Giant Golden Wonder Bath Bomb

If there’s one thing that most Lush fans have in common, it’s our love and excitement of colourful bath bombs. Most consumers make their way into the world of Lush through the Bath Bomb section first, and most human beings love a good show, while enjoying one of their favourite pastimes: bathing. 

While Lush are renowned for being superior than most other other brands, when it comes to their bath products, the company still enjoy designing new concepts and pushing even more boundaries when it comes to how a bath bomb can manipulate colour; unique features of product design; and different ways they can perform in the water. It is only natural then, that the company have decided to start integrating super-sized versions of favourite bath bombs into seasonal releases, because who doesn’t want their favourite product quadrupled in size?

Giant Golden Wonder Ballistic is exactly what it sounds like: the Christmas best-selling bath bomb magnified for one hell of a festive soak. Almost six times the size of the original, this limited edition is surprisingly not as heavy as you would imagine - but works a dream at creating a haven of colours and smells to indulge yourself with.

Lush describe the original Golden Wonder as 'a pass the parcel gift – each layer has something different to offer. This is not for a quick bath because it takes its time, this bath bomb. Its layers of golden lustre, dazzling colours and soluble gold stars are a wonder to behold.' It really is a feast for the senses!

Designed to smell like an old Lush favourite, Snow Showers Shower Jelly, this ballistic contains a mixture of sweet orange oil, cognac oil and lime oil – a delicious citrusy concoction guaranteed to perk up anyone suffering from the winter blues. For anyone who hasn’t used anything in this extended scent family, Golden Wonder offers a light, spritzy aroma that reminds me of white grape combined with a dash of sweet, orange juice. It’s a fruity scent that does have a fizzy quality to it, which is where the idea of smelling like a glass of Bucks Fizz comes from.

Much like the original Golden Wonders, this one Immediately starts to fizz upon contact with the water. Surprisingly, this one was able to float throughout the entire experience, although it did tend to balance on one of its corners as opposed to resting top side up. Much like its original brother, this Bath Bomb started out by sending waves of creamy white and yellow froth that dissipated slowly across the water. 

As the ballistic continued to work its magic, small parts of it broke away to reveal swirls of beautiful vivid blue that spread quickly across the tub and greater a wonderful shade of green. This ballistic also contains edible gold lustre and soluble paper stars, which gave the bath a magical sparkle that stayed until the end. Whilst I could see the lustre circling underneath the surface while I was bathing, very little remnants remained on my skin afterwards, and a simple spray from the shower hose was enough to wash away any excess left in the tub.

For £12.95, this is quite a hefty investment, and one I think is more suited to a one-off novelty factor than anything else. Despite its size, the Bath Bomb doesn’t offer a stronger scent, a more vivid bath or a more moisturising experience, so its more for super fans to indulge in a unique experience before the ballistic disappears for another year.

Overall, the bath water felt silky-soft and gentle on my skin, and the scent, though slightly fainter than when the ballistic was unused, was still zesty and warming. This fragrance stayed throughout the entire bath and left a hint of citrus on the skin afterwards, which is exactly what I needed to perk me up for the day. Having said that, you can get all of this after using a regular-sized Golden Wonder as well, so this is definitely more suited to super fans who want a one-off experience, or those looking to buy something different and unique for Christmas. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis), Cognac Oil (Vitis vinifera), Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia), Water (Aqua), Cream of Tartar (Potassium Bitartrate), Glycerine, Titanium Dioxide, Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), Sodium Laureth, Sulfate Lauryl Betaine, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, DRF Alcohol, Mica Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Iron Oxides, Citronellol, *Limonene, *Citral, *Linalool, Fragrance, Blue 1, Yellow 8, Orange 4, Red 27.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £12.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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Bling Crosby Bubble Bar

Let’s be honest: I can think of very few reason not to love Karma. It’s a classic - a smell I go back to time and time again, and fall in love with each and every time. There is something for everybody in this fragrance, and this Bubble Bar is an extension of the family that needs to be experienced by all.

To look at, Bling Crosby Bubble Bar is not exactly the most exciting of bath products, although I know that the allure of the glitter will win some hearts over straight away. Sharing its scent with all things Karma, this limited edition boasts pine, patchouli, lemongrass, orange, lavender and clove. Yet despite this impressive list of potentially clashing components, the fragrance is one of many layers. You can smell a combination of orange and patchouli to begin with - which offers a sweet, spicy note reminiscent of the swinging sixties. There is something almost intoxicating and strange exotic about the combination of these two ingredients, which makes for a strong base on which the other notes flourish. Next up the lemongrass, which intertwines itself around the orange and hides a little of juiciness that citrus fruits sometimes display. This gives the scent a dry fruity smell rather than a zesty one, and adds a gentle layer of green to the mix. Then there is the pine oil, which works with the latter ingredient to offer something a little green and almost coniferous about the smell. 

All of these elements work well together - offering a burst of smells that is richly sweet, with a spicy warmth that earns his scent family its massive following. What I love about Karma is that, while the notes work in unison with each other, you are also able to pick out each component individually as well. 

Bling Crosby offers that unique Karma smell right away, although I would say that it’s slightly more subtle than the regular Karma Bubble Bar that you can buy in stores. What I love though is that it turns your bath water a wonderful shade of orange, which is reminiscent of the original Karma Bubble Bar - a colour that I think suits this fragrance a lot more than purple does. 

The product is easy enough to crumble under the running tap, and it produces a wonderful layer of light, fluffy bubbles to submerge yourself beneath. Furthermore, the inclusion of the gold lustre means that you also experience swirls of pulsating sparkly glitter, under the surface of the water, as you’re bathing. However, I should point out that the lustre does not decorate your skin at all whilst you’re bathing, and it washes away easily afterwards. 

As with most of Lush’s Bubble bars, my skin benefitted from the softness of the water and I could feel how smooth and moisturised my skin was after exiting the bath. Moreover, I was impressed when I was able to smell a note reminiscent of Karma on my skin after I had towelled myself down, and a spray of the liquid perfume, and a generous lather of Karma Kream, and I was able to enjoy the scent for the rest of the day. 

Despite its physical lack of appeal to me, I can honestly say that I enjoyed the experience overall. While I used the whole bar in my bath, you could easily use a half or a third, and you’d still heed a fragrant bath to enjoy over the winter period. Although I much prefer the new and improved pyramid-shaped Karma Bubble Bar, this is a great (and slightly cheaper!) alternative for those who need a big dose of Karma to see them through the day/night.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Lavendin Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Patchouli Oil, Pine Oil, Gardenia Extract, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, *Citral, *Citronellol, *Geraniol, *Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 77492, Colour 14700, Whole Clove

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2006.

Scent Family:
Bling Crosby Bubble Bar
Double Fast Luck Emotibomb
Karma Ballistic
Karma Bath Melt
Karma Bubble Bar
Karma Dusting Powder
Karma Komba Solid Shampoo Bar
Karma Kream
Karma Liquid Perfume
Karma Revamped Bubble Bar
Karma Shower Gel
Karma Shower Jelly
Karma Soap
Karma Solid Perfume
Karma Sutra Bath Bomb

Lush Bath Bomb

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Pink Pumpkin Bubble Bar

Let's be honest: it's not exactly the most attractive of bubble bars. While there are people that love the allure of 'all things pink', I for one am certainly not somebody to gravitate towards anything of that nature. For this reason, the following product already lost a brownie point when compared to its older sibling.

A new release for 2017, Pink Pumpkin Bubble Bar is not the same scent as Sparkly Pumpkin, which is just as well as the two were released at the same time, and it would have been a pointless move from Lush. However, I cannot say that I was over-excited by this rendition as the aforementioned Halloween 'classic'.

Containing a combination of bergamot, geranium and jasmine absolute, this limited edition offers a gentle floral aroma. While not one of the three components reminds me of Autumnal/winter weather, it does make a nice change from the usual spicy fragrances that normally appear at this time of the year.

While the scent was in no way terrible, I was rather underwhelmed by just how forgettable it was. Comparing the smell to another cosmetic, I would say that it reminded me slightly of baby wet wipes - that gentle, pretty but rather generic-smelling aroma. Those who have rather sensitive noses and may wish to opt for the lighter scents, you may find this rather pleasant. However, those of us who love and appreciate Lush's more complex smells may find this a little disappointing.

What was lovely was how soft this bubble was, and how easy it was to crumble under the running water. The heat of the water did elevate the smell a little during the experience, but I still wouldn't say that it made that much of an impression of my senses, and the aroma soon got drowned out by the other products I was using at the time.

As to be expected, the water turned a pretty shade of pink and you could see the slight glimmer of the lustre under the surface of the water. Pink Pumpkin produced a good amount of bubbles, and most of them stayed with me throughout the entire bath. However, the colour dissipated a little when the tub was full. 

Much like most of Lush's bubble bars, this one left my skin feeling soft and moisturised, although not to the same level as some of the better seasonal bars. on offer this year. I found that I had to use a body lotion afterwards, just to top up that nourished feeling, and keep my skin in good condition throughout the day. 

Overall, this bubble bar does it's job: it's pretty to look at; offers a lovely floral fragrance; and moisturises your skin while you're bathing in its waters. However, there is nothing particularly memorable about Pink Pumpkin that would drive me back into the shops to purchase more of them. For this reason, this will not be one I'll be buying again.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Geranium Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Titanium Dioxide, Calcium, Sodium Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Limonene, *Linalool, Amyl Cinnamal Benzyl, Alcohol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Colour 45380:3, Colour 45410, Colour 17200, Cinnamon Stick.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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Bewitched Bubble Bar

There is nothing more bewitching than a bubble bar in the shape of an animal  - especially one molded to look like the nation's favourite furry companion. While not everyone is lucky enough to be able to share their lives with a real-life good luck charm, an endearing bubble bar such as this one is a good replacement. Kind of. 

Bewitched Bubble Bar hits every mark before it's even started. While cats are not my favourite creature on the planet, they are definitely one of, and this brand new Halloween creation reminds me very much of my own two furries. The piercing eyes replicate perfectly how my two boys look at me when they realise it's time to be fed and mama just isn't moving fast enough for their liking.

As I have been fairly absent in the community for a while, I had no idea what any of the new products smelt like, and I was both surprised and excited on discovering that this alluring bubble bar has the same aroma as the now-discontinued Blackberry Bath Bomb, and the very popular Sultana Of Soap. 

While not a fragrance I rave about, I fall in love with the scent a little more, each and every time I come into contact with it. There is something so rich and so succulent about the combination of bergamot and olibanum, and the smell is not only a perfect replica of the bath bomb, but it also compliments the colour and design of this seasonal special perfectly as well. 

Bewitched Bubble Bar is both rich and sweet. The olibanum oil creates a thick, resinous blanket of smell, which gives this product a very sultry feel about it. While I wouldn't say this smells at all like it's 'burnt', there is something that reminds me of sugar that has caught slightly in a hot pan. The inclusion of the bergamot helps to add a warming layer of fruitiness that elevates the base notes and gives this fragrance an all-rounded comforting smell. 

Easy to crumble, this seasonal release can be used across multiple baths, despite the fact that it is a little on the smaller side than I had originally envisaged. It's potency means that the fragrance will remain prominent in your bath until the end, and just Blackberry, this bubble bar will leave a lasting impression on your skin. 

What is gorgeous about Bewitched is that once you have allowed the water to stimulate the bubbles, the water turns a deep shade of black, and silver lustre ebbs underneath the surface. Furthemore, this is one of the most moisturising bubble bars I have come across in a while. You skin will reap the benefits of using one of these in your bath.

This is perhaps the product I will buy the most of this year, as not only does my skin feel incredibly replenished after bathing with one, but the fragrance is the perfect blanket to cocoon you in during the colder months of the year. I may not be able to afford or look after a million cats, but having a handful of these will work out far cheaper in the long run.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Cornflour, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Olibanum Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, *Limonene, *Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, Tin Oxide, Colour 77266, Colour 77491, Colour 47005.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Bewitched Bubble Bar

Blackberry Bath Bomb

Sultana Of Skin Body Conditioner

Sultana Of Soap Soap

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Mother Of Dragons Egg Bath Bomb

There was quite a stir when Lush unveiled some of their enlarged bath bombs at the original Summit event last year: I remember having my mind blown just thinking about the concept of one of my favourite ballistics being over quadruple the original size. While I had the opportunity to purchase one at the time, my financial situation meant that I had to choose between two products, and this led to invest in a Nebula instead. However, when the Lush Kitchen released Mother Of Dragons Bath Bomb in the Kitchen a few months back, I jumped at the opportunity of trying a 'Lush classic' in bigger proportions.

Sharing the same scent and concept as Dragons Egg, this limited edition is enlarged to the point of being over four times as heavy (and as big) as its original older sibling. Inspired by the popular TV series, Game of Thrones, this huge ballistic can be cut into multiple slices, and could probably last across 5-6 different baths. Having said that, it can also be used in a single go, and this is what I decided to do after a long, hard day at work.

Containing both lemon and bergamot oils at the forefront, this rather plain-looking bath bomb is scented with a beautiful, uplifting fruity aroma. Although not as 'in your face' as both Avobath or Cheer Up Buttercup, Mother Of Dragons offers a generous burst of playful, citrusy goodness - a smell that reminds me of lemon sherbet sweets with a subtle touch of grassiness. 

With jasmine absolute to add a slightly sweeter touch to the aroma, this bath bomb is great for the summer months - when you want something warming and comforting to bathe in; yet something equally as light and refreshing. Mother Of Dragons is light and spritzy - a magical but rather simplistic fragrance to comprehend. 

Much like the smaller Dragon's Egg, this one is decorated with colourful, circular discs of rice paper, that decorate the surface of the tub for a short while before melting away in the water. Alongside this is a generous dose of golden lustre, which spills out of the centre after a couple of minutes of it being in the water, and patterns the surface with swirls of magical, golden decoration. 

As with the original bath bomb, this one isn't much of a fizzer, and will instead bob on the surface whilst sending out thick blankets of white foam to soften the water. In fact, I was rather disappointed to find that Mother Of Dragons didn't really do much aside from fizzle away fairly quickly and leave a thin, cloudy coating on the surface.

After taking about 4-5 minutes to fully dissolve, I found that the water had turned into a haven of bright orange: the golden lustre floating underneath the surface and making the whole bath glisten in the light. Surprisingly, even though the bath bomb was huge to begin with, the water isn't any darker or more vivid in size, nor is the smell. While you can smell the wonderful uplifting elements of the ballistic throughout the whole experience, I wouldn't say it is any stronger than if you were to use a regular-sized alternative.

Although this bath bomb did leave my skin feeling really soft and moisturised, I don't feel as if it was any more effective than a normal bath bomb would. As a novelty, this is great for a single-use bath, and if you love Dragons Egg, I'm sure you'll appreciate having an extra large one to indulge in. However, I don't feel as if this offered much in the way of a show, or a particularly stronger scent to make it worth buying again.    

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Popping Candy, Lemon Oil, Bergamot Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Cream of Tartar, Water (Aqua), Gardenia Extract, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Lauryl Betaine, *Citral, *Limonene, Perfume, Gold Lustre, Radiant Gold Lustre, Titanium Dioxide, Colour 77491, Colour 15510, Colour 17200, Colour 14700, Colour 45410, Rice Paper.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £12 each. 

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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Integgalactic Bath Bomb

It is most surprising that I have left it so long to indulge myself and use this bath bomb, given how much I gush over Intergalactic on an almost daily basis. Truth be told, the only reason I haven't used it before now is because of the time constraints my career has placed on my free time. Having finished writing my reports, I couldn't think of a better time to indulge in one of my favourite ballistics, and I was not disappointed. 

Sharing its scent with the original Intergalactic, the only difference between the two is down to their shape, size and price. Costing considerably more than the regular version, you might initially be a little put-off by the raised price tag. However, the extra 'product' you receive more than makes up for the extra pennies, and if anything I'd say Integgalatic Bath Bomb is even more superior when compared to its older sibling.

Released as part of Lush's 2017 Easter range, Integgalatic is a powerhouse of fragrance and colour - a bath bomb that guarantees you will feel as refreshed as you will relaxed. A product that is as cooling and uplifting as it is comforting: a bath bomb that offers a far more interesting and colourful experience than any other ballistic available to buy in a shop.

The first sniff revealed a lot of different layers, one of which was a slightly smoky/woody but also subtlety sweet aroma that ground the overall fragrance. While I have compared the scent of this bath bomb to Dirty Springwash in the past, I'd say that Integgalatic is far more potent, and has a dark, sultry layer of woodiness running through that makes it stand apart.  

Alongside this is a strong thread of peppermint oil, which intertwines with the grapefruit oil perfectly and creates a mint-dominated aroma with a very subtle thread of citrus running alongside this. This latter ingredient dampens the harsh kick that you would normally expect from a minty product and instead offers something invigorating and refreshingly beautiful, yet very rounded at the same time.

Just like its older sibling, this limited edition explodes into a cloud of colour as it hits the water - sending out waves of deep blues, pinks and yellows across the surface of the water. At the same time, the popping candy descends to the base of the tub and offers a background of noise reminiscent of a crackling fire. 

Once the bath bomb has fully dissolved, you are left with a beautiful tub of dark blue water that glistens as the lustre swirls around under the surface. Not only this but the water itself is so silky soft and inviting: one that is guaranteed to leave you feeling very moisturised and smooth afterwards. 

As if this wasn't enough, the fragrance also remains prominent throughout the entire experience and lingers on your skin for a while afterwards. The bath
water rinses away with ease, leaving you feeling nothing but refreshed, clean and ready to face the day. 

While the price tag is a little higher than a regular Intergalactic, this limited edition is definitely worth investing in, if only for a single indulgence one day when you really need it. Although I would rather have had a brand new bath bomb as opposed to a few regulars just spruced up a little this Easter, I cannot say anything negative about this ballistic whatsoever.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Popping Candy, Peppermint Oil, Grapefruit Oil, Vetivert Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Cream of Tartar, Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Snowflake, Lemon Ice and Gold Glimmer Lustre, Colour 42090, Colour 45410. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £5.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

Scent Family:
Intergalactic Bath Bomb

Intergalactic Bath Bomb

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Yellow Submarine Bath Bomb

'We're all going on a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine...'. Let's be honest: there are probably very few people who found out about this bath bomb and didn't repeat the above ditty in their head at least once, just to prove that they could remember it. Many of you most likely went on to rekindle a memory or two of being in school; of having to either perform this repetitive and rather sickly-sweet song in front of your peers, or to endure another class reciting it, albeit out-of-tune, for your viewing pleasure.

This is what I think makes Yellow Submarine Bath Bomb so special to me. While I accept that the current generation of primary school children will probably never grow up to value it as we do - nor will many of them branch out to appreciate The Beatles for their musical worth. However, children of the eighties and nineties will at least be able to make the association between this product and their time at school.  

Made from a combination of orange, coriander and lemongrass, this limited edition bath bomb first made its appearance at the Lush Summit - an event that took place between the 8th and 9th of February, 2017. Exclusive to this event, this brand new product offers a bright, summery bath - giving you a glimpse into what glorious weather we can only hope for this summer.

What is strange about Yellow Submarine, is that while I can recognise each of three main components in the fragrance, the overall aroma is something very different when you first smell it. Initially, my immediate response was that it shared its scent with my favourite shower jelly, Big Calm. However, upon comparing the two, I found that the bath bomb was actually far richer, less pineapple-led, and dare I say it: more exquisite.

Having said that, I am still very adamant that this bath bomb is a tropical offering rather than simply a 'fruity' one. While there is nothing in the ingredients list to suggest why I can smell this, I can definitely make out a sweet, nutty layer of coconut, which makes this a well-rounded and rather creamy affair. 

Alongside this, the inclusion of both lemongrass and orange create an uplifting, fruity layer. This is the stronger of the two notes, and when combined seem to mimic the usual pineapple and passionfruit notes that you would normally expect to find in tropical aromas, albeit with less of a citrus edge.Having said this, I can recognise the inclusion of the coriander in this bath bomb as well. There is a very subtle, dry, herbal element present (that appears to intensify somewhat in the bath tub), that I associate with the ingredient.

What is great about Yellow Submarine is that the second it hits the water, it froths up and creates a mountainous amount of foam. The ballistic then nestles itself within this froth and floats on the surface for a short while, offering a wonderful display of yellow and pinks in the process. As the thick blanket disperses across the surface, the bath bomb capsizes and continues to ebb out waves of colour until the bath bomb has fully dissolved. 

This is one of those slow, quiet bath bombs that fizzles a little, but does produce too much noise in the tub. Furthermore, it's also one that produces a layer of creamy foam the submerge yourself beneath. For this reason, I would highly recommend that you climb into the tub and enjoy the sweet layers of fragrance as the bath ballistic floats on the surface and gently dissolves in front of you.

By the end, you're left with a warming, golden-honey coloured water, which is far more appealing than the simple yellow shade I was expecting. Furthermore, the water appears slightly thicker and moisturising than usual, although I wouldn't say that this bath bomb is particularly generous when it comes to its softening properties.

While the scent was present throughout the experience  I wouldn't say that it was as strong as it could have been, especially given how potent the bath bomb is to begin with. Furthermore, I wasn't really able to detect much of the fragrance on my skin afterwards, although the smell did stay around for a short while in the bathroom. 

Although I felt relaxed and more uplifted after I had experienced this bath bomb, it is definitely a fragrance that I think would work better in a different format: a shower gel, dusting powder or perfume would be a wonderful addition to the range, and would definitely satisfy my tropical cravings until Lush are kind enough to bring out the Big Calm Perfume I have been waiting for for years.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Perfume, Water, Brazilian Orange Oil, Coriander Seed Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Fandango Lustre, Colour 45410, Colour 47005. 

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017 (Lush Summit Event Only)

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