Lush: Four Solid Fragrances
I picked up some solid perfumes by Lush while I was in Victoria: Breath of God, Karma, Sun, and Sikkim Girls. These have been out for a while, but since there isn't a Lush store where I am, I never really got around to trying them (I'm reluctant to buy things like that unless I know exactly what it smells like). I have tried some of Lush's solids ages ago, when I still lived in a city that had a Lush store. But they have developed some new scents since then, so I picked up a few of the new ones in addition to Karma, which I've tried before and did like.
The perfumes come in a small round tin. They're tiny, compact, and won't leak in your bag, which makes them great for travel. The formula is very good; it's easy to get out of the pot, and it melts onto the skin almost instantly. These scents have a lot of "throw", in that they don't sit as close to the skin as some solid perfumes that I've tried from other companies.
Before I get into the individual scents, I will say overall - would I recommend these? Absolutely. Nice formula, long-lasting, and I liked all of these scents very much. But some people can find Lush scents very overwhelming, and they unfortunately don't sell sample-sizes of their perfumes, so I wouldn't suggest getting them unless there is a chance to try them first.
Breath of God
Description: While on a trip to Tibet, LUSH perfumer Simon was inspired by the fresh clean air of the mountains and the smoky scents of the Tibetan temples. He rushed home to create his first perfumes, Inhale and Exhale. In Breath of God, he combined the two into one wonderful olfactory experience; Inhale's melony citrus scent transforms into Exhales deeper, sandalwood and cedarwood undertones and develops through the day. You'll continuously pick up new facets as you wear it.
Impressions: Has a light, fresh scent. Reminds me of baking soda, fabric softener, and clean laundry. I don't get any citrus or cedarwood, but I do detect a hint of sandalwood, and possibly the melon could account for some of the fresh crispness.
Karma
Description: Spicy, citrusy and distinctly unique, Karma is the signature scent of LUSH. Patchouli, sweet orange and lemongrass oils combine to create a scent that is both warm, and enticing. This one is an ode to hippies and head shops, and is also inspired heavily by music.
Impressions:
Of the perfumes in Lush's current solid line, Karma is the only one that I've tried in previous years. It's a favourite scent of mine. I still have the old pot, and it seems there are slight differences; the older scent leans more toward lemon, and the patchouli scent is stronger. The application is also different - the original solid perfume is much stiffer, and I remember that it was stiff when I bought it. The pot design is also different; the new ones are more sturdy. As for the new scent, the sweet orange notes come through very well, and the patchouli is not overwhelming. If there was a reformulation somewhere along the line (and I do think there was) it was an improvement.
Sun
Description: LUSH co-founder Mark Constantine was having a glum winter. Cold and unhappy, he took to daydreaming about a fabulous U.S. road trip he'd taken with friends, driving down the New Jersey Turnpike to Cape May. Listening to the playlist he'd created for this journey cheered him up and reminded him of warmer, sunnier climates, and the joy of sharing adventures with loved ones. With this, he flung open the doors to his fragrance cupboard and set about recreating the scent of summer! Vibrant, zesty orange, tangy tangerine and mimosa fizz recline atop sultry sandalwood for a true taste of the Sun.
Impressions: Sunny citrus. Fresh, uplifting, and clean. I don't get much sandalwood, but definitely orange and tangerine, maybe also a bit of lemon. This is the kind of scent that could easily smell like lemon-scented cleaning products depending on a person's body chemistry, so it's best to try it out in person if you can. It also seems to have a hint of microshimmer in it, which could be a dealbreaker for some.
Sikkim Girls
Description: Sikkim Girls is a warm and exotic floral scent with the veiled allure of jasmine. We capture the exotic heat of Darjeeling, India in clouds of tuberose and frangipani along with the overt sensuality of jasmine, creating a subtly seductive fragrance with a hint of ‘come hither’.
Impressions: Floral without being overwhelming. I can definitely detect the tuberose and jasmine here. A lot of floral scents are rose-heavy, so to have one that is not is nice. For those who dislike florals, it's one to avoid, but if you enjoy them, you might appreciate that it's familiar while different at the same time. I didn't like the way this one smelled in the pot, but after I put it on and it settled, it was lovely.
Other details: Sikkim Girls could serve as a lower-cost substitute for "Tuberose" by For Strange Women, because though Sikkim Girls isn't single-note, it does feature the tuberose scent prominently. If you aren't picky, you definitely get more bang for your buck with Sikkim Girls. But if you want a Tuberose-only scent, or if you want something that will fit into a perfume locket, or if you are very passionate about supporting small independent perfumers, then For Strange Women is worth considering. I had been considering getting some Tuberose from FSW, because their take on it is so nice, but... I think I'll stick with Sikkim Girls, myself. The jasmine notes lend a nice extra something.
This entry was originally posted at http://yuuago.dreamwidth.org/3408471.html. You can comment here or at the original entry.
The perfumes come in a small round tin. They're tiny, compact, and won't leak in your bag, which makes them great for travel. The formula is very good; it's easy to get out of the pot, and it melts onto the skin almost instantly. These scents have a lot of "throw", in that they don't sit as close to the skin as some solid perfumes that I've tried from other companies.
Before I get into the individual scents, I will say overall - would I recommend these? Absolutely. Nice formula, long-lasting, and I liked all of these scents very much. But some people can find Lush scents very overwhelming, and they unfortunately don't sell sample-sizes of their perfumes, so I wouldn't suggest getting them unless there is a chance to try them first.
Breath of God
Description: While on a trip to Tibet, LUSH perfumer Simon was inspired by the fresh clean air of the mountains and the smoky scents of the Tibetan temples. He rushed home to create his first perfumes, Inhale and Exhale. In Breath of God, he combined the two into one wonderful olfactory experience; Inhale's melony citrus scent transforms into Exhales deeper, sandalwood and cedarwood undertones and develops through the day. You'll continuously pick up new facets as you wear it.
Impressions: Has a light, fresh scent. Reminds me of baking soda, fabric softener, and clean laundry. I don't get any citrus or cedarwood, but I do detect a hint of sandalwood, and possibly the melon could account for some of the fresh crispness.
Karma
Description: Spicy, citrusy and distinctly unique, Karma is the signature scent of LUSH. Patchouli, sweet orange and lemongrass oils combine to create a scent that is both warm, and enticing. This one is an ode to hippies and head shops, and is also inspired heavily by music.
Impressions:
Of the perfumes in Lush's current solid line, Karma is the only one that I've tried in previous years. It's a favourite scent of mine. I still have the old pot, and it seems there are slight differences; the older scent leans more toward lemon, and the patchouli scent is stronger. The application is also different - the original solid perfume is much stiffer, and I remember that it was stiff when I bought it. The pot design is also different; the new ones are more sturdy. As for the new scent, the sweet orange notes come through very well, and the patchouli is not overwhelming. If there was a reformulation somewhere along the line (and I do think there was) it was an improvement.
Sun
Description: LUSH co-founder Mark Constantine was having a glum winter. Cold and unhappy, he took to daydreaming about a fabulous U.S. road trip he'd taken with friends, driving down the New Jersey Turnpike to Cape May. Listening to the playlist he'd created for this journey cheered him up and reminded him of warmer, sunnier climates, and the joy of sharing adventures with loved ones. With this, he flung open the doors to his fragrance cupboard and set about recreating the scent of summer! Vibrant, zesty orange, tangy tangerine and mimosa fizz recline atop sultry sandalwood for a true taste of the Sun.
Impressions: Sunny citrus. Fresh, uplifting, and clean. I don't get much sandalwood, but definitely orange and tangerine, maybe also a bit of lemon. This is the kind of scent that could easily smell like lemon-scented cleaning products depending on a person's body chemistry, so it's best to try it out in person if you can. It also seems to have a hint of microshimmer in it, which could be a dealbreaker for some.
Sikkim Girls
Description: Sikkim Girls is a warm and exotic floral scent with the veiled allure of jasmine. We capture the exotic heat of Darjeeling, India in clouds of tuberose and frangipani along with the overt sensuality of jasmine, creating a subtly seductive fragrance with a hint of ‘come hither’.
Impressions: Floral without being overwhelming. I can definitely detect the tuberose and jasmine here. A lot of floral scents are rose-heavy, so to have one that is not is nice. For those who dislike florals, it's one to avoid, but if you enjoy them, you might appreciate that it's familiar while different at the same time. I didn't like the way this one smelled in the pot, but after I put it on and it settled, it was lovely.
Other details: Sikkim Girls could serve as a lower-cost substitute for "Tuberose" by For Strange Women, because though Sikkim Girls isn't single-note, it does feature the tuberose scent prominently. If you aren't picky, you definitely get more bang for your buck with Sikkim Girls. But if you want a Tuberose-only scent, or if you want something that will fit into a perfume locket, or if you are very passionate about supporting small independent perfumers, then For Strange Women is worth considering. I had been considering getting some Tuberose from FSW, because their take on it is so nice, but... I think I'll stick with Sikkim Girls, myself. The jasmine notes lend a nice extra something.
This entry was originally posted at http://yuuago.dreamwidth.org/3408471.html. You can comment here or at the original entry.