A Lush product the fella agrees I need to buy! (Shocking but true!) (Flying Fox Temple Balm)

Member Name: missixty

Product:	Flying Fox Temple Balm
Date:	22/08/08 (106 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It helps, it smells gorgeous, could actually improve yours and those around you's lives!

Disadvantages: It's not a cure (nothing can work that well when we're in the grasps of a bad mood can it!)

After the unbelievable success that was Dream Time Temple Balm, which made me drowsy at just a whiff of the stuff, I instantly wanted the other Lush Temple Balms. It was a tough choice between the one to stop me being moody, and the one to stop me being tired, since I am quite often both. I decided for the greater good I'd go for the moody one and this was in fact the first Lush purchase the fella approved of, claiming I'd probably need about ten tins a day(!) Well, if he's going to fund the habit!

So anyone that is; a woman/drives/has children/has a boyfriend, will be well aware of the stress levels that are a part of every day life(!) We love these things, we certainly couldn't live without them, but my gosh, sometimes they cause steam to visibly seep out of your ears.

To break these things down a little bit, being a woman we are naturally inclined to moodswings, it's science, it's not our fault. I don't profess to be a good driver, but I am at worst over cautious, whereas everyone else on the road seems intent on cutting my life short. I hate driving, I hate it, but I could never not drive now that I have done. I hate public transport even more than driving. I love my daughter to bits, and luckily I have a very well behaved child. However, I'm not a patient person, not in the slightest, and unfortunately a lot of the things that come along with parent hood (arts and craft kits - bead threading anyone?? - answering questions about how EVERYTHING works, hearing the word WHY more than you would have ever thought possible, hearing the word "mum" followed by a request every two seconds for 12 hours a day etc) require patience, which I don't have, hence being very stressed, and silently cursing parents who think "make your own..." kits make good birthday presents(!) As for the boyfriend, well I'm lucky, I'm going out with Mr Perfect, so there is actually minimum stress caused by him, but unfortunately for him, any bad mood I happen to be in, can get directed his way, so this temple balm is very beneficial for him.

So does it work? Hmmm. I'm undecided. I think it HELPS but I don't think it's a cure. I do find myself calming down and dealing with the stress/bad mood a bit better, but I don't find myself floating around like a happy little butterfly after having a whiff of it. My expectations were high after Dream Time, I expected this to be more powerful than prescribed drugs(!) Of course, it's not, but it does take the edge off the bad mood, and help you chill out a bit and put up with things to a certain extent. It's never going to make bead threading an enjoyable activity, make you not mind that idiot who hasn't yet grasped the "give way to the right" rule at roundabouts, or make you feel love for the dogs that have just been sick on your bed (not my own dogs might I add, I'm not crazy enough to own these creatures, just crazy enough to dog-sit for a fortnight - and my gosh living to regret it).

I would say that this balm would last a long time, but when in the throws of a bad mood, it is tempting to slather this on an inch thick over any available skin you can find. Preferably inside the nostrils. I'm a step away from injecting it.

Recently on my daughter's birthday, a joyus occasion you might think, unless you are a parent who has organised a children's party, and has spent the morning getting toys out of their crazily secure packaging, and rushing about to get both yourself, and over excited child ready, I could feel the mood coming on. The whole house could feel it. The whole town could practically feel it. Never fear, I can get through fifteen screaming kids, fifteen more lots of presents to open, and a drive up to the fellas house for his family to give yet more presents, which of course I will have to free from their packaging, because I have my secret weapon. I smeared this on my temples, and prayed it would keep me sane throughout the day. My mum came down and exclaimed how something smelt absolutely gorgeous, I don't think I've ever seen her so excited about a scent, and not without reason, this does smell gorgeous. I told her what it was, "it's too stop me being in a bad mood", to which she replied "it's not working then". I had just put it on though, and I am able to look back on my daughter's birthday more fondly now (now that it is over!) than if I had been as stressed as I imagine I would have been without it. I even cracked a smile or two at the party.

So onto the smell, it's so hard to describe, I don't think I can even do it, as I don't know WHAT it smells like. It's not a sweetie smell like some Lush products, it's not a fruity scent, and it's not earthy. So what does that leave us with? I'm not sure but something delicious. Initially in the shop I didn't think it was anything amazing, but after wearing it I loved it, and the more I wear it, the more I love it. I love it more than my Honey I Washed the Kids Solid Perfume, and I in fact wear it as a perfume all the time now, with the added benefit of being somewhat calmer (I said somewhat!). It is said to be scented of Jasmine and Ylang Ylang Oil, for those who know what that smells like but I imagine most people like me, wouldn't know from reading it what that smell is - it's not like saying it smells like chocolate. It smells gorgeous but hard to describe.

Almond Oil is the carrier oil, which is non greasy and easily spreadable. It's also moisturizing and nourishing for the skin which is an added benefit, although you will be only using this on small areas of your body.
Chinese Angelica and Burdock Root can help regulate hormones, and I'm sure you've all heard the word "hormones" mentioned about an irate woman before - like I say, its not our fault if our hormones aren't...regulated!

Jasmine Flower Infusion and Jasmine Absolute can help treat even severe depression. It eases nervous tension and stress and is very soothing to the mind and neres and promotes relaxation. It can help provide confidence and optimism, which can help people look on the brighter side of things, and can even go as far as producing euphoric feelings (although I never quite got euphoric off this!) It is also said to give energy a boost and revive you a little.

Cold Pressed Organic Evening Primrose Oil is often used for PMS, again a phrase that I'm sure you men are withdrawing in horror at, and imagining slammed doors, cold shoulders and being left wondering what on earth you did wrong when you said what we we're wearing was "nice". Whilst I imagine you women know exactly what is wrong with what we're wearing being "nice", and are feeling sympathy and understanding at the mention of PMS. And girls say men are confusing (they're actually fairly simple - beer+football+well...you can guess the rest=happy bloke)!

It is said to contain Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil but recently Lush have stopped using Palm Oil, so perhaps these ingredients are outdated, or perhaps this is a different kind that is okay, I'm not too sure about this one but it mainly acts as a lubricant anyway.

Ylang Ylang Oil eases anxiety, tension, depression and stress - in short, everything that will put us in a bad mood. It can help ease fear and panic (most likely at the thought of the queues out of the doors for school shoes the last week of the school holidays that we face!). It can help with physical exhaustion and insomnia and has a sedative effect, which here isn't so much a sleep aid as a "serenity" aid. It also is an aphrodisiac, so not only will it stop us being moody, but perhaps turn us into the perfect girlfriends you all dream of. Less moods, more...rewards (ahem). I think I speak for all Lushies in letting you guys know, that just buying us something, anything from Lush, is enough of an aphrodisiac for us. You know the beer+football male equation? Well woman+Lush products=happy girlfriend, and what does that equal? An easier life for you, and the chance that you might be allowed the football, just so long as it doesn't clash with Britains Next Top Model or a re run of the Hills okay? (I am j/k I'm actually quite obsessed with football, but you get the idea).

Cypress Oil is calming and soothing for irritable, stressed out, angry people. That will be me then. Give me a bucket of the stuff! It dispels anger and helps calm the mind. Perhaps wearing this will in turn make your boyfriend inhale it whilst you are breaking the news to him of how much you've spent in Lush. How can he be angry when he's inhaling Cypress Oil? See, there are so many hidden benefits.

Palmarosa Oil has an uplifting effect, and clears and calms the mind, making it easier to think clearly and put things into perspective. It helps with nervous and physical exhaustion, or every day life as most of us call it. It's great at treating stress, nervousness and fatigue, which are big contributors to the "mood" - we're not just like that for no reason believe it or not!

For £4.25 basically this balm tackles every single angle of things that put you in a bad mood and leave you feeling ready to blow. It does have an effect, it really does. Everything it claims to do it does, just not as much as someone with my proportion of stress levels would like. It does improve me, but doesn't totally cure me. Don't think that because you can smell this balm on me, it will ever be a good time to ask if my hair is "supposed to look like that".

Summary: I would have thought I'd see Fox's Fly before I ever saw the fella approving a Lush product!