why such a story would even inspire the creation of a bath bomb to begin with, Lush have taken the tragedy and attempted to put a happier spin on things. Inside each ballistic is a strip of paper with six numbers, and the idea is that these numbers should bring you luck - far more luck than the aforementioned magician that this product plays homage to!

Made from a combination of cardamom and tangerine oil, I was expecting this bath bomb to be quite spicy - similar to the likes of Jacko Bath Bomb, just without the mint element present. However, I was really surprised to find that the cardamom was barely recognisable at all in this bomb, and the overall scent was far more playful and fruitier than the description suggested.

From my experience, Ching Ling Soo is very similar in smell to the likes of May Day Bath Bomb, and gives me a fragrance that I could probably replicate if I took May Day, Bon Bomb and Star Dust Ballistic, and threw them all together. My initial sniff gave me a bright, fruity tangerine smell - one that reminded me of sherbet in the way that it had all of the fruitiness you'd expect from the tangerine, just without the sourness that you would expect from the actual fruit. Alongside this is a dry, powdery and sweet but not overly sickly vanillary note - one that confused me at first, until I carried out a little research into some of the ingredients present.

Upon further inspection, I discovered that it was the litsea cubeba that was dominating the smell. Described as being a sweeter, lemonier alternative to lemongrass, this mystery ingredient is definitely what gives this bath bomb its unique and rather wonderful scent. It's definitely a light, fruity smell, but the sweet, powdery element prevents this bomb from being at all zesty. 

As well as the beautiful fragrance, this odd-sounding component does wonders for your mental and physical wellbeing - acting as an antifungal and anti-inflammatory in the bath, which helps to banish colds, heal wounds and even help rid the body of minor infections.

Unfortunately, I found that this bath bomb was very boring to watch, and it wasn't that much better, colour-wise, once the ballistic had fully dissolved in the water. The ballistic left the water a gentle peach colour and also tarnished the sides of the bath with colour as well. However, a simple wipe down removed these marks and I wouldn't be worried about using the product again in the future.

While it was noticeably moisturising, and you could see a faint glimmer on the surface, where the oils were resting to nourish your skin, the rest of the experience was far from colourful and wasn't very entertaining at all.

On the other hand, I was impressed to discover that the scent did remain present throughout my forty-five minute bath, and the fragrance lingered briefly on my skin afterwards as well. While I wouldn't say it was the strongest bomb, there is definitely enough fragrance here to play with, and it does work wonderfully when cocktailed with one of the brighter, more colourful bubble bars. 

Overall, I love this scent and feel as if it would flourish in other formats. The bath bomb itself wasn't necessarily the best example of this fragrance in action, and it definitely wasn't the most interesting to observe in the water. However, it does its job well enough that I will continue to use and enjoy the handful of Ching Ling Soos that I now in my vicinity.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Gardenia Extract, Cardamon Oil, Tangerine Oil, Litsea Cubeba Absolute, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume, Colour 14700.

Vegan?: Yes.

Year Of Original Release: ?

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Pumpkin Soap

Halloween is definitely growing in popularity in the UK, and I read recently that it has now become the third biggest celebration in this country after Christmas and Easter. While I love the imagery and excitement that comes with the wintery festival, a small part of me wishes that it had been more prominent when I was growing up so I could have enjoy the magical side of it a little more.

Nevertheless, I was very excited to get my hands on a couple of Pumpkin Soaps when they came out in the Kitchen a couple of weeks ago, and knew instantly that they would be a firm favourite when I experienced the first whiff of them through the box upon their arrival. 

Sharing its scent with Jacko Bath Ballistic, this seasonal edition has changed somewhat since it was first released back in 2008. While this gorgeous looking product was originally scented with mandarin, lime and cinnamon - giving it the same fragrance as Almond Buttercream, the shape and design of the soap has remained the same.

Although I wasn't immediately sold on the description, and given what I already thought about the fragrance of the bath bomb, I wasn't expecting to like this soap as much as I did. However, in my opinion, the scent of this is much more suited to the soap than it is the ballistic. 

Containing fresh orange juice, pumpkin puree, cardamon, clove bud and spearmint oils, Pumpkin is the perfect remedy for a winter shower. It's a warming and very comforting soap - one that not only wraps you in a blanket of fragrance that stays with you for long after you exit the shower, but the inclusion of both rapeseed and coconut oil means that it also leaves your skin ready to face the day, no matter how cold it may be. 

As soon as you remove this beauty from the packet, you can immediately detect three main notes; the clove buds give this soap a very strong, spicy element - one that wakes you up and works with the spearmint to invigorate your senses. Thanks to its stimulating and warming properties, clove bud can be used to help alleviate muscular aches and sprains as well as clear the mind, so its the perfect companion for those unwanted early morning rises.

The inclusion of spearmint oil not only gives Pumpkin a distinctive minty element to it, but also supports the cloves in helping to thwart aches and pains, reduce stress levels as well as refresh and enliven the skin at the same time. The orange juice adds a sweet, citrus element to the overall smell and works on bringing a little radiance to your skin whilst cleaning out your pores.

Altogether, this soap offers a strong and very unique smell - one that shouldn't really work but does. The inclusion of the pumpkin puree really helps to give this product a creamy element, something that I think is what makes it all the more appealing than Jacko.

What is great about the soap is that it's rather soft and slightly sticky to begin with so it lathers up a treat when in contact with water. On the positive side, this means that it's really easy to clean yourself with and it doesn't take a lot of massaging to heed a thick, creamy lather. On the negative side, the ease in which this soap works means that it does tend to shrink a lot quicker than Lush's more robust soaps.

While it's not a soap I would naturally gravitate towards, there is something about Pumpkin that really sits well with me. There is something rather 'autumnal' about it that makes it my go-to product whenever the weather looks as if it's about to dip below zero. A great seasonal release that keeps on giving. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Glycerine, Fresh Orange Juice, Pumpkin Puree, Perfume, Cardamon Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Spearmint Oil, Gardenia Extract, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cinnamon, Eugenol, Limone, Colour 15510.

Vegan?: Yes

2015 Price: £4 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2008.

Scent Family:

Jacko Bath Ballistic

Pumpkin Soap

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Pumpkin Soap

Halloween is definitely growing in popularity in the UK, and I read recently that it has now become the third biggest celebration in this country after Christmas and Easter. While I love the imagery and excitement that comes with the wintery festival, a small part of me wishes that it had been more prominent when I was growing up so I could have enjoy the magical side of it a little more.

Nevertheless, I was very excited to get my hands on a couple of Pumpkin Soaps when they came out in the Kitchen a couple of weeks ago, and knew instantly that they would be a firm favourite when I experienced the first whiff of them through the box upon their arrival. 

Sharing its scent with Jacko Bath Ballistic, this seasonal edition has changed somewhat since it was first released back in 2008. While this gorgeous looking product was originally scented with mandarin, lime and cinnamon - giving it the same fragrance as Almond Buttercream, the shape and design of the soap has remained the same.

Although I wasn't immediately sold on the description, and given what I already thought about the fragrance of the bath bomb, I wasn't expecting to like this soap as much as I did. However, in my opinion, the scent of this is much more suited to the soap than it is the ballistic. 

Containing fresh orange juice, pumpkin puree, cardamon, clove bud and spearmint oils, Pumpkin is the perfect remedy for a winter shower. It's a warming and very comforting soap - one that not only wraps you in a blanket of fragrance that stays with you for long after you exit the shower, but the inclusion of both rapeseed and coconut oil means that it also leaves your skin ready to face the day, no matter how cold it may be. 

As soon as you remove this beauty from the packet, you can immediately detect three main notes; the clove buds give this soap a very strong, spicy element - one that wakes you up and works with the spearmint to invigorate your senses. Thanks to its stimulating and warming properties, clove bud can be used to help alleviate muscular aches and sprains as well as clear the mind, so its the perfect companion for those unwanted early morning rises.

The inclusion of spearmint oil not only gives Pumpkin a distinctive minty element to it, but also supports the cloves in helping to thwart aches and pains, reduce stress levels as well as refresh and enliven the skin at the same time. The orange juice adds a sweet, citrus element to the overall smell and works on bringing a little radiance to your skin whilst cleaning out your pores.

Altogether, this soap offers a strong and very unique smell - one that shouldn't really work but does. The inclusion of the pumpkin puree really helps to give this product a creamy element, something that I think is what makes it all the more appealing than Jacko.

What is great about the soap is that it's rather soft and slightly sticky to begin with so it lathers up a treat when in contact with water. On the positive side, this means that it's really easy to clean yourself with and it doesn't take a lot of massaging to heed a thick, creamy lather. On the negative side, the ease in which this soap works means that it does tend to shrink a lot quicker than Lush's more robust soaps.

While it's not a soap I would naturally gravitate towards, there is something about Pumpkin that really sits well with me. There is something rather 'autumnal' about it that makes it my go-to product whenever the weather looks as if it's about to dip below zero. A great seasonal release that keeps on giving. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Glycerine, Fresh Orange Juice, Pumpkin Puree, Perfume, Cardamon Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Spearmint Oil, Gardenia Extract, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cinnamon, Eugenol, Limone, Colour 15510.

Vegan?: Yes

2015 Price: £4 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2008.

Scent Family:

Jacko Bath Ballistic

Pumpkin Soap

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