Lush can get a little confusing at times, especially if you're fairly new to the company. There are so many items that share the same scent; products that have kept the same design but changed their fragrance after a number of years; products that have the same name as something else but are in no way related. Ultimately, with such a rich history of releases, it is overwhelming for even the most knowledgeable of fans, let alone someone with a new-found investment in the company.
It is for this reason that social media generated rather a lot of confusion when the Magic Bubble Bar first made an appearance in the pictures and discussions of those who attended the Creative Showcase this year. With mixed and sometimes confusing reviews, most people assumed that the exclusive bubble bar sported the same scent as the bath bomb and shower jelly of the same name. This turned out to be an incorrect assumption.Sporting the same fragrance as a rumoured, soon-to-be-released, Volume 4 perfume Road To Damascus, this product is different to anything that Lush have released before. While it may look like you're typical, albeit really vibrantly-designed bubble bar, the magic is in the fact that this one supposedly produces coloured bubbles instead of the normal white ones that we're been used to up until this point.
Firstly, you will notice that the price of Magic is far higher than you would expect it to be, especially as its smaller than your average bubble bar. For those who have used Ma Bar in the past, I would say that this is perhaps the same thickness as this one but slightly smaller in diameter. Having said this, the bubble bar is generous enough that you can easily get 3-6 baths from a single one, depending on how you choose to use it.
What I will say is that, while I wouldn't descrbe this bubble bar as being overly potent on the senses, the smell that it does offer, stays equally as strong once you've divided it into smaller pieces to use. Furthermore, the consistency is definitely very different to most Lush bubble bars - it's far softer once you begin holding it under the running water, and you almost have to manipulate the bar between your fingers as it doesn't crumble in the way that Lush bubble bars usually do. Addressing the price once more, I should point out that the inclusion of the amyris oil is part of the reason as to why it is more expensive than your average bubble bar. Derived from the Amyris balsamifera tree, this luxurious ingredient has a high oil count, which is the reason for its unique consistency. Referred to as an alternative to sandalwood, the ingredient is known for it's relaxing fragrance, and its ability to reduce and counteract stress.
Along with violet leaf absolute, Magic Bubble Bar has a very exquisite fragrance - like a deep, slightly damp, earthy violet smell with elements of what I can only describe as a note reminiscent of rose. Alongside this there is a sweet component, which reminds me of sap from the bark of a tree. It's a multi-layered fragrance that is both alluring and very seductive, and one that is definitely suited to being made into a perfume.
What is great about this bubble bar is that it turns the water into a deep, rich pool of purple, and the water is noticeably softer than your average bubble bar. The aroma is very much present throughout the whole experience, and I didn't notice any loss of this when it was transferred from the product to the water. I will say though that it's worth using this by itself, as I found even using a strong bath bomb didn't stop this bubble bar from thwarting the smell of anything I tried to pair it with. Unfortunately, I found that Magic wasn't as generous as I was expecting it to be with its bubbles - and this is with me both crumbling the bubble bar myself as well as holding pieces in a sieve. Furthermore, while there was evidence that some of the bubbles did have a slight blue and pink tinge to them, they were definitely not massively different from the normal bubbles. This was rather disappointing as that was the main appeal of this bubble bar to me.
Overall, while I wouldn't say that I was blown away by this limited edition, it was definitely an enjoyable experience, and one that I will enjoy using in its many formats. This is definitely a scent that will prove popular in the Lush community, and I look forward to seeing what other inventions choose to bring out in the future.
Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Almond Oil, Cream of Tartar, Citric Acid, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Perfume, Violet Leaf Absolute, Geranium Oil, Amyris Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Citral, *Citronellol, *Eugenol, *Farnesol, Isoeugenol, Gold Sparkle Lustre, Colour 42090, Colour 73360.
Vegan?: Yes.
2016 Price: £4.75 each.
Year Of Original Release: 2016.
Video Coming Tomorrow
