Dirty by Lush

Starts with sweet peppermint like chewing gum, but within minutes it turns into that intense, unbearable 2000s wall paint. I don’t detect the woody notes they claim.

Smells great, fresh, leaves you clean and energised. The downside is it doesn’t last and doesn’t project much at a distance.

It’s a clean, neat fragrance with a good trail. Smells cold like quality mint gum or iced tea. I recommend it; it’s a must-have for any collection.

What a strange thing and how much I love it. Smells like an airplane bathroom or a spring walk through an orchard. It’s exotic and kitsch at the same time, refined yet cheesy. Seems like cheap toothpaste mixed with fine flowers and spices. It has a lot of personality, not for everyone. I’m not sure if it smells like Acqua di Parma, Penhaligon’s or a Chinese air freshener.

I found it horrific. No, it doesn’t smell dirty; it smells clean, or rather, as Bofifa so aptly defined it, like a public toilet after being cleaned, although in my case, I do notice the mentholated aspect for a long time. I also agree that this doesn’t seem to be a perfume.

Dirty evokes hatred and I’m not surprised. It’s a strange bomb that has me hooked. Ironically, it smells clean: expensive hotel soap, masculine sandalwood and sexy tarragon. Those spicy touches are its dirty point. It reminds me of showering with fresh sheets after an intense day. My mother uses it on bed linen. It performs well as a body spray; I gave it to my boyfriend and he loves it more than I do.

It smells too much of tarragon and drowns the mint, which becomes spicy and I don’t like it. It lasts quite a while and takes getting used to. I wouldn’t recommend it blindly; try it first.

I’m a mint fanatic and was looking for what they describe: peppermint, mint, fresh. However, I only detect thyme and tarragon. It seems like a men’s fragrance and I’d like men to smell like this instead of expensive commercial perfumes. It’s very pleasant, balsamic, relaxing and cosy. Unfortunately, it’s too masculine for me, so I won’t buy it again.

I’ve tried almost all of Lush’s perfumes, and without a doubt, this is the one I dislike and cannot stand the least. I love the scent of natural peppermint and lavender, but this has nothing to do with it… it smells like artificial mint gum with a strange lavender finish, like those ‘lavender’ or ‘mint’ scented rubbish bags. I can’t detect any woody notes, sandalwood, or moss anywhere. It’s extremely strong at first, pushes people away, and lasts a very long time. You could wash your hands with soap and water, and it would still smell the same. Despite this, it’s a product that’s been around at Lush for years and is adored by many, with its own shower gel, massage bar, and body spray. For me, this doesn’t smell of the sea or a sea breeze or anything related; I think the wave illustration metaphorically refers to the overwhelming wave of freshness it delivers, like a tsunami of mentholated scent (now in minimalist rectangular glass bottles with white labels). It gives me the feeling of eating something and, instead of brushing your teeth, popping an artificial blue mint gum/Halls/mint gum to cover bad breath. Don’t overapply; it has immense potency. It’s so strong that, despite being fresh, you could wear it in winter or autumn without issue, and even in spring or summer. Completely unisex. Try before you buy.

Dirty is my signature scent, or at least it has been more years than any other, although I’m slowly forgetting it with a beautiful nostalgia. It’s not for everyone. Its notes are a Russian roulette: tarragon, mint, toothpaste, sea salt, a touch of earth, and shy spearmint. It’s synthetic and natural at once, shy and unisex with masculine tints. Its salty trait stands out as it dries, clinging to scarves, t-shirts, and jumpers like a spoilt child. It’s a balm of nostalgia, shaving cream, a spray of Atlantic softness. Performance is good, and the bottle lasts a long time for the price. Body spray is cheaper but still delivers. My only issue is that I use it so much that I start not feeling it due to habit. I’m spacing it out with other perfumes. I’m being unfaithful to you, Dirty, yes, but we understand each other so well… will you forgive me?

To know how this perfume smells, go to the nearest Chinese shop and buy a marine air freshener. The mint is noticeable at first but disappears in two minutes, leaving a simple mix of what seems to be lavender and musk. It’s the same smell used to air out a lavatory or a closed space where several people with poor hygiene have congregated. I can’t see the point in smelling like that. I find no composition or intention in Dirty; I don’t even think it’s a perfume. It’s refreshing to wear at home when it’s hot, it’s eternal, and has a huge trail. But honestly, I’m put off by going out leaving that crowded, freshly cleaned hygiene aroma.