Lust by Lush

I worked at Lush for 13 years and had the Lust scent permanently stuck to me. Now that I’m older, I’ve finally found a bargain to buy it for the third time. It’s complex, a bit of a laugh, but it’s earned me plenty of compliments; my husband likes it too, although he was initially a little frightened when we first met. High impact, trail 7/10, longevity 6/10 (depends on the time of day) and originality 10/10.

I didn’t want to take the liquid version due to the mixed reviews, nor does the idea of it staining clothes appeal to me. The solid surprised me with its intensity; I bought the glass jar before 2024, so I’m unsure if it’s the same formula as the recent tube version. It’s truly lovely and, along with Vanillary, is one of the few Lush perfumes that has convinced me. On my skin, the white floral aroma with a touch of sweetness is noticeable first, which wouldn’t go out of place as a wedding perfume for a beach wedding. After a while, with body heat, the ylang-ylang and a bit of dirty jasmine come through, but not shrill or repellent, just enough to make it interesting. It has good projection and feels wearable, even after about three hours without reapplication, without invading or overwhelming; it’s more for personal enjoyment and easy to wear even on cool summer nights, though I think spring or early autumn is the best time. If Lush launched it as a hair mist, I’d consider it, but given everything, in the case of Lust, I believe this is the best of both worlds. I definitely do not recommend buying it without testing on skin, as it’s a somewhat temperamental perfume that doesn’t suit everyone.

I know many people don’t like it; it’s a loud and strong perfume. To me, it feels very dark, evoking a night forest, in my opinion. It’s not elegant, but neither is it vulgar; it’s strange and unique. It lasts a long time on the skin, even though I only tested it in-store. I recommend it if you like perfumes such as Hypnotic Poison.

I have the solid version and at first I thought it would rot in the drawer because I didn’t like ylang-ylang at all. But I left it for months and now I love it. It’s a different and very sensual scent, something I didn’t expect from a white floral. What a pleasant surprise. However, it smells as if you’ve punched a jasmine tree.

BOTTLED LUXURY. An explosion of grandiflorum jasmine ‘in your face’, without anaesthesia. It’s hyper-realistic, wild, indie, rough, sensual and intoxicating. It might be too much for some due to the indolic notes that some find decadent, but for me it’s what makes it sexy. If you’re looking for something versatile and less invasive, try Olene from Diptyque, the most natural and virginal jasmine. A summer delight. Watch out: it can stain light clothes and its longevity is low if stored for too long.

What a jasmine we have here. When you spray Lust, it lands on the skin and stays there. The jasmine comes in strong and can be a bit overwhelming, but it calms down quickly. I’ve tried few jasmynes and almost none caught my attention, but this one did. I think it’s the ylang-ylang that adds a sunny tone and vivid nuances. It evokes an Andalusian courtyard with cheerful, vibrant white flowers. It’s intoxicating and stimulating, but without subtlety. Lust is provocative, sensory and voluptuous; it wants attention and gets it. It doesn’t care about your approval. It has character and personality. I’ve worn it before sleeping and waking up surrounded by those flowers was beautiful. Hours later, a small ‘dirty’ tone is noticeable, but not unpleasant. It’s an olfactory journey for jasmine lovers who aren’t afraid of its intensity and voluptuousness.

Learning that Lush scents aren’t for sleeping… last night I went with Death & Decay and today with Lust, although I only applied a couple of light spritzes. It smells of an old house, of half-rotten dried flowers, of dusty lace curtains scorched by the sun, of an abandoned house…

I have the cream version because I didn’t dare try the eau de parfum. When I opened it it was like a slap in the face: I wasn’t disgusted but I didn’t like it much either. In the end I’ve grown to like it, but I don’t think I’ll buy it again. Perfect for mixing with a fresh perfume.

I tried it today and I’m glad I didn’t decide to buy it based on the reviews, even from YouTubers. They say it smells of jasmine, I have a garden full of jasmine bushes and this doesn’t resemble it in the slightest, although it’s mixed with ylang-ylang and other notes. It doesn’t smell of jasmine or indolic, neither freshly cut nor after the rain. It smells like a mated cat’s urine. I advise trying before buying blindly. If you have the option to test with a discovery set, that’s better. Lately I’ve heard many reviews from podcasts and YouTubers, supposedly ‘experts’ in fragrances, and what a coincidence that all the perfumes they review (and of course the houses gift them) are wonderful. What a letdown. It seems like a rip-off. Most of them don’t smell as they say, don’t last, and have almost no projection.

A nose-blowing blast of jasmine, a proper floral from the start that turns fruity, sweet and very potent. Surprisingly it reminded me a lot of Lost in Flower by Strangelove. Surprised by the quality of this soap house, I’ve been hooked on trying their fragrances, very interesting.

Sambac jasmine and ylang-ylang in abundance. Very strong and sweetened floral composition. Be careful because it goes off easily, I suppose it’s due to the use of absolutes.

It smells like a strong, direct floral note, as if you were carrying a bouquet of white flowers on a hot day. The solid version is softer and less overwhelming than the spray, though both last a very long time; the solid feels more avoindal on the skin. It’s a sweet, simple jasmine, unisex but clearly leaning towards feminine.

I tried it today after seeing YouTube reviews, and honestly, it doesn’t smell like jasmine to me, but rather like mothballs, perhaps due to the ylang-ylang. It seemed very synthetic, stuck to my hand and wouldn’t come off, so I think it’s too expensive for the quality. There are noses for every taste, but there are better jasmine options out there. Note: don’t buy blindly, always test first.

Finally tried it, and after leaving it on the shelf, it flooded the whole living room with jasmine in just a few hours. I don’t have it yet, but I’ll be buying it again. I adore this note in all its versions, and this one is very real, like smelling it on the plant itself. Just jasmine, nothing more. It’s the jasmine from my grandmother’s patio where I used to play as a child. If you like this note, you must try it; if not, it’s not for you.

A proper beast of jasmine and ylang-ylang. It smells beastly, with a trail and longevity that’s incredible. It’s not for the timid. To me, it’s a very sharp jasmine that doesn’t quite convince me. I prefer the Love, another proper beast from the house.