Island Lush

Island Lush arrived on the market in 2023, and its fragrance was created by Amélie Jacquin (Givaudan). It is part of the Botanical Series as its third creation, succeeding Silky Woods and Purple Suede in its proposal to explore rare raw materials from a contemporary perspective. Inspired by the volcanic islands of the South Pacific, particularly Vanuatu and New Caledonia, the fragrance highlights the precious local sandalwood (Santalum austrocaledonicum), creating a composition that combines exoticism, creamy texture, and woody depth. Classified as woody-spicy, Island Lush also has a 25% concentration and combines notes of ginger, pink pepper, nutmeg from Indonesia, geranium from Egypt, guaiac wood from Paraguay, sandalwood from the South Pacific, vetiver, and Australian oud. Once touches the skin, the fragrance reveals a luminous spicy accord, where ginger, nutmeg, and pink pepper create a warm and vibrant sensation, evoking the heat reflected on tropical landscapes. For those who enjoy the nutmeg note – warm and with a freshness capable of opening the nostrils, sometimes even slightly salty – it's a real treat! This spicy opening is not aggressive; on the contrary, it prepares the ground for a more enveloping evolution, where the composition gains density and elegance through woods and subtle green nuances. Notes such as guaiac, cedar, and geranium add a dry, almost smoky texture, creating a contrasting connection with the spices on top and the much creamier base. This phase reveals the refined character of the fragrance, which carries a lot of balance and sophistication. It is in the drydown that Island Lush reveals its true identity: sandalwood emerges rich, buttery, and enveloping, accompanied by vetiver, resinous benzoin, and facets of oud that amplify the sensation of warmth and sensuality. The result is a creamy, woody, and slightly leathery drydown that lingers on the skin with tactile elegance and plenty of personality. Let's talk about expectations? Unlike traditional tropical fragrances, Island Lush doesn't seek oceanic freshness or obvious fruity sun accords. It aims to translate the spirit of the islands through the richness of woods, resins, and spices, creating a deeper and more contemplative interpretation of the soil and the botanical landscape. On my skin, Island Lush performs very well, leaving a luxurious trail and honest lasting power (+10 hours), characteristics reinforced by the high concentration of botanical essences used by the brand. In my opinion, it has a more masculine profile, but that doesn't prevent women from falling in love with it, especially considering the increased interest in more intense and spicy notes, widely disseminated by Arabic perfumery. A beautiful fragrance indeed!

I disagree that it's masculine, it is unisex to my nose. The spice is very delicate compared to other spicy perfumes, even some female leaning ones, and the floral notes make it really gentle as well. There is nothing strongly masculine about it, but if you're a woman you have to like more spicy/oriental perfumes to wear it I suppose. Overall this is more of a cold weather/night time/going out to an event scent. The opening and the first hour or so are the best part. As you spray the ginger & spices are prickly and sharp, but it is a spice perfume after all, and the sharp edge vanishes soon after. The mix of spices and bergamot and some other note, that makes it strangely fresh, clean, and almost soapy despite all the spices (or is it actually the bergamot & ginger mix creating this?), is amazing. When the iris kicks in in addition to that it becomes even better. Very complex and unusual. The base is more subdued, creamy, and cozy thanks to the sandalwood and sweet accords, as the interesting opening notes disappear. I don't detect much leather compared to the sandalwood which is good in my case because it keeps the perfume lighter and more unisex. I do wear spicy perfumes only sometimes but I will consider buying a full bottle of this once I run out of my current staple spicy perfume, as this is a classic spice with a very interesting opening, good quality overall, and lasts long.

First proper sampling of Goldfield & Banks Island Lush, an aptly-named multifaceted blend that conjures a tropical experience without leaning too heavily on tropes. To my nose, it’s at the intersection of most typical categories and has a lot going on. I think it actually ends up being fresh and resinous more than any other categories, but it has sweet, fruity, floral, musky, woody, and spicy aspects. Its full note list tells a fittingly complex story: bergamot, pink pepper, nutmeg, and ginger in the vibrant, bright opening; geranium, guaiac, and cedar wood in the spicy, woody heart; and sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, benzoin, and even leather in the more resinous-leaning base. There is surely a lot going on here, and I enjoy the tightrope being walked between sharp and smooth aspects, with a healthy use of benzoin and patchouli at the center, in my opinion. It does transport me to an island but without being a tropical fruity/floral blend (though those are often quite nice, as well). It has some gravitas and density, and performs quite well. Island Lush has the same retail pricing as the rest of the Botanical Series, at $240/47 for 100/10ml, and as with the entire house, I love the option of the 10ml size, as there are several such fragrances from the house that I would love to try more in the 10ml size prior to committing to a 100ml bottle. 8 out of 10

Goldfield and Banks's Island Lush is, without a doubt, a masterpiece—and in my opinion, their best creation, even within the Botanical Series. It's a shame to see the criticism this fragrance receives, as I think it's a brilliant and unexpected take on the concept. It seems we've become so conditioned to expect a stereotypical "island" scent that we've lost our ability to appreciate a more complex and imaginative interpretation. The name and brief for Island Lush are perfectly suited to the fragrance it is. The opening is a truly beautiful and slightly sweet burst of Bergamot and Ginger, which quickly gives way to a vibrant and spicy heart of Pepper and Nutmeg. As it develops, the scent takes on a creamy and smooth body of Sandalwood and Guaiac wood, with a touch of iris and leather giving it a sophisticated texture. The final layer of Vetiver and Patchouli adds a subtle, earthy greenness that gives the fragrance a truly unique herbal quality. I deeply appreciate Goldfield and Banks's creative vision for what "island" and "lush" can truly mean. While I love the entire line—and would rank Purple Suede as a close second for its incredible character over Silky Woods—Island Lush will always be my number one. It's a fragrance that stands apart and tells a story all its own.

This is very nice perfume. It is strong sweet and leathery perfume, and a bit powdery. I’m very sad this is rated so low. People are raging because of the name of perfume (?!) and also someone said this smells like burnt toast. It maybe smells like burnt toast only if you are having a stroke, otherwise it is very simple scent - sandalwood and leather. My only problem is that this perfume can be too sweet, and this is coming from someone who loves sweet perfumes. At least for me, this is happening only with sandalwood. It also has very good projection, which is so rare nowadays. Everyone are into ‘skin scents’ but why am i buying perfume if i can’t smell it at all. Take a sample of this perfume and decide on your own, but i would totally recommend Island Lush.