Smuggler's Soul Liquid Perfume

Despite investing in the solid edition of this perfume, I knew I had to experience the liquid version as well - both the compacted perfume and the body spray. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the latter product in the Gorilla Shop over the weekend but I was happy to get my greedy mitts on a 10ml bottle of the perfume variety.

When I first heard it's name, Smuggler's Soul evoked quite a number of scent-combinations for me, none of which match up with the one that Lush chose to give it. It's quite an odd name for a perfume and comes from the story of Veerappen - a notorious sandalwood smuggler who killed over a hundred people during his time and was later shot in 2004 - following a long struggle between himself and the government. 

When you read the full extent of the situation, you find yourself asking; 'how can you possibly create a scent that goes with this story?'. Yet, Lush have somehow managed to do this - creating a unique, complex and rather beautiful fragrance unlike anything I've have ever smelt before. 

Much like the solid edition, this liquid perfume features two different types of sandalwood, both of which add a strong, smokey note to the fragrance. In the bottle, this element of the scent is somewhat thwarted by the lemongrass which gives the perfume a sickly and slightly sour citrus element. However, once Smuggler's Soul gets onto your skin, it offers a far richer and more complex woody aroma. 

Alongside the smokiness of the wood, there is a definite layer of both vetivert and tagetes, which combined give this perfume a naturally sweet and slightly floral smell. The sandalwood compliments these two ingredients wonderfully - giving the perfume a far deeper and warmer aroma without being too intoxicating. The lemongrass is still very much present on the skin but it isn't as acidic as it is in the bottle, and instead enriches the perfume with it's fresh, uplifting and slightly grassy-green scent.                                                                                                                                                           What I love about Smuggler's Soul is that the scent continues to develop long after you've applied it to the skin. Within twenty minutes or so, I noticed that the woody notes had begun to disperse a little whilst the other layers remained vibrant and very much present. Over time, this allows the perfume to mature and when this happened, it reminded me very slightly of Dear John. 

Lush describe this perfume as being 'deep, dangerous and intoxicating' and claim that it will 'enrapture your heart'. While the fragrance doesn't incite any illegal activity out of me, it has cemented itself as a firm favourite, and here's why; 

Despite the solid variation being a little weak in scent, the liquid version is long-lasting and far more charismatic. It's a wonderfully rich and multi-layered unisex aroma that I can see being signature scents for many people. I found that Smuggler's Soul stayed with me for a good 4-5 hours and continued to offer a light, refreshing yet equally comforting smell that brightened my day up immensely.

This is one of the most expensive Lush perfumes, coming in at £18 for a 10ml bottle. However, you really don't need to use a lot of this each use so it will last you a lot longer than other perfumes. This is a fragrance that just keeps on giving and one you'll want to encase yourself in during those hot, summer days. It's well worth the investment and I will be buying myself an extra-large bottle next time I visit the store.

Quantitative Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Perfume, Indian Sandalwood Oil (Santalum album), Sandalwood Oil (Santalum austro-caledonicum vieill), Madagascan Vetivert Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides), Tagetes Oil (Tagetes minuta), Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogon citratus), Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylalte, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Methyl Ionone. 

Vegan?: Yes.

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Veerappen Moustache Wax

Despite not owning a moustache (funny that!), I was still intrigued enough by it's description and back-story to purchase one of Lush's newest additions - Veerappen Moustache Wax. Named after an infamous sandalwood smuggler of the same name, this product plays homage to the struggles of buying pure, non-corrupted sources of sandalwood to use in cosmetics.

This is the first of it's kind to come from Lush, but like most of the company's other products, I knew there would be more than one way to use it. Priced at £10 for an 8g tub, this initially seems like a large price tag for such a small product. However, like all of Lush's lip balms and solid perfumes, a tiny tin goes a long way.

What is special about this wax is that it shares it's scent with one of Lush's newest perfumes, Smuggler's Soul. However, I did notice that there was a slight difference between this and both the solid and liquid forms of the aforementioned perfume. Veerappen has a very natural, light woody smell - one that comes alive once the warmth of your fingers have stimulated the different oils. It's a very gentle scent so wearers don't have to be worried that it'll be too overpowering to wear throughout the day.

Packed with beneficial waxes and oils, including castor oil, candelillia wax, Japan wax, rose wax, and two types of sandalwood oil, Veerappen is initially very hard in consistency - it's far more stubborn than other Lush balms so it takes quite an effort to get any from the tin. Whereas the solid perfumes melt underneath the touch of a finger, this moustache wax has more of a rough, sticky feel and it takes a lot of effort to get any out to use.

My male guinea pig tested this out on his facial hair and found that it was very effective at styling his moustache without leaving any greasy residue behind. He commented that once the product had been applied during the styling process, his moustache kept it's shape throughout the whole day. However, he did mention that he found it very difficult to get much of the product out of the tub. He had to rub both his thumb and finger across the surface for a good 40 seconds to retrieve anything, and even then there was barely more than the faintest smear of grease on his finger.

On the positive side, this does mean that the minuscule amount in the tin will last for a very long time - there's no way you could accidentally use too much. It also means that this is very unlikely to melt in your bag, so you can take it on your travels and top up if and when you need to. However, it also means that it can sometimes be a hassle to use, especially if you're short for time.

Lush claim that this wax conditions as well as styles so I decided to use this wax on the few stray hairs that plague the top of my head. Despite my hair being in the best condition of my life, I still have a few short strands that tend to stick up in the heat and cannot be controlled with most other hair products. A tiny massage of this wax on my hair and I found that I was able to tame these annoying strands without covering my entire head in unnecessary wax, mousse or gel. Perfect.

Overall, I think this is a great new product to come from Lush - despite it being one that I wouldn't have immediately thought of if I was asked for ideas - I'm happy to have a more compact and easy to use 'hair tamer' and my male counterpart can style his moustache to his heart's content. Win win all around!

Quantitative Ingredients: Castor Oil, Candelilla Wax, Japan Wax, Carnauba Wax, Stearic Acid, Perfume, Rose Wax, Indian Sandalwood Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Madagascan Vetivert Oil, Tagetes Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Citral, Geraniol, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Smuggler's Soul Solid Perfume

I love the fact that Lush are re-releasing all of their perfumes in solid form and reverting the rather boring looking black tubes into these wonderfully quirky silver tins. There's something very alluring about the new designs and you cannot deny that they make a far more beautiful display on the shelf.

Smuggler's Soul was the product to start it all off. Chosen as one of three new Gorilla perfumes to get released through the Lush Kitchen, this exclusive beauty is a unique and very beautiful aromatic addition to the collection. You only have to bare witness to the wonderful green colour of the product to know that you've stumbled onto a winner. 

Described as being 'deep, dangerous and intoxicating', this solid perfume contains an abundance of both sandalwood and jojoba oil. The latter ingredient is an excellent natural moisturiser and this gives the perfume a silky smooth consistency - one that transfers from the tin onto your skin with ease. Despite claiming it contains lustre, I couldn't detect any in the pot or on my skin so don't be put off trying the product because of this reason.  

The sandalwood is what gives this product it's main note of fragrance. It's a very natural, light woody smell - one that thickens when it mixes with the warmth of your skin. Alongside this, the tagetes oil adds a sweet and very comforting aroma - it's almost a sugary smell and reminds me a little of old-fashioned cola. Imagine Karma without the potency and spiciness of the patchouli and you'll begin to understand how integral this ingredient is to the perfume. 

Finally, the lemongrass oil adds a fresh, grassy and rather gentle citrus element to the overall scent - it's not at all dominating in the mix but it compliments the other ingredients and helps to make this an uplifting and very warm fragrance. 

Unfortunately, despite it's beautiful aroma, Smuggler's Soul isn't very long-lasting. After massaging it into my wrists and neck, I found that I couldn't detect the perfume a mere fifteen minutes after it has been applied. I thought that perhaps it was one of those perfumes that's subtle on the wearer but leaves an impression on bystanders. However, neither of my flatmates were able to pick up the scent on me, even when I applied multiple helpings to my skin. 

In the tin, it's a wonderfully complex unisex perfume and one that could easily become a firm favourite in my household. However, it's staying power was shockingly short and I found it to be a bit of a wasted purchase. I only hope that the liquid equivalent of this can offer me more as it's a beautifully complex yet delightfully light aroma - one that could become a best seller for Lush.

Quantitative Ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil, Candelilla Wax, Perfume, Indian Sandalwood Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Madagascan Vetivert Oil, Tagetes Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Coumarin, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Methyl Ionone, Spring Green Lustre.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Karma Bath Melt

Aside from The Comforter, Karma is my favourite Lush scent. It's a unique and very beautiful smell unlike anything else I have ever smelt before. It's both sophisticated and simplistic, sweet and citrusy, herbal and floral. As a lover of this scent, I appreciate the fact that there’s a bubble bar, a soap, a body lotion and a fragrance; all regular products I can invest in at anytime in any one of Lush's stores, as well as online. However, I would never argue against new renditions of the scent, which is why I was super excited when I first found out about the Karma Bath Melt. 

To look at, it's stunning; a petite glittery golden pyramid, about the same weight as a You've Been Mangoed Bath Melt. What I find odd about this product, is that there's quite a difference in the weight and size of these bath melts, depending on where you purchased them from. This is very noticeable when you place two next to each other; the picture illustrates how different the specifications of the product can be - with the product on the right weighing almost a third more than the pyramid on the left. Does anyone know why this is?

Aside from it's size, the Karma Melt contains cocoa butter and almond oil to moisturise, as well as patchouli, sweet orange, lemongrass and elemi oils to make up the distinctive Karma scent. To finish off, the bath product is coated with a layer of golden lustre to make it look luxurious and magical. 

Like most Lush bath melts, you are supposed to drop it into a hot bath tub (the hotter, the better), and allow the product to melt away, filling your tub with essential oils to help relax, moisturise and soften your tired skin. When I first placed the Karma Bath Melt into my tub, I found that it didn't take anytime at all for the glitter to begin dispersing across the surface of the water. As you can see from my pictures, I chose to use a whole pyramid for my bath. However, in hindsight, I would suggest that you divide the melt into three and use it for three separate occasions. 

My reasoning for this is because firstly, there is a lot of glitter that comes with this product, and although it doesn't coat you as much as you think it would, it does tend to paint the bath quite a bit. Secondly, this bath melt releases a good amount of oils and butters into the water, so a third of this would still be enough to nourish and soften your skin. 

The longer I left the bath melt in the tub, the more glitter began to disperse across the surface and stick itself to the edge of my bath tub. While this was going on, the oils began to mix in with the water and create silky-soft bathing water. In fact, there are enough oils in Karma Bath Melt to leave little beads on the surface, which can then be lathered directly into your skin. 

When I did get into the tub, I was initially hesitant because of the amount of glitter that decorated the water and sides of the tub. However, you're left surprisingly glitter free when you exit the bath so don't let that aspect of the bath melt put you off. In total, it took a good 5-10 minutes for the pyramid to fully melt so I was able to relax under the water and let the butters get to work on my skin.  

The water did turn a beautiful golden colour and the scent was definitely very present throughout the bathing experience. I could detect the wonderful fragrance on my hair and skin when I exited the bath and it remained with me for hours afterwards. However, to reiterate a previous point, I don't really understand why Lush have chosen to include so much golden glitter in one product. If you slice the melt open, you'll find that the whole bar is made up of glitter and this is just too much, especially as it would no doubt put off even the most avid of Karma fans. In it's defence, you won't end up looking like Ziggy Stardust after use. However, the gold glitter did decorate my scalp a little for some three weeks after I had initially used it, which didn't really bother me all that much, but which I'm sure would annoy many customers. Although it was only a few specks here and there, I know that some people would find this frustrating.

Ultimately, this product is good value for money and is gorgeously presented. The Karma scent is strong enough to see you through the entire bath, whilst not being too overwhelming. It leaves your skin feeling really hydrated and fully moisturised, whilst smelling beautiful at the same time. 

My only concerns lie in the shelf life of such a product. I was able to get my hands on a few of these a couple of years back and found that they lost their scent quite quickly and became quite stubborn in the bath. This picture is of one of these melts and I didn't find it anywhere near as moisturising as the new ones I have purchased from the Kitchen. For this reason, I would suggest that this is one product that shouldn't be stored for too long. 

I have enjoyed using this bath melt and as a novelty product, it's definitely worth investing in a couple. However, I would like Lush to consider removing some of the lustre and including more oils to make this product even more appealing to a wider range of people.

Quantitative Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Laureth 4, Almond Oil, Perfume, Patchouli Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Lavandin Oil, Pine Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Elemi Oil, *Citral, *Citronellol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Gardenia Extract.

Vegan?: Yes. 

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Karma Dusting Powder

When I found out that Lush were doing a 'Karma-themed' week in the Lush Kitchen, I felt my bank balance immediately buckle under the weight of all of the purchases I would be making. When they announced the shower gel and jelly, I was obviously keen to stock up. However, it wasn't until this product made a reappearance, that I really got myself worked up. 

Karma Dusting Powder is a product of legend. What I mean by this is that I have heard so many people talk about it over the last few years. And when I say 'talk', what I really mean is 'passionately babble on and on about it until they're red in the face'. This is a product that has not made many appearances over the years, yet one that has inspired avid followers all around the world. 

Blessed with the Karma scent, this perfumed powder is made using a combination of patchouli, orange, pine and lemongrass oils. These oils form a wonderfully sweet, complex and highly fruity fragrance. In my shower gel review, I described Karma as an ambient fragrance reminiscent of the sixties, and this it really is.

The orange and patchouli are definitely at the forefront of this smell. Together they offer a warm, spicy but equally zesty aroma. Although I love citrus scents, I often find that some can be very two-dimensional and boring. However, the combination of these smells gives Karma a mature but equally youthful smell. It's one of those products that you have to smell for yourself to really appreciate the beauty of it's scent. 

To use this product, simply shake into the palm of your hand and then rub into your skin. You can also apply it directly onto any areas you wish to, although I found that this can cause a lot of the powder to fall off and get onto your clothes and/or carpet. You only need a small amount to cover your whole body - I found a teaspoon amount was more than enough each time. 

The dusting powder sits beautifully on the body, immediately being absorbed into the skin so you don't have to worry about it rubbing off on any clothes you put on afterwards. The inclusion of cornflour and chickpea flour makes this powder beautifully soft and I was very surprised to discover how instantly smooth it makes your skin. I couldn't stop stroking my arms after I had used this for the first time and I found that the condition of my skin stayed like this for the entirety of the day. 

Unfortunately, the one aspect of this product that doesn't sit well with me, is that the Karma scent tends to fade after 20-30 minutes and I couldn't detect it on my skin at all. While I could top up the smell with my Karma Kream or my Karma Perfume, I was hoping for a little more longevity. Given how strongly the scent comes across in the bottle, I was expecting something with a little more 'bite'.

Despite this, Karma Dusting Powder is a great addition to anyone's handbag and works wonders on your skin when you find yourself a little hot and sweaty whilst outside. Simply apply this to your skin and some of that nasty moisture will be absorbed whilst leaving you feeling refreshed and smelling beautiful.

Although the £9.50 price tag may seem a little expensive for the 140g you receive, I can see a bottle of this lasting me a good 6 months to a year, which is great value for money. I'm glad I bought four bottles of this stuff as I plan to make it one of my summer must-haves.  

Quantitative Ingredients: Chick Pea Flour, Cornflour, Calamine Powder, Magnesium Carbonate, Perfume, Elemi Oil, Lavendin Oil, Pine Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Patchouli Oil, Orange Oil, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Karma Sutra Bath Bomb

Knowing how popular Karma is, I am really surprised that they don't have a permanent ballistic and/or shower gel featuring the scent. Given how quickly both products have sold out this week in the Kitchen, it's strange that Lush reserve these products for one-off releases. However, I was very excited to get my hands on some old incarnations of this wonderful scent - so much so that I ended up buying ten of this bath bomb alone. 

Karma Sutra was first released back in 1997/1998 and was Lush's first attempt at releasing a bath product featuring this wonderful scent. Although at first I was a little discouraged by the fact that it was a small bath bomb, I only had to peel open the box to understand why Lush have chosen to keep it this way. This bath bomb stinks! Had they chosen to increase it's size, I can imagine that even Karma fans might have found it too overwhelming. 

If like me you love the Karma scent, the strength of this product's aroma will surely be a blessing. Packed with patchouli, elemi, orange and pine, this ballistic offers the consumer a gorgeously bright and uplifting summer fragrance - an aroma reminiscent of the beautiful, easy-going sixties. It's exquisite yet equally simple and appealing -a spicy yet citrus convergence that forms a strong but light smell that'll brighten up anyone's day. 

My first impression of this bath bomb was that the scent was more in-keeping with the perfume than the bubble bar or body lotion. The patchouli is definitely at the forefront here and offers a strong, spicy and slightly woody smell; the orange sits alongside this, giving off a fresh, zesty but equally sherbety scent. Behind these two smells is an offering of pine and lemongrass, which work in perfect harmony with the patchouli to offer consumers a natural experience. Whereas the lotion and bubble bar are slightly sweeter and remind me of old fashioned cola bottles, the aroma is definitely more mature and more patchouli-orientated here. 

As I mentioned above, the fragrance of Karma Sutra is very strong and despite it's size, this bath bomb dominated the entire room with it's smell. It didn't lose any of it's fragrance when it was dissolving in the bath and remained with me a long time after the water was drained. It lingered on the skin and hair for hours after I had exited the bath and only required a single top up of perfume to see me through the day. 

Unfortunately, it's downfall is what it offers consumers in the bath. It's a fast dissolver so it will disappear a little over a minute after it has hit the water. Once   it has dissolved, you're left with a weak and rather murky looking orange colour, which dissipates quite a bit during your bath. Unlike The Enchanter, which gave consumers the amazing Calacas smell whilst offering a show in the water, this doesn't do anything that you'd want to watch. 

What I did notice was that once dissolved, there is a faint shimmer on the surface which is from the essential oils present in the bath bomb. I did find that the water was a little softer than usual but I wouldn't say it was as silky soft as one of Lush's bubble bars. 

Karma Sutra is a revitalising and refreshing bath ballistic - one that will entice avid fans and new recruits alike. It retains it's scent and does help to invigorate you before or after a long day in the sun. However, it could be made better by offering Karma fans a far more entertaining experience in the tub. Although I have awarded this product a solid five out of six, I can't help but think that it would have probably scored one mark less had it not been for the Karma element. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Patchouli Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Lavendin Oil, Pine Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Elemi Oil, Gardenia Extract, Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Colour 14700.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Karma Shower Jelly

I'm on a bit of a Karma binge at the moment - currently using both my jelly and gel in the shower. A part of me thought that this was a little bit of a waste, as neither of these items were currently available to buy in store and hadn't been for a long time. However, when Lush advertised that they were having a Karma-themed week in the Kitchen, I knew that my Christmas had come early.

   

Despite my excitement at being able to use these products, my feelings towards Karma Shower Jelly, much like with Karma Shower Gel, is also a little vexed in places: I am perplexed and somewhat saddened by the fact that this product has only ever been sold in limited edition batches, and released so seldomly that a pot of the stuff causes a frenzy when it appears on eBay. For a product that possesses one of Lush's all-time top selling fragrances, further proven by the permanent feature of both a bubble bar and body lotion in this scent within their range, I have no idea why Lush are so keen to keep this product out of the limelight. 

Karma Shower Jelly, alongside Calacas, is probably one of my all-time favourite shower jellies from Lush. I say this not because of it's scent, which I'll get to in a minute, but because of how the product works in the shower. As I've mentioned in previous reviews, I'm not always very enamoured with the challenging task of using a jelly effectively whilst near water - I find that the ratio for how much I use compared to how much gets lost down the drain, is probably about 1:8, which makes jellies a very expensive investment. However, maybe my love of Karma influenced this particular one to work a lot better than most other ones I've tried.

What I found with this product, is that it's slightly elasticated so I can pull off a biggish piece and expect to get a lot of use out of it. Whereas something like Avojelly or Gold, Frankincense and Beer would melt away rather quickly once mixed with water, this one had a lot of 'life' to it and a small, penny-sized piece would be enough for two showers, not one. This meant that one small 100g tub, lasted me a good month, with me using it twice most days. This makes it fantastic value for money.

Secondly, this shower jelly smelled incredible- surprisingly strong for something that was a couple of years old. I can only imagine what my fresh ones will smell like when they arrive.

As with the shower gel and bubble bar, Karma Shower Jelly is comprised of a few key ingredients that make it's fragrance so wonderful. Karma is an ambient fragrance reminiscent of the sixties. Spicy orange oil is definitely the heart and soul of this fragrance, with warm, earthy 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. Yet it is somehow quite a mature smelling jelly, and one that wouldn't go amiss on people of all ages. 

I found that this shower jelly smelt identical to that of the perfume, which made it stronger and more desirable smelling than the shower gel variation. That's not to say the shower gel didn't have it's merits, as I still consider it amongst my favourites, but this shower jelly showcased that sharp, zesty element that was more dormant in Karma Shower Gel. 

Finally, this jelly was very easy to lather up and I found that, despite it's slippery skin, it didn't tend to slip out of my hand all that much, which was a relief for me. The lather this product does create is surprisingly light and gentle, as I was expecting a more oily foam. It leaves your skin feeling and smelling amazing, and much like the shower gel, leaves a wonderful fresh, fruity and summery scent on your body. It made me feel beautiful.

Although I never thought I'd say this, I'd actually prefer Lush to bring Karma back in this format as opposed to the shower gel, as it just gave off a much stronger, more defined scent that I love so much. Furthermore, it's much better value for money, and whereas a 100g pot lasted me a month, a 500g bottle of the shower gel only lasted me a couple of weeks more.                                                                               Lush need to update and increase their Karma range, and they should definitely start with bringing this back - permanently.

Quantitative Ingredients: Glycerine, Fresh Lemongrass Infusion (Cymbopogon Schoenanthus), Chamomile Infusion (Matricaria Recutica), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Carrageenan Extract (Chondru Crispus), Perfume, Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon Cablin), Orange Oil (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis), Lavendin Oil (Lavandula Hybrida), Pine Oil (Pinus Sylvestris), Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogon Schoenanthus), Elemi Oil (Canarium Luzonicum), Water (Aqua), Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Colour 14700, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Vegan?: Yes.

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Karma Shower Gel

It probably comes as no surprise that I've rated Karma Shower Gel so highly in this review. Without sounding too obsessed, I consider the day that I discovered this scent to be a rather momentous occasion; it probably goes to show what little else I have to focus on in my life! Karma happens to be one of my all time favourite fragrances, and as you guys know, Lush's shower gels happen to be my favourite part of their range. So putting these two elements together was like the cherry on top of the world's best-ever vegan cake.

However, despite my excitement, my feelings towards Karma Shower Gel is also a little vexed in places: I am perplexed and somewhat saddened by the fact that this product has only ever been sold in limited edition batches, and released so seldomly that a single bottle on eBay can go for nearly twice the retail price because of it. For a product that possesses one of Lush's all-time top selling fragrances, further proven by the permanent feature of both a bubble bar and body lotion in this scent within their range, I have no idea why Lush are so keen to keep this product out of the limelight. 

Aside from this SMALL annoyance, the actual product itself is truly wonderful and a delight to use. It's a thick shower gel, similar in consistency to the likes of Dirty Springwash and B-Electro shower gels. It lathers up fairly easily and a small blob goes a long way, meaning I can extend the life of this rare bottle for longer than other shower gels. Furthermore, this shower gel also works wonders in the tub, creating a mountain of gorgeous smelling bubbles to cocoon yourself in whilst bathing. However, I wouldn't recommend that you use this shower gel in this way very often, as it's a sure fine way to finish the bottle up a lot quicker.

My first bath of this shower gel came to me a couple of years out of date so I was a little worried about the consistency and 'freshness' of the product. However, the shower gel was still a thick, gloopy liquid, reminiscent of Lush's other shower gels, so I was happy that the product was still usable. Although it looks brown, the gel comes out as a pretty burnt autumnal orange colour, which is different from any of Lush's other shower gels. The scent was also 'intact',  giving off it's beautiful fragrance the second I removed the lid and took a sniff. 

As with the perfume, bubble bar and body lotion of the same name, Karma Shower Gel is comprised of a few key ingredients that make it's fragrance so wonderful. Karma is an ambient fragrance reminiscent of the sixties. Spicy orange oil is definitely the heart and soul of this fragrance, with warm, earthy 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. Yet it is somehow quite a mature smelling gel, and one that wouldn't go amiss on people of all ages. 

What is great about this product is that it is so hydrating and wonderfully nourishing. Once you've lathered yourself up, your body feels instantly silky soft and a gentle scent lingers on your skin. This effect lasts for a good many hours and can be topped up with any of Lush's other Karma-scented products.  

Even though most of the Karma range is supposed to share an identical scent, I found that this shower gel was slightly less spicy and more subtle smelling than the soap and perfume. In the bottle, it is the orange that comes through the most, and when it's being used in the shower, the lemongrass compliments this through the heat of the water. Although it's clearly 'Karma', it definitely doesn't smell completely identical to the other products.

As you can imagine, I would give my left leg for Lush to bring this back as a permanent addition to their shower gels. It offers a scent far different and more complex than anything from the current range, and would be, without a doubt, a best-selling product. Although I am really excited that I've been able to top up my stash from this latest Lush Kitchen release, I really hope it becomes a more permanent fixture. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Perfume, Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin), Orange Oil (Citrus dulcis), Lavendin Oil (Lavendula hybrida), Pine Oil (Pinus), Lemongrass Oil (Cymbopogan flexuosus), Elemi Oil (Canarium commune), Sodium Chloride, Gardenia Extract (Gardenia jasminoides).

Vegan?: Yes.

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Lemon Melt Shower Gel

For years, Lushies have been battling with the temptation of wanting to lick, nibble and full-on eat some of the products that Lush bring out. It didn't help when they began to sell the lip scrubs, which actually encouraged you to digest the products. So when my tubs of Lemon Melt Shower Gel arrived in the post earlier this week, I was nothing short of lifting the pot to my mouth and drinking the whole thing.

The Lush Kitchen initiative was set up to promote and produce the freshest cosmetics on the planet, and although it only started a few days ago, this shower gel is the epitome of what that stands for. Presented in what is normally used as a shower jelly tub, this product looks and smells like a cake mixture. It's a little messy in it's pot; slightly dishevelled to look at, but this just adds to that natural vibe. I love it!

There was a little confusion at first, on my part, as although it states that it's vegan on the site, the tub claimed it was only vegetarian, despite there not being any featured ingredients that suggested it contained any animal derivatives. This must be an error on Lush's part and they need to make sure they don't do this again in the future. 

Firstly, I love the fact that this gel has an actual slice of fresh lemon included in the tub. This not only gives off a wonderfully strong natural citrus smell upon opening the lid, but is also rather useful if you want something to smother this shower gel onto your body with. And I can guarantee that once you've had a sniff of this product, you'll definitely be wanting to smother yourself with it as quickly as you can.

Made from a combination of Irish moss, fresh lemon juice, myrrh resinoid and lemongrass oil, Lemon Melt is an uplifting, fresh and very strong zesty product. With it's moisturising properties, the addition of moss helps to make this one of the softest shower products I have ever brought from Lush; the myrrh possesses antiseptic and astringent elements, which has a calming effect on the body - perfect for those with sensitive skin. The combination of lemon juice and lemongrass oil dominates most of the scent as well as brightening the skin and leaving it visibly renewed. 

The most interesting aspect of this product's make up is that Lush have included gratings of cocoa butter across the surface of the shower gel. When you scoop Lemon Melt out to use it in the shower, these shards will help to moisturise and soften your skin even more, leaving it feeling and looking beautiful.

To me, this shower gel smells like the gooey filling of a lemon meringue pie or a fresh pot of lemon curd; a rich, citrusy fragrance that needs to be smelled to be appreciated. When comparing it to other shower gels, it definitely stands out as being the least 'synthetic' smelling one of the lot. In no way am I saying that Lush shower gels are synthetic is anyway, just that they smell more manufactured than this one does. 

Lemon Melt is thicker than most of Lush's shower gels, and is not that far off in consistency from being a shower jelly. As well as being thick, it's also an incredibly velvety product and when you rub it between your palms, it's not that easy to lather up. Much like Black Pearl Shower Gel, this is a gel intent on conditioning and softening your skin, which is why it has a slightly more oily texture. After this has been washed away, you can really feel how smooth it makes your body feel, and this feeling persists for a long time after you've exited the shower.

Overall, this product is an incredible addition to Lush's range, and I only hope it makes another reappearance so I can buy a few more to enjoy. I've been using this first thing in the morning, and it's a perfect remedy to counteract what I call my '6am rage'. It wakes me up, stimulates my senses into life and leaves me feeling and smelling wonderful. I still get little bursts of Lemon Melt throughout the day, and this only serves to keep me in a great mood at work.

Although only the second product I have tried and tested from Lush's current 'Live Kitchen', I'm starting to feel very envious of all of those Lushies who were around when Cosmetics To Go were still in business. The quality of these products are exquisite - they look and feel natural and smell as fresh as they could possibly be. Keep these beauties coming this way Lush!  

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocoa Butter, Irish Moss Decoction, Fresh Lemon Juice, Hydroxyethycellulose, Perfume, Myrrh Resinoid, Lemongrass Oil, Bergamot Oil, Fine Sea Salt, Gardenia Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Lemon slice.

Vegan?: Yes.

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