The Smell of Freedom

This hugs me like a body stocking .... and transforms me into catwoman - sexy, seductive and very very elusive. Ginger makes a brisk entrance (cat jumps off a nearby wall to catch your attention) seductive florals of neroli and jasmine innocently and shyly approach with clove and sandalwood giving the composition a warm heart (cat is almost in reach of your fingertips and you lust to stroke her shiny black fur, warm after lazily sunbathing all afternoon) ... but at the base there is the preferable company of Oudh and Orris (cat withdraws in the last minute as if you were the least interesting factor in her universe because, in fact, the wild yonder is beckoning with encounters and adventures of which we humans can only dream.... thus she leaves - perplexing and blessing you as you lift your eyes to that wild yonder in the woods, looking back as if to say "now you know it can be done!" - not everyone will understand this freedom, or this beautiful fragrance ... one needs confidence!

The fresh and herbal ginger/lemongrass opening instantly makes one think of the interior of the place this fragrance comes from and of the smell of natural food markets. Jasmine rears its head, opening up to a somewhat woody spicy floral heart. In a turn of events, a second heart pops out of nowhere. This time it cuts like a knife - Iris and Agarwood, the two most prized essences in all of perfumery, come together in the softest and most beautiful way. The herbal quality sort of loses its point here, making the otherwise stunning accords a little hazy. It ends on a beautiful incense note that continues on forever. Beautiful and an experience, like many of Lush's fragrances.

Someone mentioned that yellow fits this, I couldn't agree more. Most perfume can conger up an aura or "color" that its vibe represents. The smell of freedom radiates yellow. I get lots of wood, smoky wood. Some brightness lots of layers lots of depth. I have only tried two of lush's scents as I order everything online and I would like to sample a few prior to deciding on a big bottle purchase. And I've noticed that I really like this scent (and love the other I tried) but it doesn't feel one with me. Like its sitting on top of my chemistry instead of melding into it. I guess there is nothing wrong with"wearing" a fragrance as opposed to merging with one.

This has a very intriguing name. I used the solid perfume, which is a kind of soft waxy resin which melts on contact with the skin. It much reminds me of the type of carmine sealing wax used in antique films such as the Scarlet Pimpernel, which give off a strong, medicinal perfume at the heart of which lies the bark of Canina Rosa. The medicinal quality I suppose comes from the green agave angelica, and the rose-like from the strawberry rock cupuacu, all in all culminating to recreate the scent of the parting lips of the Venus Fly-pitcher. Mesmerising, and higly evocative. Hooked.

Absolutely adore this scent! Down to my last few drops and so upset to see that it's now £125 for a 100ml bottle. It smells like a warm hug, starts off spicy with a bit of kick - the ginger and the pepper - but then settles down to this warm comfortable sweetness - sandalwood and lightly floral. If you like karma I can imagine you would like this too, it's very intimate and smelling it has me sitting in front of a warm fire on an autumn night.