Apple-fizzer (Lush So White Ballistic)

Member Name: calypte

Product:	Lush So White Ballistic
Date:	28/10/09 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lovely soft water

Disadvantages: scent could be better, froth effect disappointing

It's that time of year again - surely far too early to be really thinking about Christmas, but a great time to start trying out the Lush Christmas range. On your behalf, of course - you need to be able to make your Christmas present choices early, right? ;)

That said I still like to start with the only vaguely-festive offerings. So White has sort of a snow-white, fairy tale theme, with the apple scent tying in with Halloween. Well, that's my excuse!

I had low expectations for this ballistic, however, following a few less than ideal comments, particularly about the scent being somewhat artificially appley. And yes, that probably is the weak point. Personally I love apple scents so I was hopeful, but while I did quite like the smell it didn't thrill me. While apple is the main scent, it's quite mellow with an additional fresh, outdoorsy tone. So while the apple is indeed a touch disappointing, the overall aroma is quite pleasant. I would say, however, that there's a time and a mood for this ballistic - it's fresh rather than sleep-inducing, but still quite relaxing.

Now, I called So White a ballistic, but this one is a hybrid with a bubble bar! You don't get bubbles (well, maybe if you'd dropped it in before running the water - I didn't!), but as the sphere dissolves the extra element produces a white froth over the surface of the bath - like snow! It's a nice idea, but I found that it didn't go that far in my fairly large bathtub, and didn't last that long anyway.

On the other hand, that combination of ballistic and bubble bar left the water feeling incredibly creamy and soft - the best bit about this product, in my opinion! While there were no visual changes to the water - no colour, no bubbles, no glitter and (hurrah!) no irritating 'bits' - the texture (if water can be said to have such a property!) was just lovely.

Another plus to some other ballistics is that sitting in that plain-ish water, you still have more than enough scent to know that you have used a bath product! As I said, the smell is going to be the deciding factor on whether you care for this Christmas offering or not. The main problem, as far as I can see, is that the apple aroma is coming from the 'perfume' ingredient, not essential oils. So White is actually full of these, just not apple. Instead: bergamot, rose, orange blossom, and neroli.

I know all of these essential oils, and have to say the combination sounds much better than the end result. However, I'm still a great believer in aromatherapy, particularly if you know in advance what the products are 'supposed' to be doing for you ;)

Rose is the obvious one, associated with romance but also uplifting and good for sadness and depression. Neroli is another soothing, calming scent, and apparently one of the few aromatherapy oils with scientific proof of active benefits. Neroli, orange and bergamot are all from the citrus family, generally held to provide uplifting, cheering aromas: bergamot is used as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder, and orange for treating depression. As an added plus, Lush only use organic forms of neroli and orange oils.

So, whether real or just suggestive power, this sets out to be a soothing, happy-making bath. It seems almost a shame to have that apple perfume bunged on top of it all!


So, would I recommend? Really, I think it's worth a try, but I can't guarantee how you'll react to the scent. Personally, I found the smell a tad disappointing, but the bath as a whole fairly nice. Would I buy it again? Quite probably - although I won't be stocking up with too many! Perhaps, though, the deciding factor is the price: this year Lush seem to have joined in with the credit crunch mentality, and the offerings this festive period include some smaller, less expensive options, like this - at a 'measly' £1.75 it's at least worth the try!



~Boring bits~

Price: £1.75

Availability: part of the 2009 Christmas range, so get thee to Lush! Alternatively, check out the Christmas section on www.lush.co.uk

Ingredients:
Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Cream of Tartar (Tartaric acid), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium bergamia), Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena), Orange Blossom Absolute (Citrus Aurantium dulcis), Neroli Oil (Citrus Aurantium amara), Cocamide DEA, Lauryl Betaine, *Limonene, *Linalool
* Occurs naturally in Essential Oils

Lush say:
"Make a frothy blanket of apple scented 'snow' for your bath"

I say:
Hmm. I'd happily use one again, but it's not going at the top of my list.

Summary: A mixed opinion on the scent, but otherwise nice enough