LUSH(er) Life: Lush Dirty Springwash and Posh Chocolate

The Sony/Honda AFEELA, with the “Media Bar” on the front

So most of you know that in addition to being nutty about scent I am also a bit nutty about cars. So much so that I have over the years been a correspondent for the Autoextremist (an online publication that is sometimes rather scathingly honest- so much so that we can have issues getting cars to review.) Just this past week I went to Century City at the invitation of Sony/Honda to experience (if not drive) their new vehicle. Or as they put it, their vision of “Mobility as a Creative Entertainment Space”. It has a sign on the front that drivers can program with phrases like “Have a Nice Day!” or “Eat more Kale for Health.” Of were it me, “Is Your Hair on Purpose?” You can read my reaction to it here.

So since I was in Century City I did stop in at LUSH before running back to work. Because, you know. Bath Goo. Now I have pretty much done a 180 on LUSH- having been frightened by one of their bath bombs earlier I had steered well clear, but so many were going on about Rose Jam I had to check it out, and left with a big bottle. Then came (smaller ones) of grass (which was a no-brainer) and sticky dates (which was completely out of character but too yummy to pass up.) The (I suppose I should call them by their correct name) shower gels are very, well, lush: highly scented, richly lathery and will leave both you and your bathroom smelling lovely. The staff is friendly and helpful. perhaps since this Lush is the largest one on the West Coast it has an air handling system that keeps the place pumped full of fresh air so those who were put off by the miasma surrounding other Lush store need not be frightened. Save that for when you have to find where the hell you parked your car..

So I popped for two of the smaller size of the shower gel- there is actually an even smaller size available at the stores that are I think $8 and will give a good week or two of normal use: Perfect for travelling or an in-depth try. I went with the 3.3oz for $12.50 on both.

Dirty Springwash is false advertising. Which, considering this is a shower gel is perhaps no bad thing. There’s nothing dirty, or even drrrty, about this. It’s all about the mint: camphor and peppermint and eucalyptus and maybe even some Wint-O-Green lifesavers ground up as exfoliant. There’s also a little citrus and some thyme in there to add some depth. As a devotee of Dr Bronner’s peppermint liquid soap I am perhaps immune to the zing to the personal areas that I assume those oils should have, or perhaps they have formulated that out. It is refreshing and stimulating_ I used it this AM and it perked me right up.

Posh Chocolate is something that I should have disliked. Chocolate is not my favorite scent in perfumes, having been frightened by Angel and wearers who doused themselves in it like they were soft-serve cones at the dipping station. Especially since at first huff this not only looks exactly like but smells exactly like Kozy Shack chocolate pudding. Which I enjoy eating, but don’t need to bathe in. But in moments this one becomes much more, well, lush. The chocolate becomes cocoa, it gets backed by hazelnut and vanilla that takes it to a different level. At least from pudding pop to patisserie. Note that this one seems not to come in the smallest bottle, at least online.

So have you braved the local mall for any interesting bath stuff lately? Tried these? Loved them? Hated them? Sat in electric car that makes it so you’ll never have to interact with your family again? Let us know in the comments. 

My bottles were purchased from the LUSH Store in Century City

Images: My iPhone, Pexels

  • Eric says:

    Well I’m a board-certified dermatologist in addition to being nutty about perfume. Which is crazy knowing that 99% of my peers have a phobia of scent in anything from soaps to laundry detergent to hairspray due to the risk of allergies.

    Remember how the brand Clinique was born in 1968? Evelyn Lauder met with the famous Norm Orenstreich at his practice on Park Ave. She asked him: “Why do you dermatologists discourage women from buying my mother in law’s creams?” He answered her: “We would consider them if they were Dermatolgist developed, Allergy tested and 100% Fragrance Free.

    And the rest is history as you know…

    But I’ll tell you something Tom: The essential oils of peppermint and clove and lemon etc. which are considered “terpenoids” are the biggest culprits in causing dermatitis in what you called “personal areas” in this article.
    So I would avoid them if I were you.

    You’re welcome, that will be $350 (before tariffs)
    And I do not take insurance or Medicare.

    • Tom says:

      Well, thanks for the advice. Since I’ve never had an issue in 40 years of using Dr. Bronner’s I assume that it either doesn’t contain those “terpenoids” or I am rinsing really well.

  • Dina C. says:

    That nifty new electric car is a riot with its programmable bumper sticker thingie. How fun. I’m glad you popped into Lush again and gave some more bath products a whirl. Dirty Springwash sounds interesting. Might be a good summertime cooler. I need that and Grass. I’ll pass on Sticky Dates and Posh Chocolate — more for you guys! — though I am in the mood for cake now! Ha I’ve been enjoying two new shower gels from Caudalie that come in 6.7 oz tubes for $14 usd each. A light green one called Fleur de Vigne which has a stemmy green scent with white rose, pink pepper and watermelon. And a plum colored one called The’ des Vignes which smells fruity with neroli, ginger and white musk.

  • Musette says:

    I’m a Bronner’s devotee, as well… this Springwash sounds like it might be worth the drive…( or the train ride, which I’d much prefer)

  • alityke says:

    I’d want to program that Honda jobby with good old Anglo-Saxon expressives. Then drive through the Bible Belt flashing the best “cussing” & blasphemy they have ever seen. Just a teeny bit of chaos that “Forget-me-grey” & puce flashing media strip could cause, in revenge for Agent Orange buggering up Global trade & sucking up to Poo-tin.
    As for Lush goo? Anything smelling minty or chocolatey that aren’t to eat are a hard no from me. Both are instant headache.

    • March says:

      Ha! I love that you also thought of the programming possibilities, not just me!

    • Tom says:

      I am sorry about the headache portion- I have a friend who is subject to them and it’s a nightmare.

      As for the Honda, I should have consulted you guys and got a list of phrases (although they didn’t let us near that “feature” either)

      • alityke says:

        But did you all know the spy section of my phone picked up on my frustration when Mr Jarvis Cockapoo nicked my knickers? Not as sweary as usual, but “Dear God Jarvis, drop it, I haven’t got time for this”, was translated by the algorithm as “religious woman has no time for bible reading”
        I was bombarded with ads for apps that pick out suitable bible passages for me!
        Still I fixed the algorithm with “FFS I do not read the bible or believe in God, Jesus or any of that holy shit”.
        I’m sure I’m on a banned in the USA list now but at least the holy spam has stopped for a while

  • cinnamon says:

    Tesla sightings way down here. Going into town in a couple of days and Lush was already on the list. Now even more so.

    • Tom says:

      I can’t tell if they’re “down” here necessarily- they were pretty much the only game in town for a long time. Now that’s simply not the case and I am seeing many more of the midsized Cadillac Lyriq (not the hulking Escalade IQ-yet) and the Rivian.

      I’d love to get the new Cadillac Optiq for a week to test, but I’m afraid that we tend to scare off car makers by being somewhat harsh. But we honestly like cars and will give praise where its due.

      The carmakers are such wusses. If they want to read real snark they should come see what we say here..

      I hope you will post about your LUSH experience!

  • March says:

    …. I wonder if you can program obscenities into your media bar? I’ll have to go read your review and find out! LUSH is an hour away in Albuquerque which you’d think was on another planet the way I whine about it. I suspect if it were here in town I’d have an array of those wee bottles, starting with Grass. I’m still using my Sticky Dates and … Snow Angel? Snow Fairy? I do think they scent the bathroom fabulously.