Almond Buttercream

If it hadn't been for the release of Heavenly Bodies a few months back, I probably wouldn't have been as excited as I was for the release of this. Ever since I experienced the wonders of smearing myself in what smells and looks like cake batter, and feeling how amazingly soft my skin was afterwards, I've never wanted to share a shower with a product more than this one.

Unfortunately for Heavenly Bodies, Almond Buttercream has surpassed my expectations and cemented itself as my favourite buttercream to date. It's the perfect product to become acquainted with during those difficult morning showers - it's gentle on the skin and leaves you wanting to scoop out handfuls and spoon them into your mouth. 

For those unfamiliar with what a buttercream is, it's a combination of soap and shower gel; a softer-style soap that can be used like a shower gel, but contains key ingredients to help soften and repair dry skin. It doesn’t contain as many surfactants as traditional soap, so it won’t lather up like you’re used to, but this does mean it’s especially good for those people who find normal soap can sometimes dry their skin out.

This particular butter cream is jam-packed with essential oils and butters to give you a nourishing and highly moisturising experience. The inclusion of rapeseed and coconut condition the skin - helping to keep moisture from escaping from the skin, which aids in retaining softness and suppleness. The moisturizing properties of almond butter is great for people with delicate or sensitive skin, making it a good choice for dry skin on your face or to relieve itching and soreness from rashes and other skin irritations. The ground almond shells means that this product doesn't waste any of the nut and gives the buttercream a very subtle grittiness, which turns this product into a gentle exfoliator. 

As if Almond Buttercream wasn't luxurious enough, Lush have also included sweet orange, sicilian mandarin, lime and cinnamon leaf oil. Aside from their moisturising and toning properties, these ingredients give this product a beautiful, uplifting and rather sexy aroma.                                                                                                   To me, this buttercream smells rather similar to the aforementioned Heavenly Bodies, but whereas that one is dominated by the lime oil, this one is much lighter, more buttery and slightly less potent with the citrus fragrance. It has a gentle smell of chocolate orange, a subtle nuttiness intertwined with a rich, fudgey-vanilla aroma that's simply irresistible. As I said in my other review, it really needs to be sampled to understand how beautiful the product is - don't blame me if you find yourself poised with a spoon over a tub of the stuff - it really is that good!

Aside from it's scent, Almond Buttercream softens, cleans and replenishes tired and dried-out skin. It's easy to massage over the skin but don't expect it to lather up like a shower gel - it's more like a body butter in this sense. It washes off easily under running water and leaves a beautiful fruity fragrance on your skin. 

It's easy to scoop out of the tub and a small amount goes a long way. Just be careful not to use too much at any one time as it's very easy to get carried away with a product as gorgeous as this. A 250g tub will last you a good 10-20 full body washes, depending on how generous you are with your portions. While it works out more expensive than a shower gel or soap, it's worth the extra price to feel as gorgeously pampered as you do with this buttercream.

This has very quickly established itself as one of my favourite all-time Lush products and I hope they choose to bring this back soon so I can buy a few more tubs. I would definitely recommend that you give this at least one try, and I dare to you to find fault in this incredible product!

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Almond Butter, Sesame Seeds, Perfume, Dried Orange Slices, Aloe Vera Extract, Ground Almond Shells, Fair Trade Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Sweet Orange Oil, Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Lime Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Eugenol.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Gold, Frankincense & Beer Shower Jelly

Gold, Frankincense & Beer Shower Jelly is a product very popular with the majority of Lush fanatics. It's a product that gains a lot of attention and excitement, often by consumers who are keen to try this out for the first time. Making it's last appearance during the 2011 December retro range, it's a shower jelly that has built it's notoriety through the praise and adoration from those of us lucky enough to have tried it. 

Initially, I was a little skeptical that this product would be anything special. Presented as a rather ugly, and slightly 'gloopy' brown coloured-jelly, it's not the most attractive product in the world. At first, I was even tempted to scorn the fact that Lush had decorated the jelly with sprinklings of golden lustre, on the basis that it's near impossible to 'dress up' anything that resembles the colour of mud. However, I was quick to forgive this jelly on the basis that two of it's key ingredients are, in fact, brown in nature; Stout and Frankincense feature heavily here so there's no wonder the jelly is coloured as it is. 

When I hazarded a first sniff, I was pleasantly surprised by it's wonderful fragrance and was rather excited to see how it performed in the shower. This shower jelly is definitely a lot sweeter than you would imagine; concocted from a mixture of mandarin and star anise, mandarin juice and sweet orange oil, it possesses somewhat of a fruity edge to it, which was unexpected but very much loved by myself. 

However, it is the ingredients in it's name that dominate this product's fragrance. The smell is rather hard to describe; a sort of pungent stout scent with elements of sugary sweetness coming from the inclusion of frankincense. It is this latter ingredient, alongside the citrus elements, that give this shower jelly it's unique scent, whilst removing the sourness that you would expect from the beer. 

It's quite a sophisticated and rather sexy smell, although it definitely sides more with Lush's more masculine fragrances than it does the likes of Snow Fairy and Rose Jam. It's got a slight earthy musk to it, alongside a subtle spicy kick from the addition of black pepper and cinnamon, making it a very warm and comforting scent; it reminds me very slightly of the chewy ale bottle sweets that I used to eat as a child. 

The jelly is made from carrageenan extract which is a natural and nutritious seaweed gel full of vitamins and minerals to help soften and condition your skin. Gold, Frankincense & Beer Shower Jelly also features four different types of oils, which is perhaps why this jelly is a little softer and less elasticated than the likes of Calacas or The Joy Of Jelly. However, this shower jelly lathered up wonderfully and produced quite a thick and creamy lather, which worked wonders at softening your skin and leaving it feeling radiant.

There are several ways that you can use the shower jelly. Firstly, you can rub the whole block, or a broken-off piece, directly onto your skin. However, I find that this is fairly ineffective as it does not create much of a lather and the jelly becomes too wet, making it slippery and difficult to hold on to. What I find works for me, is breaking off a grape-sized piece and then rubbing it into a sponge or shower-puff, before lathering all over my body. This tends to help the jelly foam up, wherein the puff them holds the lather whilst you clean yourself.  

As Gold, Frankincense & Beer is a rather soft jelly, I found that this method of application was pretty effective. The jelly tended to smoosh into the shower puff nicely and create a velvety lather that I could then use all over my body.

What is promising is that I was left with a wonderful sweet and woody smell on my skin, which clung to my hair and clothes for most of the day. I received a number of compliments, which only served to demonstrate that this is a product with a long-lasting and poignant scent.   

I thoroughly enjoyed Gold, Frankincense & Beer Shower Jelly, despite convincing myself beforehand that I would hate it. It's a unique and very sultry-smelling jelly, and one that I would be very interested in buying again. I only hope that Lush bring it back again sometime soon.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerine, Stout (Beer), Mandarin and Star Anise Infusion (Citrus nobilis, Illicium verum), Propylene Glycol, Mandarin Juice (Citrus reticulata), Carrageenan Extract, Perfume, Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis), Clove Bud Oil (Eugenia caryophyllus), Black Pepper Oil (Piper nigrum), Cinnamon Leaf Oil (Cinnamomum cassia), Fine Sea Salt (Sodium Chloride), *Citral, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Methylparaben, Golden Sparkles (Polyethylene terephthalate).

Vegan?: Yes.

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Romance In The Stone Bath Bomb

Every so often, a product comes along that sparks an interest in me far greater than most other products usually do. Sometimes it's the look; whether it be it's unique shape, it's colour scheme or it's attention to detail on the decoration. Other times it might be the promise of an exciting scent or the way it's supposed to perform in the bath, shower or on your skin. Whether it's that high expectation that you set upon hearing about the product, or whether that product just isn't as good as it could be, there are always those moments when you feel royally let down by an unfulfilled promise. 

Romance In The Stone is probably the first product in a long while that has left me feeling confused, saddened and a little annoyed. Released during one of Lush's 2013 retro releases, it looked and sounded like something I could easily fall in love with. But things were not to be...

This is one of Lush's smaller bath bombs; a light, cream in colour with real dried rosebuds arranged and decorating each end of the product. Out of the bag, it has a wonderful fresh floral scent intertwined with a refreshing burst of citrus; created using a blend of rose and orange fragrance. This addition of the orange sets it apart from most of Lush's rose-scented ballistics, giving it a unique kick that makes it different from the likes of Rose Queen and Tisty Tosty. First impressions were good.

In the water, the rose petals and dried buds broke away from the product while it was fizzing and floated across the surface before sinking to the bottom of the tub. For those of you who dislike your baths containing any unwanted 'debris', it is easy enough to let this ballistic dissolve whilst sat in a strainer, or placed in a thin sock to stop the pieces of flower getting in your way. However, doing this will stop you from being able to collect and enjoy the sonnet that Lush have snuck inside this bath bomb, supposedly to make this bathing experience just that little bit more romantic.

Here's the problem. Firstly, I discovered that all three of my Romance In The Stone ballistics didn't work correctly. Even when I used one a mere 3-4 days after they arrived in the post, the bath bomb still plummeted to the bottom of the tub and left only a murky biege-coloured water for me to 'enjoy'. I even went out of my way to buy another bath bomb a few weeks later, thinking that I may have received one from a dodgy batch, only to discover that it did exactly the same thing. 

Secondly, if you compare the pictures of my bath bombs to the ones in the original Lush picture, mine don't possess the same allure as promised. My ballistics didn't display any of the beautiful mandarin or fuchsia colours in the flowers; instead, my roses looked wilted and old. Again, perhaps if I'd left these in a drawer for a few months this discolouration would be understandable; for a freshly made bath bomb, it's definitely not what I was expecting. 

Finally, and perhaps the worst part of this whole experience, was the horrible scent that Romance In The Stone produced when dropped into the tub. Instead of the delicate rose and orange fragrance that I was expecting, the scent that this ballistic gave off reminded me of aged pot-pourri that has gotten a little damp and begun to turn mouldy. It was an awful stale scent, which only cemented my concerns that perhaps all of my ballistics had been from a faulty batch. 

Unfortunately, I forgot to email Lush about this and never received an explanation as to why these ballistics were such poor quality. Given that most reviews I've read online about Romance In The Stone have been very positive, I've concluded that I was just unlucky with my purchase, and it's not a product fault. I really hope that Lush bring this bath bomb out again soon, as I'd love to sample another one and hopefully have a better experience this time around. However, until that happens, my opinion on this product is very negative. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Red Rosebud, Aloe Vera Extract, Orange Blossom, Red Rose Petals, Sweet Wild Orange Oil, Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Tangerine Oil, *Citral, *Limonene, Sonnet Scroll.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Sunny Citrus Soap

Citrus-scented cosmetics are easily the greatest products on the planet. If you were to consider my all-time favourite Lush fragrance families (Calacas, Ponche and Karma), you'll see that I love everything that features some sort of zesty, fruity goodness. So when I read the ingredients list for this soap, I almost hyperventilated at the sheer thought of what it would be like.

Sunny Citrus is one of those soaps that doesn't get mentioned often on the Lush forum or indeed anywhere online where Lush is discussed. Neither does this soap get many opportunities to share itself with new and devoted fans - it's made very few appearances in the retro range over the last few years. 

Yet I believe it's perhaps one of Lush's best-smelling citrus soaps - sitting above the likes of Orange Jelly, Mandarin's Tea Party and Sexy Peel. Sharing it's scent with the Sicilian Bath Bomb, this gorgeous soap is made from a combination of mandarin, tangerine and orange oils with neroli and bergamot oil thrown in there to add an uplifting and refreshingly complex aroma. 

To me, this soap smells a little like the orange Starburst chew or a tropical Solero ice-cream. It's a beautiful, creamy orange smell with a lime twist to top it off. Whereas a few of the soaps mentioned above are equally as zesty, this one just seems that little bit richer and more decadent. 

Lush describe it as the perfect soap to wake up to and I have to agree with this sentiment. When I used this first thing in the morning, it did perk me up and leave me feeling revitalised and ready for the day ahead. The yummy fragrance really helps to improve your disposition and this alone is enough of a reason to invest in a chunk next time it makes an appearance. 

In the shower, this soap lathers up wonderfully and produces a slightly oily foam, which nourishes the skin and leaves it feeling and smelling wonderful. Although I was slightly disappointed that the fragrance didn't seem to strengthen under the water, I was happy to find that I could smell the citrus elements of this for many hours on my skin, albeit fairly faintly. 

As far as Sunny Citrus Soap goes, it's definitely one of my favourites and I will buy a few chunks when it next makes it's appearance. However, as I've mentioned a few times before, I'm not really a soap person and would much rather have a shower gel to sink my teeth into (not literally, of course!). For this reason, I hope that Lush expand upon what products they offer in this scent. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Water (Aqua), Fresh Lime Juice (Citrus limetta), Sodium Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Titanium Dioxide, Orange Oil (Citrus dulcis), Tangerine Oil (Citrus reticulata), Mandarin Oil (Citrus nobilis), Neroli Oil (Citrus amara), Bergamot Oil (Citrus bergamia), Perfume, Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides), Colour 42045.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Coco Lotion Body Lotion

It was only a few months after I began collecting Lush products, that this product was discontinued from their regular range. At first, I didn't realise that it had removed. It was only when I went to order myself a tub to try out, that I realised it was no longer available, and I was rather disappointed as my flatmate had been raving about it's 'awesomeness' for quite some time. 

What I find a little confusing about Coco Lotion is that it was marketed as an un-fragranced body lotion, which means it would be very popular for the many people who don't like heavy or overpowering fragrances on their skin. However, when I researched into this lotion a little more, I found that most people who had used it, claimed that it possessed a tropical scent, which almost defeats the point of the lotion altogether.

Lush even stated in their description that the lotion was made up of 'ingredients from the Caribbean', claiming that 'the soft scent comes from the oils and herbs in it: toning fresh mandarins, rejuvenating rosemary and fresh pineapple for its naturally skin-brightening enzymes.'

What I found when I first used this lotion,was that I couldn't detect any of the 'Caribbean' influences that I was expecting; it was completely unfragranced with just a hint of 'something' which stopped it from giving off a plastic scent that Lush lotions sometimes do when they're past their shelf life.  It's consistency was very much like Karma Kream; a thick but light lotion that my skin absorbed almost immediately so I wasn't left greasy.Coco Lotion made my skin feel really refreshed and hydrated, whilst being light on my skin, which was lovely. 

Looking at what's been added to this product, I can see why this lotion works in this way; there are so many key ingredients here to help your skin. Firstly, Lush have included both extra virgin coconut oil and peanut oil which feed your thirsty skin and hydrate your pores. Organic pumpkin seed oil and organic sesame oil are both extra oil additions which make this lotion a rich, hydrating moisturiser. I'm unsure why so many oils have been added here, but given how nice it makes my skin feel, I'm not going to argue. Furthermore, Mandarin and Rosemary infusions as well as fresh pineapple juice are all added as they are rich in antioxidants and help to perk up the complexion and add a natural glow.

On paper, Coco Lotion sounds like it should be a haven a smells, which is partly why I was a little disappointed that I couldn't pick up any of these amazing ingredients in the mix. However, the main reason why this lotion scored so low for me was due to the horrific smell that permeated my skin after application. Immediately after I had moisturised my skin, a strong odour, similar to vomit, radiated from my body, and I had to rinse the product off as quickly as I could, whilst trying not to gag at the same time. It was absolutely vile! 

The lotion was very much in date, and nothing about it's consistency or scent in the plastic tub, suggested that it had 'turned'. When I researched into this problem, I found that a large number of Lush consumers had complained of similar smells coming from newly purchased pots of Coco Lotion, some even occurring days after buying a fresh pot in the shops.

It seems that this must have been a product fault for Coco Lotion, perhaps the reason why Lush ended up discontinuing it last year. It's a shame as this product had a lovely consistency and would have been popular for Lushies who dislike the more potent-smelling products. However, unless I decide that I enjoy the smell of sick on my skin, I won't be going anywhere near this lotion again.

Quantitative Ingredients: Spring Water, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Mandarin and Rosemary Infusion (Citrus nobilis and Rosmarinus officinalis), Pimento Berry; Nutmeg & Satr Anise decoction (Pimenta officinalis; Myristica fragrans and Illicium verum), Steric Acid, Peanut Oil (Arachis hypogaea), Triethanolimaine, Fresh Pineapple Juice (Ananas sativus), Oorganic Pumpkinseed Oil (Cucurbita), Sesame Oil (Sesamum indicum), Ceteartyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

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The Blonde Solid Shampoo

You're not seriously going to use that in your hair, are you? This was a reaction I received from one of my flatmates when she saw this arrive in the post earlier this week. Her distain didn't stem from the fact that the shampoo was in solid form, or because it had what she describes as 'lots of frilly bits on top'. Her concern was based on the fact that this shampoo is designed for hair on the other side of the spectrum to what mine is. And after witnessing how my hair can alter when using new products, she had a right to be worried.  

The Blonde Solid Shampoo is one of Lush's age-old products, released many years ago when Lush were only just beginning to release their solid haircare into the world. As the name suggests, this shampoo is aimed at those with fairer hair - the ingredients combined together especially to help bring out the natural shine in golden locks and brighten any highlights, natural or not. 

Firstly, it's a known fact that chamomile in all of it's forms, is the best herb for maintaining and intensifying those with lighter-coloured hair. It helps to give blonde hair a natural glossiness whilst keeping it soft and vibrant. There are many shampoos and conditioners on the market that claim to contain elements of chamomile in their ingredients list. However, unlike this one, most of the commercial brands have seriously watered down the amount of chamomile that they use. This means that the goodness it can offer hair is severely reduced and doesn't do much more than just adding to the overall scent of the shampoo. 

Coupled with marigold, The Blonde gives off a beautiful fragrance - you can really smell this combination immediately upon tearing back the wrapper. As well as the inclusion of these plants, you can also smell a very pungent citrus smell, which almost overpowers the chamomile. 

This solid shampoo features lemon juice, tangerine and mandarin oil, as well as dried orange slices for decoration. Together, they offer the user a strong, natural and slightly bitter citrus smell. It's fragrance reminds me slightly of fresh lemon rind - that bittersweet uplifting tartness that gets up your nose and refuses to leave. I happen to love this smell although I can imagine it might be too dominating for some people. 

The Blonde works in the same way as all of Lush's other solid shampoos. You can either massage it through wet hair, or rub it between your hands and create a lather, which can then be applied to your locks. Either way, you can really tell how much shampoo is compacted into a single bar as it lathers up really easily but takes forever to shrink in size. 

This particular shampoo is very slightly soft between the fingers so it's definitely worth being a little more proactive at keeping this dry when it's not being used. I can imagine that this would soak up water a lot easier than some of Lush's other solid bars so I would recommend patting it dry after every use, just to play it safe.

Even though it's marketed for those with lighter hair, Lush do make a point of saying that this works just as well for those that have dyed their hair a darker colour, and perhaps it is this reason that I found The Blonde worked wonders for my locks. 

It took a couple of uses to start the ball rolling but once my hair was used to the shampoo, it was a pleasure to use. My hair felt beautifully soft and noticeably glossier immediately, and it made my hair brighter rather than stripping or fading the dye that I use regularly. I also noticed that my hair seemed more manageable and I was able to wear it down without having to straighten it first - it supported my natural wave but worked on reducing any frizz that would have given me a bad hair day. 

The Blonde Solid Shampoo has quickly cemented itself as one of my favourite hair care products and I have already ordered myself a few extra blocks to see me through the summer. Even if you don't have fair hair, I really recommend that you give this one a try - I'm glad I did. 

Unfortunately, the fact that this has come from the Kitchen means that it won't be a regular part of my routine. However, I'm hoping it's popularity convinces Lush to make this a permanent member of their range. Another fantastic product from my favourite company!

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Chamomile and Marigold Petal Infusion, Glyceryl Stearate & PEG-100 Stearate, Perfume, Lauryl Betaine, Soya Lecithin, Fresh Organic Lemon Juice, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Tangerine Oil, Mandarin Oil, Gardenia Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Dried Orange Slices, Dried Roman Chamomile Flower.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Happy 4 SAD Shower Gel

Happy 4 SAD is one of those old Lush products that I was desperate to try out, if only I could get my hands on some! As luck would have it, I managed to find a small bottle being sold on eBay late last year, and snapped it up with excitement. However, what I received left little to the imagination, so I was really excitable when Lush brought this out last week in their Kitchen. 

It was first released back in 2004, and was sold to raise awareness of SAD - Seasonal Affective disorder, which is a condition that affects some people’s mood in winter when there are fewer hours of daylight. To reflect the sentiments behind this shower gel, Happy 4 SAD uses the uplifting fragrance of oranges, grapefruit and mandarin oils to uplift your spirits and improve your mood. 

Firstly, I was rather impressed and slightly confused by the colour of this shower gel. The product's original look is a vivid purple colour, which definitely doesn't match up with the scent it gives off. Furthermore, this shower gel actually changes colour to a pale turquoise when left out in the sun, which is rather impressive, but still doesn't really represent the fragrance it possesses. 

When describing this shower gel, Lush say that they have included 'rose to restore happy feelings, uplifting, refreshing mandarin and a drop or two of the wonderful neroli, said to relieve tension and stress and give a feeling of euphoria to all who smell it. Whenever you feel the dull, dark days and long nights getting you down, get up with Happy for SAD.'

On first sniff, this shower gel reminded me of orange squash with a touch of rose; a floral, bitter citrus scent with not much else going on behind it. It was very plain and one-dimensional, and paled in comparison to the likes of Happy Hippy and Prince Charming Shower Gel. However, when using it in the shower, I found that the smell came out of it's shell a little. I was able to detect a stronger herbal element to the smell and the orange aroma intensified a little. 

Happy 4 SAD is one of the thinnest shower gels I've experienced so far, which worried me that I'd end up wasting a lot of it down the drain. However, a little goes a long way, and I found even the smallest drop lathered up wonderfully. The foam it produced was neither oily like Twilight or fluffy like The Olive Branch - instead sitting somewhere nicely in-between. 

Not surprisingly, the gentle scent didn't last long at all and by the time I had towel-dried myself down, it had completely dispersed. This was probably the most disappointing aspect of this shower gel as I can imagine enjoying it much more if the fragrance was stronger. However, I recognise the fact that this product has been designed to be a gentle companion in the shower - not something that should overpower or dominate your senses. 

Overall, I felt that Happy for SAD had a lot of potential, but there were just too many things that needed bettering in order for it to reach it's potential. Those who love gentle scents will not doubt love this, but it's not something I can get that excited over and will not be buying again. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Fresh Dove Orchid Infusion, Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Fair Trade Aloe Vera Gel, Lauryl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Fine Sea Salt, Neroli Oil, Grapefruit Oil, Mandarin Oil, Rose Oxymel, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Colour 42090, Colour 17200, Methylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Big Liquid Perfume

When Lush brought out Big as part of the 2012 Forum Special Perfumes, I had never tried the shampoo of the same name before. Therefore, it wasn't one I immediately jumped on to buy, and I ended up opting not to get any at all. Fast forward a matter of months, and I decided to purchase a tub of the popular Big shampoo to use on my hair. As well as loving how my hair responded to the product, I instantly fell in love with it's scent.     

Big Perfume is a fresh, tropical scented perfume; a beautiful cocktail of mandarin oil, neroli oil, orange blossom and vanilla absolute. These fruity, juicy citrus scents have been intertwined with the savoury addition of sea salt, making this a very unique fragrance indeed. It smells identical to that of it's older brother, which I am very grateful for.

Unlike most of Lush's floral perfumes, this one doesn't mature as you're wearing it, and it's a little difficult to pick out individual scents once you've sprayed it on yourself. However, the Big scent is a really strong-blended perfume so you can forgive it for being rather one-dimensional. What I loved about this perfume, is that the scent stays with you longer than every other perfume I've ever tried; I found that I could still find traces on my clothing some eight days after I had originally sprayed it. 

This is the perfect perfume to wear to the beach; it compliments the smell of the ocean and the heat, and epitomises what I love about the summer. It's a heady, uplifting and refreshing fragrance that I hope Lush bring back in one of their next limited perfume runs. Until that happens, I'll have to savour my one remaining decant.   

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Neroli Oil (Citrus Aurantium amara), Mandarin Oil (Citrus reticulata), Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia), Orange Flower Absolute (Citrus Aurantium amara), *Citral, *Coumarin, *Farnesol, *Linalool, *Limonene, Methyl Ionone, Geraniol.

Vegan?: Yes.

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The Olive Branch Body Lotion

When Lush first announced that they were going to be revamping the retro range and offering consumers a chance to purchase old and exclusive products in another format, I was overly excited. I began to conjure up ideas for new products - Ponche Body Lotion, Calacas-scented everything, Angel's Delight perfume etc... Never once did I stop to consider the possibility of some of the older, harder to find products making an appearance and stealing the show. That was until this product appeared online...

The Olive Branch family is one that I initially overlooked in the beginning - too busy searching out all of the sweet and citrus products to satisfy my cravings. However, during a family holiday, my decision to bring a small 100g bottle of the shower gel, was enough to cement my obsession with the unique and equally beautiful smell. 

When Lush announced that they would be bringing out Olive Branch Body Lotion, I was immensely happy and even more elated when four tubs of the stuff were delivered to my door a few days ago....

Originally made with cocoa butter and olive oil, I was initially skeptical and a little worried that Lush had opted to remove the latter ingredient and replace it with almond oil. However, true to Lush's form, this body lotion smells identical to the much-loved shower gel and possesses all of the many wonderful layers of fragrance that you would expect. 

This body lotion gives off a beautiful aroma of fresh mandarins, bergamot oil and vine leaves - a warm, peppery and citrus-infused fragrance unlike anything else. It is the vine leaves that dominate the smell here, giving the lotion a unique savoury element that brings the different scents together. The mandarin adds a subtle fruitiness that compliments the other ingredients and gives it an uplifting, Mediterranean scent; the bergamot oil adds a nutty, woody layer.   

Altogether, these ingredients create a body lotion to get excited about, and one that compliments not only your skin, but the warming weather as well. The addition of almond oil has somewhat altered the appearance of the body lotion, giving it a somewhat runny consistency that doesn't look far off finely blended semolina. However, the thinness of the cream means that it's really light and gentle on your skin, permeating the skin very quickly and leaving your body feeling smooth, hydrated and refreshed without any stickiness or oily residue.

To me, The Olive Branch Body Lotion is very much like Karma Kream in that it feels more like a cleanser than a lotion. Although it's not the most moisturising body lotion that Lush have offered, it does soften the skin wonderfully and leaves it's gorgeous smell on your skin for hours. 

Overtime the scent does fade and it is the nuttiness that comes through on your skin, which works wonderfully well if you're wearing a citrusy perfume at the time. It definitely doesn't have the same longevity as say Vanilla Dee-Lite or Tropical Jungle, but it does leave it's mark and makes you feel beautiful all day. 

I've gotten many compliments this weekend, something I normally only expect to get from the perfume I'm wearing. I really wish this was a regular body lotion for it would definitely be one of my must-have purchases. As it is, I am very glad I picked up multiple tubs for myself and I shall be indulging both my senses and my skin with this body lotion all throughout the summer months. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia), Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Orange Flower Absolute (Citrus Aurantium amara), Mandarin Oil (Citrus reticulata), Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Ionone, Lilial, Citral, Coumarin, Oakmoss Extract (Evernia prunastri) Hexylcinnamal, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Mangnificent Soap

I've been getting through a lot of different Lush soaps recently, so much so that it would take one of giant proportions to leave a particularly strong impression on me. As it happens, this product did exactly that. 

When it arrived, Mangnificent Soap didn't look that different from the likes of Orange Jelly or Red Rooster Soap, so I wasn't immediately taken by it. However, I only had to peel back the thin layer of wrapping to discover a soap far fresher and more exciting than any that I've received from Lush in a very long time.

Created using a combination of fresh mango, dried mango, lemon and mandarin oil, this is a tropical soap that not only possesses a wonderfully fruity fragrance, but one that offers your skin a deep cleanse. Firstly, the combination of fresh fruit gives this product a wonderfully natural but subtle mango smell. It's scent reminds me a little of the Carrot Soap that Lush released not too long ago, but without the tart, sourness that the seasonal soap possessed. The smell also reminds me a little of Fox's Boiled Sweets - that gentle sugary-sweet glycerine smell that's rather subtle but still packs a punch. I couldn't really detect the coconut oil much here, but it did a great job at making the consistency of this soap very hydrating.

As well as it's beautiful scent, the look and feel of this soap is slightly different from what you'd usually expect. Firstly, the two slices that I received were far more moist than any other of Lush's regular soaps, which gave me confidence that this would be an effective moisturiser for my skin. Furthermore, each slice is decorated with fresh chunks of mango, which help to make this product look and feel good enough to eat.

In the shower, this soap lathers up quickly and effectively, producing an oily but equally light foam that glides over your skin with ease. As I didn't have to massage the soap all that much, I realised that a single block would no doubt last longer than your average 100g chunk. However, be warned that you may have to grip your soap a little more than you usually would, as I found mine was very keen to throw itself into the bath water, and this might affect it's longevity if over-exposed to liquid. 

Mangnificent Soap helped to cleanse my skin almost instantly, without drying it out or irritating it in any way. I also found that, aside from making me feel clean and clear, the inclusion of lemon, mandarin and neroli oils helped this soap to moisturise and soften the skin, just as I would expect a shower gel or jelly to do. 

Overall, it was wonderful to experience the smells and deep cleanse that the soap offered me in the shower, and it's definitely one that I would purchase again to enjoy when the weather gets really hot. For those, who are perhaps unsure as to the benefits of using a soap instead of a shower gel, Mangnificent Soap is a good place to start: It'll showcase perfectly how a soap doesn't have to be a colourless, scentless product that dries your skin out and irritates your pores.

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Glycerine, Fresh Mango, Dried Mango, Perfume, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Sicilian Mandarin Oil, Neroli Oil, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Limonene, Lilial, Colour 14700.

Vegan?: Yes.

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