I can't say I was initially excited at the prospect of trying The Olive Branch shower gel for the first time. On first sniff, it reminded me of the many manufactured cosmetics that you're likely to find in a local supermarket - a unisex fragrance with slight citrus and floral elements. Nothing special. However, after using this for the first time in the shower, my opinion changed dramatically, and I now consider it to be one of my favourite shower gels from Lush.
Made with Fairtrade olive oil, fresh mandarins, bergamot oil and vine leaves, this shower gel is a Mediterranean feast for the body and soul. Firstly, the addition of olive oil helps to give your skin a wonderful deep moisturise, which makes it stand apart from most other shower gels around. This oil also helps to give the product a beautiful woody scent, which intensifies under the heat of the shower and leaves you and your bathroom smelling divine. Secondly, the warm, savoury fragrance of the vine leaves alongside the citrus infusions from the lemon and mandarin oils, gives this shower gel a unique fragrance that is unlike anything else I have smelt. After a quick shake of the bottle, I squirted a small amount onto my shower puff and was surprised to see that the gel was quite watery. I would definitely recommend that you're careful when using this as I can imagine someone, with little or no experience of The Olive Branch, would lose a lot of shower gel down the plug hole as the bottle does disperse a great deal, very quickly.
Despite this initial issue, I was very surprised by the amount of bubbles it created, as I thought the consistency, alongside the surplus amount of olive oil in it, would make this more of heavy, oily product. The shower gel foamed up nicely and upon rinsing it off, my skin felt instantly cleaned and moisturised.
What I love about The Olive Branch, is that the fragrance it gives off, is rather subtle. Sometimes Lush products can have a very overpowering smell, which deters a lot of people from buying from them. The Olive Branch is a shower gel that proves that cosmetics can still be both unique and captivating, whilst possessing only a mild scent.
To conclude: The Olive Branch has a very earthy, woody smell to it, but with a touch of fruitiness which I love. It gives off a unique scent that I've never smelt before, but one that lingers on the skin for hours after use. It moisturises your skin and leaves it feeling repaired, which is especially good during those summer months when the sun threatens to dry your skin out and the heat strips your body of it's much needed moisture.
Lush suggest that the gel can also be used as a shampoo. Although I cannot comment on its use as a shampoo as I have only used it as a body wash, I am definitely planning on testing it out on my hair over Christmas and detailing the results for those that are interested.
The Olive Branch is not a product that I would have immediately rushed to, but one that has cemented itself as one of my favourites. This is best used throughout the warmer part of the year, but will still be a great companion to your skin in the coming winter months.
Quantitative Ingredients: Vine Leaf Infusion, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Fresh Mandarin Juice, Fair Trade Olive Oil, Perfume, Propylene Glycol, Bergamot Oil, Lemon Oil, Orange Flower Absolute, Mandarin Oil, Fine Sea Salt, *Limonene, *Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Colour 14700, Methylparaben.
Vegan?: Yes
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