Dirty

...this is my signature scent and I love it. Like I'm rolling around in a filthy urban square, the woods and in an aromatic garden by the sea at the same time. Pleasantly surprised as it actually smells dirty, in a unique way but like real asphalt, green dirt and watery mud. It doesnt have any of the maximalist heavy processed perfumery compounds that makes scents overloaded and sort of fakey, it's a simple and real more organic formula but with a wonderful long sillage as if you've had a good time, dipped yourself in a barrel of dirty stuff, a mix of garden waste, ocean waste and something really filthy from an urban square like old beer, saliva and chewing gum with a gasoline taste. to others the pungent mint/gazoline/asphalt is intriguing (or repelling, which is a good test, hey I'm a scorpio) and for your own pleasure you feel the herbal/nature/koumarin/earthy scents at a closer radar. Actually it smells of a chewed gum drenched in saliva and whatnot and dropped on the asphalt with a hint of gazoline, but mixed with the most wonderful and fresh garden herbs (the mint smell is AMAZING) of mint and lavender and then rolled into a stack of freshly cut grass with dews of raindrops and after rain-smell sprinkled all over it. And then someone played with it (or you?) in the moss in the boreal woods, so it indulges and reekes of moss, iron and lovely mineral rich organic soil, biked around and left it lying half in water by the seabanks so it smells of three weeks old "badly" smelly algae and ozonic salty winds, and then some sun on it, and then sprinkled by rain again. and the Neroli (and herbs) gives it just that innocent/poetic touch and timeless feel of ethereal beauty but just a bit so it's still so real, dirty and unperfect. its distinct and unique, organic and a bit groce. That is how good it is, it smells of total freedom and adventure in a timeless life-loving way, very truly dirty with brushed knees and true immediate, in-various-ways contact with nature,

So many of Lush's perfumes are so left field and zany but at the same time SO distinctive and addictive. Karma was my first Lush staple and I would dearly love a perfume that smells like their talcum powder 'Silky Underwear' but I digress.. None of the Lush stable is a safe blind buy, you have to have a slow trot around the paddock before you want to cantor in your saddle. Personally I am very addicted to this fragrance. It is very niche and very odd but there is something so calm yet also confident and self assured in a really quirky yet natural way that makes me simultaneously think of wearing the Body Shop's Dewberry and wearing Cherry Doc Martens and eyeing up some indie kid who looks like Graham from Blur. It reminds me of the heady rush of being young in the 90s and feeling flirty and fun in an alternative type of way. I don't know why it makes me feel so giddy and carefree but it just does. The other perfumes that make me feel like this are JPG Classique, Coty's Exclamation, Cacherel's Eden and Gucci Rush. I only wore the first three when young and only found Rush and Dirty when older but they all have that confident 'Yes this is my signature perfume and yes I look cool and attractive' swagger about them that you can't help but smile and laugh along. Makes me want to join the queue at the bar for a cider and black while Smashing Pumpkins is playing overhead. p.s. layers very well with Revlon's Jean Nate.

If you don't like mint, or for some reason you're worried that people will think you've brushed your teeth today, then you're probably best to avoid this one. I know that if this had been available when I was a teenager I would have worn it constantly. It makes teenage me happy. My bottle is a couple of years old now. When it was new I found the tarragon a bit too strong and it gave the fragrance an odd doughy earthiness. I hadn't noticed this when I tested it in the shop. I don't like tarragon in general because it reminds me of my mum's "chicken 'n' slop" disgusting dinners of my childhood. Bad start but... After about 12 months the spearmint seemed to intensify significantly and now I love it. The spearmint is the strongest note and I can smell it all the way through the wearing. The (now much more demure) tarragon and other woody green herbs give it a slightly grassy earthy smell and then the sandalwood is quite prominent to me in the dry down and gives it a soapy quality. It seems to be very divisive amongst other people; I've had a few people express disgust but I've also had profuse compliments from others. The longevity is great, estimate approx 8 hours with above average sillage for approx 3 hours. I find a lot of the enjoyment with this one is in the refreshment of re-applying!!

"Dirty" by Lush is a fragrance that's not for the faint of heart. This perfume is bold, unconventional, and overpowering, making it perfect for those who love to make a statement. Despite its strong character, the scent is incredibly fresh almost aquatic and perfect for summer. The scent is a harmonious blend of lavender and mint, which is perfectly complemented by the unique and prominent thyme note. The thyme adds a warm, herbal quality to the fragrance, reminiscent of a soothing cup of herbal tea. The overall effect is one of freshness, greenness, and powderiness. This fragrance is definitely not for those who prefer mainstream designer scents. "Dirty" is an adventure in a bottle, designed for those who love to stand out and embrace the unusual. If you're looking for a perfume that's truly exciting, fresh, and perfect for summer, this is definitely one to try! In terms of performance, this fragrance does not disappoint. The wearer will feel its presence throughout the day, and if sprayed on clothes, it will stay there until laundry day. The sillage is great too, as everyone in the office will know that you've already arrived at work, when they get into the elevator :)

So here's the thing about Dirty, the experience of the fragrance in my opinion varies wildly depending on whether you tried the spray or the solid perfume. The spray version really emphasizes all the bad things about this scent; the overbearing artificial chewing gum kind of mintiness, the toothpaste-y of it, and personally I found it to be too green to my liking, it was a hard pass for me. It was just not a pleasant experience at all. I didn't bother buying this one as it was so disappointing. The solid perfume, however, won my heart time after time and I've repurchased this twice! Upon the first time you crack the lid open, the mint is what jumps out first and foremost, but as it's applied, it really settles and the herbal notes shine through and linger. I also noticed that the longer I have it open, the more subdued the mint becomes and it actually becomes more pleasant, hence the reason why I keep coming back to it. It's the kind of scent you want to wear when you want just a little coolness and edge but not too in-your-face about it, and still comfortable to wear daily in any season. Definitely one of the better fragrances Lush has produced over the years, 10/10!