Bathing in Parma Violets (Lush Bathos Bubble Bar Slice)

Member Name: missixty

Product:	Lush Bathos Bubble Bar Slice
Date:	28/08/08 (96 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smell, bubbles, feel of water

Disadvantages: None

I had recently read some reviews on here of Bathos, and up until that point it had gone pretty much un noticed by me. It's not an all singing, all dancing, exciting bar, and it's not pink, so it had gone largely un noticed by me. Due to this reason I'd never even picked it up for a sniff in the shop, but if I had, I would have instantly bought it, as it smells of one of my favorite things in the world (okay, I tend to exaggerate sometimes); Parma Violets. Mmmmm yummy! From this alone, you should pretty much know if you will like it or not. I love Parma Violets, my mum hates them. I imagine there are plenty of people in both camps. I'm always the one when my boyfriends mum fills the sweetie bowl (yes, we're a house full of adults and we still have a sweetie bowl) who quickly plucks out the mini packs of Parma Violets and stashes them upstairs. Shhh, don't tell anyone, it's everyone for themselves here, if you don't eat it/take it now, it'll be gone next time you look!

After reading the positive reviews and literally fantasizing about this product, I of course had a sniff when I next went in and I wasn't disappointed - it smelt just like Parma Violets like promised! Yay! Into the basket it goes!

Since buying it, then negative reviews come out. Oh no, who do I believe? Well I already had it so decided there was one thing for it, make my own mind up!

After a stressful day (is there any other type when there are dogs around - who optionally owns these things seriously??) I decided to put the dogs to bed (seriously they are more work than children) and run myself a nice hot bath. I've still not mastered this whole, crumbling the bubble bar under running water thing, I think the people who can do this must have mixer taps. Here we have a choice of, freezing cold, or third degree burn, temperature water. I try but fail to withstand the hot tap (ouch, ouch!!) and end up crumbling it near the hot running water, which resulted in large blobs accidentally falling into the water un crumbled, and keep rinsing all the purple wet powdery residue off my hands under the cold tap. Normally I put in a full bubble bar, it just doesn't seem worth sacrificing the quality to make it into two or three baths, but after two thirds went in the water was purple and so soft and silky, the bubbles were more than plentiful and the scent was strong, so I decided to leave the last third. Despite the fact that the bath had more than enough of the product in to make it indulgent and satisfying, part of me regretted not putting the last bit in, as it wont be enough for a truly indulgent second bath (although still fairly nice I imagine) and the mental side of me felt like I wasn't having as much of a treat as I'd not put it all in, but that's just me I'm sure most people would be more than happy with half this bar in the tub.

I had to work the water a bit to get rid of the clumps but soon enough it was all dissolved and utterly lovely.

The water was so soft and silky, for those who have experienced some of the nicest Lush baths to offer, you will know what I mean. It feels like pure silk around you, not slippy or oily but just, gorgeous and silky soft. The purple shade of the water was nice, and although not as girly as pink, still really girly and lovely. It actually looked a little iridescent (not in a glittery way), and where there was water on my leg my leg actually looked iridescent, very cool!

I think I may have already mentioned the scent once or twice, but it was lovely, and I could smell it throughout the bath. I have to say though, I'm not sure how anyone could find this overpowering, if anything I would have liked it a little stronger, it wasn't really that strong, but definitely smellable!

Up until recently if someone had told me something smelt like Jasmine or Ylang Ylang I would have stared blankly at them. Well, even now I can't describe these scents but I can tell you the common theme is I'm tending to really like the smell of Lush products containing these so knowing that they are both in Bathos made me feel positive about it. Added to the fact that it has Violet Leaf Absolute, and smells in general, just like a Parma Violet and I'm in heaven - how could I possibly not like this? I LOVE Parma Violets, I know people who hate them as much as I love them though, so this is a love it or hate it kind of thing, and the smell here is definitely floral, but not in an old granny way.

Violet Leaf Absolute gives the bubble bar its gorgeous Parma Violet scent, and also has many benefits. It can help relieve stress and insomnia so is perfect for de-stressing at the end of the day before going to bed for a good nights sleep. It can also ease headaches and general ailments such as sore throats and coughs so is good if you are feeling a little run down.

Rose Absolute is very calming and give you strength emotionally. It can help with over tiredness and ease headaches. It's also anti viral and anti bacterial so is good for getting you clean.

Jasmine Absolute is great for treating depression and exhaustion, so in combination with the other ingredients, it is again perfect for after a long stressful day, when you just want to get away from it all, forget everything, and relax, if only for an hour. It's also good for dry skin so will soften your skin while you're lying back letting your troubles float away.


Ylang Ylang Oil is very relaxing and can help ease stress, anxiety, depression and nervous exhaustion, so works perfectly with the other ingredients that do this also. It can also calm shock, fear and panic. It has a balancing effect on the sebum produced by the skin, making dry skin moisturized, and oily skin not oily anymore! As well as this it is an aphrodisiac! Oooh. Lush suggest you could share the bath if the mood so takes you, but unless you have a bath the size of a hot tub (you're gonna need more than one Bathos if so) then this is not as enticing an idea in reality as people like to make out. No one, is sharing my Lush bath, no way.

Bergamot Oil can help fight of SADs, something anyone living under the rainy grey skies of Manchester will no doubt have some experience of. It can give a boost to self confidence and generally just make you feel better if you're feeling a little down or withdrawn. It has antiseptic qualities that make it great for treating a variety of skin conditions from eczema and psoriasis to acne.

Clove Bud Oil can be used as a pain reliever and help ease any skin conditions, cuts and bruises, so is useful if you're skin has taken a tough time of it lately.

All in all it's a great mix of ingredients to lift your mood, relax you, make you feel better, and treat your skin.

I absolutely loved my bath. It had mounds of silky cream, quality bubbles that I could rub all over my skin and they feel delightful, not like normal bubble bath bubbles. The water was like pure silk indulgence and the fragrance was one of my favourites of all time.

After getting out of the bath my skin didn't feel overly soft, but didn't feel like it needed moisturizing, it was just nice. The smell of Parma Violets lingered on my skin all evening and for me that was a huge bonus. If you like Parma Violets, you'll love this, if you don't, steer clear!

At £2.40 for 1-3 baths, depending how stingy/indulgent you are, it's not exactly cheap, but worth it as a truly indulgent treat.

Summary: Smells gorgeous!!!