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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Deep Atmosphere Bath Bomb

When the Lush Kitchen was still in full swing, this bath bomb appeared on the menu one week and was thrust into my radar for the first time ever. While I pride myself in knowing about the majority of Lush products released across the years, there are still some that manage to remain hidden until the company unleash them onto the world again. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this product would cement itself as one of my favourite bath bombs of all time - perhaps the only bath product that has genuinely given Lord Of Misrule a run for its money.

Deep Atmosphere has a name that means business. Described be Lush as one for 'acquired tastes', I wasn't initially all that interested in what this bath bomb had to offer. The inclusion of oakmoss absolute, tarragon and chamomile leaf gave me the impression that this would smell similar to that of Tramp Shower Gel - which although something that I enjoy at times, is not a fragrance that bowls me over in any formats. As soon as the bath bomb arrived however, I immediately fell head-over-heels in love with the limited edition, and greatly regretted only buying the handful that I did. 

Despite its ingredients list suggesting otherwise, I would say that this bath bomb is very much like Lord Of Misrule - minus the vanilla but with a sweet, musky layer that must come from the combination of violet leaf absolute and distilled cedar leaf. While I expecting something far more potent and herbal, I was both surprised and incredibly grateful to experience something so beautifully rich and exquisite.

It is the inclusion of the pine that I think not gives this bath bomb a scent similar to Lord Of Misrule, but that which also gives this bath bomb its made note of fragrance. The pine oil offers a sharp, sweet green layer that immediately conjures up images of forests in my mind; the cedar leaf and orris root add a musky sweetness reminiscent of parma violets combined with a touch of floral.   

Not only would say that all of the layers work in unison with each other perfectly, but Deep Atmosphere is one of those bath bombs in which each note is equally matched. While I can pick out every component individually for this review, there is not one that I would say is stronger than the others - before or after it's been added to water.

In the water, this bath bomb immediately begins to fizz and dissolve - sending out waves of spring green across the surface of the water. Within seconds the tub is filled with a bright, uplifting colour that matches the robust aroma that elevates itself around the bathroom, and minutes later the bath bomb is all put dispersed. 

What I noticed immediately, upon stepping into the tub, was that the water was incredibly smooth. Although there is nothing in the ingredients list that suggest the ballistic would be all that moisturising, my skin felt nourished and smooth within minutes of submerging myself under the water. This feeling carried on long after I had exited the bath, along with the scent - that lingered on my skin for a good hour after I had towelled myself down.

The inclusion of the chamomile not only supported the tarragon in giving Deep Atmosphere a delicate but refreshing herbal smell, but helped me make this a very relaxing bath bomb. Once I was settled in the tub, I found it very difficult to want to leave. Moreover, after using one of these a little before I went to bed, gave me a much better sleep than what my body is normally privy to on a daily basis. 

My only qualm with this bath bomb was that it created a greenish-yellow mark around my bath tub afterwards, and I had to scrub away the stain before it became a permanent feature. Having said that, I would (and still have been) using this bath bomb over and over again, as it is easily one of my all-time favourite products. 

While the Lush Kitchen is no longer producing its weekly menus, I very much hope that this little gem makes itself present at some point again in the near future. This is one of only a handful of bath bombs that I would be happy to stock up on, and I would take full advantage of doing so if the opportunity arises. Look out Lord Of Misrule: your number one spot might not be a secure as you think. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Bicarbonate Of Soda, Citric Acid, Perfume, Siberian Pine Oil, Oak Moss Absolute, Cedar Leaf Distilled Over Orris Root, Tarragon Oil, Chamomile Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute, Crocin, Colour 61585.

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £3.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: ?

Coming soon!

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Karma Wash Card

Back when the flagship store on Oxford Street first opened, the 'Shower Sheet' was a brand new product that excited Lush fans around the world. For those not content with shower gels and shower jellies and shower smoothies and buttercreams, here was a brand new, innovative design that challenged the concept of 'normal showering' once again. 

Yet, after recognising their many merits, there was still a part of me that felt as if I wasn't getting as much value from a £13.95 sheet as I was for a similarly priced bottle. Therefore, once I had tried all of the sheets to review on my blog, I settled back into the routine of using my favourite gels and jellies once more.

However, after the Kiss Me Quick Business Card made an appearance earlier this year as part of the Valentine's Day range, I began to recognise other purposes that this format was able to offer, and I found a newfound appreciation of the product. So when Karma Wash Card was one of many new cards to showcase themselves at the Lush Summit event on February 8th, 2017, I was far more optimistic about picking myself up a handful.  

Firstly, the size of this card means that this will slip easily into a purse or a side pocket of a bag/suitcase - making it a great travelling companion that wont weigh you down. Due to this format not being able to create any unwanted spillages whatsoever, this solid rendition of a shower gel also guarantees to be leakage-free, and suitable to take on board a plane as part of your hand luggage.

Secondly, the lack of any active moisture means that the sheets are preservative free - meaning that they should have a much longer shelf life than their liquid counterparts. In addition, the lack of moisture means that they are far more densely packed with ingredients. For this reason, when used in the shower, the theory is that they'll be able to create much more of a lather from far less of the product because of this. Furthermore, they don't contribute to package waste in the slightest, making it far more environmentally friendly than their other shower counterparts.

Seeing the cards placed next to their perfume partner made me also realise that these are a great way of trying out a fragrance before you invest in a jul-size bottle. While £2 initially seems rather expensive for what roughly equates to about 6-10 showers worth of product, I feel as if this is worth doing rather than spending £30+ on a bottle of perfume that you realise you are not so keen on a few weeks later. 

While Karma Shower Gel and Karma Shower Jelly are both available fairly often in the Lush Kitchen, these are not products that are accessible to every Lush fan at any given moment. Once these cards make a permanent feature in stores, it'll mean that fans of certain fragrances will be able to have full time access to shower products in their favourite scents.

Sharing its scent with the popular Karma range, Karma Wash Card is exactly what you'd expect. Probably being closest in smell to the shower jelly format, this patchouli, pine, lemongrass and orange-scented aroma is beautiful in every way.

Karma is an ambient fragrance reminiscent of the sixties. Spicy orange oil is definitely the heart and soul of this fragrance - with warm, earthy and slightly spicy hints of patchouli to compliment the main scent. An occasional burst of lavender gives it a herbal touch and pine oil seals the deal, making this a multi-layered festivity of smells. The scent is both sweet and citrusy, and reminds me of those old-fashioned cola bottle sweets you used to get when you were little; or summer days where the smell of burning incense can be found wafting out of shop windows.   

What is great about this wash card is that it can also be used as a shampoo, which helps to lighten your load even more when you're travelling. Having only tried this out once, I can honestly say that it left my hair feeling silky-smooth and incredibly clean - not to mention the fact that the scent radiated from my locks for hours afterwards. 

While it lathered up quickly, and was equally as generous as a regular shower gel in terms of the amount of 'foam' it produced, I was a little disappointed to discover that the sheet near-on disintegrated when coming into contact with the running water. This is definitely not a product you should use in one go. Instead, to get the most out of it, I would recommend that you break off a small piece (1cm), add a little water away from the direct flow of the shower, and then massage it across your skin in a circular motion. 

The wash card produces a light, fluffy and very fragrant lather, and you can easily clean your entire body with the recommended size piece. In that sense it is equally as effective, if not more so than the shower gel variation, and works as a great top up for those who love the scent but don't have the privilege of owning the shower gel or jelly.  

As a gift, or as a product to store for future travel plans, this is a lovely limited edition to invest in. Although I won't be replacing my shower gels anytime soon, this business card has definitely sparked my interest in the shower sheets a little more, and I would definitely consider carrying these with me on trips rather than storing the usual bottle of gel. While a part of me considers £2 to be a little expensive for the size of the item, I can also see how its price tag makes it easily accessible for those on a budget, and who perhaps don't wish to invest the amount it costs for a full-sized version.

Quantitative Ingredients: ?

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £2 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

   

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Australian Igloo Sugar Scrub

A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to grab a rare Christmas Gift Set on ebay - one that was clearly past its best but came in a gorgeous hat box that I just had to have in my collection. Amongst the dried soaps and crushed bath bombs was a decrepit Australian Igloo, which just happened to possess some of its aroma still. Despite it being far too old to use, I relished in scrubbing my skin and basking in the gentle fragrance that it left behind. If this scrub was amazing some six years out of date, imagine what a fresh one of these would be like, I thought to myself... 

When the Lush Kitchen announced that they would be bringing it back last December, I couldn't wait to secure myself a handful and find out just how much better a fresh one would be as opposed to the poor-excuse of a scrub that was now a pile of mush in my bathroom. As to be expected, the product was everything I could have hoped for and more.

What is great about Australian Igloo Sugar Scrub is that it offers such a warming, sensual aroma, yet it is one of the lightest smelling scrubs that Lush have ever produced. If you want something that is gentle on the nose while offering the best exfoliation of your life, this limited edition is absolute perfection, and should be a regular product for all to buy.

Taking some of Australia's finest fragrances, and fusing it with a name and design that references the Artic, this seasonal scrub will banish the cold from your fingers and toes, and replenish your life with some much-needed sunshine. During a trip to Finland, Simon Constantine ended up being partnered with a crazy Australian tour guide, who forced him to excel in adventures that he had no desire to do. During his exploits, he noticed that the guide would spend all of his free time trying to build igloos with the snow - hence where the original idea for the product came from.

Crammed full of fine sugar, Australian Igloo is one of the most compact sugar scrubs that Lush do. It is not one that will break easily, nor is it one that will dissolve too quickly under running water - making it the perfect solution for someone like me who likes stronger, more harsher exfoliators. 

Ensure that your skin is slightly damp before massaging this bar across your skin in a circular motion. You'll find that you don't have to press very hard at all to receive quite a harsh, scratchy experience. The first time I used this, I came out of the shower quite red from where I had pressed a little too hard. If you're somebody with sensitive skin, I would highly suggest that you crumble this into a tub first and then apply some to the areas you want to exfoliate. This should hopefully give you more control over how hard you wish to apply it, otherwise there's a good chance that you might irritate your skin in keeping it whole.

Containing pine and sandalwood oil, coupled with a large dosage of eucalyptus, this scrub smells like both a dessert and a finely fragranced wood cabin. While the sugar in most of Lush's scrubs are added for texture, this scrub utilises the sugar for its smell and offers a wonderful sweet base for the other components to work from.

Alongside this, you can detect a note of pine, which offers up a refreshing, crisp but equally resinous, woody smell. The sandalwood combines with a gentle note from the coconut oil to give this scrub a creamy, well-rounded warmth; while the eucalyptus makes Australian Igloo appear cooling with gentles references of green.

While all of these elements are normal fairly robust when allowed to, in this format they are all very placid. This works to the advantage of the scrub because what you end up with is something very comforting and beautifully sweet, yet something that is equally as refreshing and light.

Overall, I was really impressed by how quickly I fell in love with this product. Given that this is perhaps the harshest scrub from Lush to date, it not only left me feeling really clean and free of dirt, but the coconut oil ensured that any moisture lost during my exfoliation was replenished back into my skin at the same time. Furthermore, I was impressed to find that it didn't shrink or break apart in the shower, and was fairly easy to pat down after each use. This meant that a single scrub lasted me a good eight to ten full body uses. 

In addition, I loved the fact that the smell permeated my skin for a good couple of hours after I had towelled myself down. Each and every experience convinced me even more than Lush should bring this fragrance out in multiple formats, as I feel it is wasted while it is only appearing as a scrub. This is definitely one that I would buy again, and I can only hope that my three remaining igloos last me until such time arrives.   

Quantitative Ingredients: Sugar, Sodium Bicarbonate, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Cream of Tartar, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Dried Rosella ,Siberian Pine Oil ,Eucalyptus Blue ,Sandalwood Oil,Cocamide DEA, Lauryl Betaine, PEG-6 Caprylic / Capric Glycerides, *Citral,*Coumarin, *Limonene,Methyl Ionone, Perfume,Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £4.75 for 100g

Year Of Original Release: 2006

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Mother Earth Bath Bomb

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £7.95 each.

Year Of Original Release: 2017.

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Assassin Shower Gel

After you've come to terms with the fact that your entire existence is governed by the financial implications of a Lush Kitchen splurge, you begin to accept the fact that you'll probably always have a list as long as your arm, of products you want to see being released in the not so distant future. The next step is to then recognise that this list will no doubt accumulate new items on a regular basis, and that the likelihood of you ever being able to cross off everything, is virtually impossible. 

The worst part for me is knowing that, while I may have tried and tested far more products than the majority of the people I know, there are always releases that will catch me off guard. Before I know it, I have another name added to my ever-expanding inventory and I feel myself even further away from being able to discard the checklist altogether. Such was the case with this recent release.

Assassin Shower Gel was not something that ever made itself known on my radar, despite claiming that shower gels are my shortcoming when it comes to Lush's impressive catalogue of products. For this reason, I was rather taken aback when it was first announced for release, and I even had to carry out a little research beforehand to brief myself on what exactly to expect.

Although multiple interpretations spread like wild fire on what everyone expected this product to smell like, it was the comparison between Tramp Shower Gel and Grass that seemed to be the general consensus among most fans. Upon experiencing it for the first time, I was quick to make that comparison as well. However, having spent the last few days sharing my bathroom with this wonderful product, I have come to realise that it has far more to offer, and I'd be selling it a little short if I simply jumped on this bandwagon. 

Firstly, I will say that I can see why the the aforementioned shower gels have been used to describe Assassin. In all fairness, there is a similarity to both of them, and it is a really effective way of helping others to gage an idea of what to expect when deciding whether or not to make a purchase. However, I happen to think that this shower gel is much BETTER than either of the two items, and doesn't seem so similar when you have all three gels in front of you to compare.

Containing pine, cypress, lemon and patchouli oils, not to mention oakmoss absolute, this shower gel is for fans of fresh, green, natural-smelling cosmetics. It is the former two ingredients that dominate the overall smell of this product - offering two very different sensory experiences. On the one hand, it reminds me of lazing around a freshly trimmed garden in the summer time, when the plants and shrubbery around you has been watered and the heat of the sun radiates notes of chlorophyll into the air, while you bathe. At the same time, it also reminds me of the smell you experience after setting up a freshly-cut Christmas tree in your lounge and allowing the green smell to permeate the room a little. 

While I would say that the pine and cypress oils are equally matched in this combination, my nose gravitates very slightly more towards the pine. This element gives Assassin a crisp, naturally-sweet resinous aroma; while the cypress oil rounds this off with a fresh, woody element that offers just the  slightest hint of evergreen to compliment the pine.


The oakmoss is not as robust as it is in Tramp Shower Gel - instead adding a dry, earthy quality to the shower gel. However, while it does ground the smell a little and give it a level of complexity, it's not as potent as it is in the aforementioned gel. Although you cannot really detect any of the tart, citrusy qualities of the lemon oil, you can appreciate its presence in helping to elevate the overall aroma. This also goes for the patchouli - where you can smell the subtle aromatic elements of the ingredient, but not the spicy components.

Assassin is a celebration of how Lush are able to mimic natural scents, as this truly does smell like they're captured the outdoors and bottled it in gel form. The beautiful shade of green its presented in makes it even more magical, and this would be a perfect accompaniment to a spring-time bath. At the same time, the pine makes it feel very Christmassy as well, and is certainly one of the products I will be taking home to enjoy on the days leading up to Christmas Day.

In the shower, the scent is robust and long-lasting - the heat elevates those individual notes and engulfs the room with a strong but equally light and refreshing aroma. I was not surprised to find that the fragrance stays with you for a good couple of hours after leaving the shower, and the very nature of the scent means that you feel thoroughly clean and uplifted. 

You only need to use a small amount and it goes a long way - lathering up with ease whether I massaged a little between my palms or stimulated the suds by coating my body first. While I wouldn't say it was overly moisturising, it still left my skin as smooth and as soft as most of the other Lush shower gels I have used. 

Overall, I wasn't expecting to be so enamoured with this shower gel, so I am pleasantly surprised to find that I would class it as being a firm favourite of mine, and one that I would buy again if I find myself with a shortage on my hands. Winter, spring or summer, this shower gel assassinates any of Lush's previous attempts to bottle nature, and I would highly recommend that you grab yourself a bottle when the opportunity next arises. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Agar Agar Gel, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Chicory Infusion, Rosemary Infusion, Lauryl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Perfume, Cypress Oil, Pine Oil, Oakmoss Absolute, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Patchouli Oil, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Chlorophyllin, Methylparaben  Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £11.25 for 250g.
2017 Price: £11.50 for 250g

Year Of Original Release: 2005.

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Assassin Shower Gel

After you've come to terms with the fact that your entire existence is governed by the financial implications of a Lush Kitchen splurge, you begin to accept the fact that you'll probably always have a list as long as your arm, of products you want to see being released in the not so distant future. The next step is to then recognise that this list will no doubt accumulate new items on a regular basis, and that the likelihood of you ever being able to cross off everything, is virtually impossible. 

The worst part for me is knowing that, while I may have tried and tested far more products than the majority of the people I know, there are always releases that will catch me off guard. Before I know it, I have another name added to my ever-expanding inventory and I feel myself even further away from being able to discard the checklist altogether. Such was the case with this recent release.

Assassin Shower Gel was not something that ever made itself known on my radar, despite claiming that shower gels are my shortcoming when it comes to Lush's impressive catalogue of products. For this reason, I was rather taken aback when it was first announced for release, and I even had to carry out a little research beforehand to brief myself on what exactly to expect.

Although multiple interpretations spread like wild fire on what everyone expected this product to smell like, it was the comparison between Tramp Shower Gel and Grass that seemed to be the general consensus among most fans. Upon experiencing it for the first time, I was quick to make that comparison as well. However, having spent the last few days sharing my bathroom with this wonderful product, I have come to realise that it has far more to offer, and I'd be selling it a little short if I simply jumped on this bandwagon. 

Firstly, I will say that I can see why the the aforementioned shower gels have been used to describe Assassin. In all fairness, there is a similarity to both of them, and it is a really effective way of helping others to gage an idea of what to expect when deciding whether or not to make a purchase. However, I happen to think that this shower gel is much BETTER than either of the two items, and doesn't seem so similar when you have all three gels in front of you to compare.

Containing pine, cypress, lemon and patchouli oils, not to mention oakmoss absolute, this shower gel is for fans of fresh, green, natural-smelling cosmetics. It is the former two ingredients that dominate the overall smell of this product - offering two very different sensory experiences. On the one hand, it reminds me of lazing around a freshly trimmed garden in the summer time, when the plants and shrubbery around you has been watered and the heat of the sun radiates notes of chlorophyll into the air, while you bathe. At the same time, it also reminds me of the smell you experience after setting up a freshly-cut Christmas tree in your lounge and allowing the green smell to permeate the room a little. 

While I would say that the pine and cypress oils are equally matched in this combination, my nose gravitates very slightly more towards the pine. This element gives Assassin a crisp, naturally-sweet resinous aroma; while the cypress oil rounds this off with a fresh, woody element that offers just the  slightest hint of evergreen to compliment the pine.


The oakmoss is not as robust as it is in Tramp Shower Gel - instead adding a dry, earthy quality to the shower gel. However, while it does ground the smell a little and give it a level of complexity, it's not as potent as it is in the aforementioned gel. Although you cannot really detect any of the tart, citrusy qualities of the lemon oil, you can appreciate its presence in helping to elevate the overall aroma. This also goes for the patchouli - where you can smell the subtle aromatic elements of the ingredient, but not the spicy components.

Assassin is a celebration of how Lush are able to mimic natural scents, as this truly does smell like they're captured the outdoors and bottled it in gel form. The beautiful shade of green its presented in makes it even more magical, and this would be a perfect accompaniment to a spring-time bath. At the same time, the pine makes it feel very Christmassy as well, and is certainly one of the products I will be taking home to enjoy on the days leading up to Christmas Day.

In the shower, the scent is robust and long-lasting - the heat elevates those individual notes and engulfs the room with a strong but equally light and refreshing aroma. I was not surprised to find that the fragrance stays with you for a good couple of hours after leaving the shower, and the very nature of the scent means that you feel thoroughly clean and uplifted. 

You only need to use a small amount and it goes a long way - lathering up with ease whether I massaged a little between my palms or stimulated the suds by coating my body first. While I wouldn't say it was overly moisturising, it still left my skin as smooth and as soft as most of the other Lush shower gels I have used. 

Overall, I wasn't expecting to be so enamoured with this shower gel, so I am pleasantly surprised to find that I would class it as being a firm favourite of mine, and one that I would buy again if I find myself with a shortage on my hands. Winter, spring or summer, this shower gel assassinates any of Lush's previous attempts to bottle nature, and I would highly recommend that you grab yourself a bottle when the opportunity next arises. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Agar Agar Gel, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Chicory Infusion, Rosemary Infusion, Lauryl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Perfume, Cypress Oil, Pine Oil, Oakmoss Absolute, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Patchouli Oil, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Chlorophyllin, Methylparaben  Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

2016 Price: £11.25 for 250g.
2017 Price: £11.50 for 250g

Year Of Original Release: 2005.

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