I am of the opinion that there are two types of people. The first kind enjoys natural perfumes and perfume oils. The second does not, and prefers more standard fragrances. And the third is good at math. ;)
I break my own rule, actually, because I enjoy conventional fragrances and natural ones. But many who prefer the former think the latter either all smell the same or all smell like hippies. Sometimes both.
If you don't love natural fragrances, you're probably already not a fan of LUSH. And you may not like the new perfume line, Gorilla Perfume, created by LUSH founder Mark Constantine and his son Simon.
If you're open-minded about natural fragrances, though, you're going to want to check these out!
I got to try a few that came in a sampler set, which is what you're seeing in these pictures.
Minor annoyance alert: check out how the labels are placed differently on the vials! If you're an OCD stash organizer, that will drive you batty!
Another bummer: I got two Orange Blossom vials and no Tuca Tuca. Nor did I receive Smell of Freedom. Damn.
Let's take a look at these scents:
Vanilliary
They say: sweet and sensual real vanilla and jasmine absolutes; tonka bean; "a grown-up gourmand"; sandalwood.
I say: deliciously sexy. Despite the jasmine, which I normally dislike, this is probably my favorite of the bunch (Or maybe Orange Blossom. Don't make me choose!). It's got a nice throw that's noticeable but not invasive. It lasts for hours and hours, even making a soft appearance the next morning when I wake up. It's comforting and sexy all at once. It's certainly caramel-tinged vanilla but escapes being a super foody scent on me, somehow.
Imogen Rose
They say: the Scent of authentic Damask roses; uses the finest rose absolute with orris butter; a tribute to Simon's daughter, Imogen Rose.
I say: breathtaking. It's a gorgeous rose that doesn't get heady, pushy, or sweet on the skin. THIS IS THE ROSE SCENT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! If you'vd been around BSB for awhile, you know I'm mostly dissatisfied with rose notes, but not this. This is stellar! Thank you, Simon!!! Full bottle-worthy and then some.
Lust
They say: unadulterated, intense jasmine; "dirty jasmine"; lasts for hours and hours.
I say: holy mother of jasmine! Wow. A quote from the LUSH site says "Mark firmly believes that the problem with jasmine fragrances is the temptation to dress them up in a frock and take away the power." Well, I firmly believe Mark needs to take this naked, unadulterated jasmine and put some damn clothes on it! If you like jasmine, buy this. If you don't, stay far away from Lust. Here's how it develops on me: seconds after I aply it we've gone from zero to one hundred on the intensity scale. That's where it stays, with impressive (read: pushy) sillage, for about an hour, at which point it's simply... gone. Not a trace remains if you don't count my migraine. It has been confirmed: I am not a jasmine girl. No thank you.
Karma
They say: time-warping scent; trippy; retro yet ageless; fresh, uplifting, complex and earthy; smells different on everyone; citrus, patchouli, and pine oil.
I say: a perfume I love from the LUSH stable! Here's your hippie scent, folks. I don't love the dirty hippie patchouli that I used to smell at Grateful Dead concerts, bit my exploration of the fragrance world has taught me not to assume all patchouli is that of an unshowered Jerry Garcia wannabe. I quite like it, in fact, and will try most scents listing patchouli as a note. Here, the orangey citrus blends with the patchouli, resulting in a layered scent that I just love. My favorite form is the Karma soap, but the perfume is lovely, too!
Orange Blossom
They say: the scent of summer sweetness; fresh orangle blossom and neroli; "smells like a distilled Mediterranean moment"; with honeyed and woody notes.
I say: I love, love, love this perfume. Love it. Thought I'd hate it, though. But I love it! If this is a distilled Mediterranean moment, I'm moving to the Mediterranean, STAT! Subtle orangey floral with a sweet and rich base that lasts for eons. Nice sillage and throw, but not overwhelming.
Tuca Tuca
They say: flirtatious violet exuberence; the scent of a bright pop song; whimsical; "a fantasy violet accord...hints of jasmine and vanilla, too."
I say: ????
Smell of Freedom
They say: woody and spicy; "...a landscape of complex, woody and spicy notes that portrays a masterpiece of profundity and beauty."
I say: I probably would like this, but who knows?
I can't wait to try the other scents at Gorilla Perfumes. The ones mentioned here are available through LUSH.
PS: "Gorilla?" Basenotes called the Constantines "guerrilla perfumers" once. Mark sometimes refers to LUSH as 'guerrilla cosmetics'. It got tweaked to "gorilla", though. Cute!