Karma by Lush

At first, it seemed odd to me, but I’ve since removed it from my blacklist. It’s orange and patchouli, yet on my skin it smells of caramelised ripe orange – slightly sweet with that distinctive green note from the patchouli.

I see this as unisex, leaning towards masculine, youthful and far from dirty. The opening is caramel orange with a hint of sugar or an orange Fanta; the first hour is very sweet, then the greens and amber emerge. Ideal for all seasons, though be careful in summer as you need to apply little – it’s very potent. 100% recommended, would I buy blind? Yes.

I’ll be the dissenting voice. On skin, every scent is a world, and I love this one. Ideal for cold days, as if you were being embraced by a hot tea with freshly baked orange cake. That’s what it smells like. Contrary to what it seems when you test it, it doesn’t have much of a trail, especially in the cold. Perfect for keeping it pinned to your scarf for comfort. For those who say it smells dirty… I have a strong obsession with hygiene, and I absolutely love this fragrance.

I feel it literally smells dirty.

It comes with such a potent orange note that it leaves me speechless; I didn’t like it at first. Then, everything changes: it becomes intriguing and addictive, and I find myself obsessed with smelling my wrists. It’s not a simple ‘wow, what a delight’; it has a mystique that invites analysis. Never buy blindly, although I did and got lucky. Be careful not to overapply, as it suffocates those around you indoors; the trail is moderate, but the bubble smells like a punch in the face.

The citrus notes, especially the orange, dominate so much that I don’t feel the lavender. The pine gives it a distinct touch, but this batch has a patchouli that gets on my nerves. I don’t like the dry-down being so resinous and sweet. It feels balsamic.

It’s probably the fragrance that has disoriented me the most of all. My sensations at the opening and dry-down are very different. Two or three applications and the first thing is a strong, stinging, uncontrolled citrus orange that masks the lavender. I wasn’t enamoured by the opening, I won’t lie to you. Half an hour later, I find myself with my nose on my wrist, intrigued, perplexed, asking myself ‘what on earth is this?’. The dry-down is very original and mystical, where patchouli and cinnamon take charge, balancing the resin which I do perceive on skin. It ends up being an olfactory experience I recommend trying on people with open minds and no stereotypes. Better to try it on skin because on paper you wouldn’t have discovered its exotic and mystical dry-down that justifies its name. By the way, don’t overdo the application; it’s potent and different. Best regards! If you like my reviews, follow my channel on TikTok: Chuliá Parfum Reviews @chulia.my13parfums

I tested it on blotting paper, so I don’t know about the trail or longevity. Anecdote: some family members thought it smelled bad, others got dizzy, and others just laughed. The truth is, I like Lush perfumes; this one is very fun. It smells like dusty hippie and I like that, but I wouldn’t wear it as a perfume; I see potential for a man over 40; it’s very interesting. Lush is so witty with these fragrances 😝.

Karma is one of Lush’s most mythical scents; they use that smell for massages, and they have cream, soap, and perfume. I love it in cream and soap, but as a perfume, it doesn’t convince me. It smells like something that should stay in cosmetics. I find it more pleasant with sweeter orange; I think it doesn’t contain as much patchouli as the perfume. It’s original, it doesn’t smell bad, but I get tired of the heavy pine or patchouli. It has a hippie/herbal/medicinal touch that I dislike completely. It could be good if they added more orange and removed that strong chemist-shop smell.

Oh dear. A strong rush of ‘chunga chunga chunga’ upon application. A mentholated patchouli that gives me quite a headache. Everything feels like an air freshener and it becomes unpleasant. Unexpectedly, it takes a 180-degree turn to transform into a balsamic aroma, like dry amber with a little bit of cinnamon bread. A turn that, despite making me tolerate it better… I can’t find any sense in it considering how the perfume smells at first. A definite no for me.

I tried it the other day in a Lush shop and found it curious, so I bought a 10 ml pot. From what I read, it seemed very intense, but it is absolutely not. It passes to skin-level immediately. Persistent yes, but you have to press your nose against your arm to smell it. At first, it catches attention but it can get tiring quickly, as its main accord is an orange that reminds of natural juice. The patchouli is also felt, giving it a smoky and earthy tone. The pine I only discover in brief episodes if I set out to find it: it’s there, resinous and of a certain quality, but you need a map to find it. After hours, the scent on skin, getting weaker each time, is a soft vanilla oriental. The fragrance is original, no doubt about that, but I don’t know if in a good way. Perhaps because of the name, or because it approaches the smell of certain candles, it seems like this ‘Karma’ is made by dirty, toothless, barefoot, heroin-addicted hippies in a ranch trough full of flies, throwing components carelessly. It does remind me of hippies, but of the kind where instead of good vibes you might expect a stab. It could be the official perfume of the Manson family.

I just bought the solid version because it was discontinued in Mexico; it’s a very rich and pleasant aroma, it doesn’t feel the same as others. The orange is the essence, just like the pine if perceived, leaving a note of that smell with which floors are cleaned but more pleasant; very good for summer and even daily use. The lavender refreshes the whole spirit and helps to keep going. Being solid, I found it very original but somewhat limited: on the trail it is skin-level, although with more heat it releases a bit more, but it is personal. The disadvantage is that it can only be applied on the neck and behind the ears, something limiting for those who used to spray on clothes and hair. Despite everything, I think it’s a good perfume for handmade cosmetics. The price affects a bit because it is ‘handmade’, it’s above designer ones. If you go to the shop, ask them to show you the ‘Gorilla Perfumes’ (black container) because the ones they take out now are not very good as I expected. Personal rating for originality: 8.