After you've come to terms with the fact that your entire existence is governed by the financial implications of a Lush Kitchen splurge, you begin to accept the fact that you'll probably always have a list as long as your arm, of products you want to see being released in the not so distant future. The next step is to then recognise that this list will no doubt accumulate new items on a regular basis, and that the likelihood of you ever being able to cross off everything, is virtually impossible.
The worst part for me is knowing that, while I may have tried and tested far more products than the majority of the people I know, there are always releases that will catch me off guard. Before I know it, I have another name added to my ever-expanding inventory and I feel myself even further away from being able to discard the checklist altogether. Such was the case with this recent release.
Assassin Shower Gel was not something that ever made itself known on my radar, despite claiming that shower gels are my shortcoming when it comes to Lush's impressive catalogue of products. For this reason, I was rather taken aback when it was first announced for release, and I even had to carry out a little research beforehand to brief myself on what exactly to expect.Although multiple interpretations spread like wild fire on what everyone expected this product to smell like, it was the comparison between Tramp Shower Gel and Grass that seemed to be the general consensus among most fans. Upon experiencing it for the first time, I was quick to make that comparison as well. However, having spent the last few days sharing my bathroom with this wonderful product, I have come to realise that it has far more to offer, and I'd be selling it a little short if I simply jumped on this bandwagon.
Firstly, I will say that I can see why the the aforementioned shower gels have been used to describe Assassin. In all fairness, there is a similarity to both of them, and it is a really effective way of helping others to gage an idea of what to expect when deciding whether or not to make a purchase. However, I happen to think that this shower gel is much BETTER than either of the two items, and doesn't seem so similar when you have all three gels in front of you to compare.
Containing pine, cypress, lemon and patchouli oils, not to mention oakmoss absolute, this shower gel is for fans of fresh, green, natural-smelling cosmetics. It is the former two ingredients that dominate the overall smell of this product - offering two very different sensory experiences. On the one hand, it reminds me of lazing around a freshly trimmed garden in the summer time, when the plants and shrubbery around you has been watered and the heat of the sun radiates notes of chlorophyll into the air, while you bathe. At the same time, it also reminds me of the smell you experience after setting up a freshly-cut Christmas tree in your lounge and allowing the green smell to permeate the room a little.
While I would say that the pine and cypress oils are equally matched in this combination, my nose gravitates very slightly more towards the pine. This element gives Assassin a crisp, naturally-sweet resinous aroma; while the cypress oil rounds this off with a fresh, woody element that offers just the slightest hint of evergreen to compliment the pine.
The oakmoss is not as robust as it is in Tramp Shower Gel - instead adding a dry, earthy quality to the shower gel. However, while it does ground the smell a little and give it a level of complexity, it's not as potent as it is in the aforementioned gel. Although you cannot really detect any of the tart, citrusy qualities of the lemon oil, you can appreciate its presence in helping to elevate the overall aroma. This also goes for the patchouli - where you can smell the subtle aromatic elements of the ingredient, but not the spicy components.
Assassin is a celebration of how Lush are able to mimic natural scents, as this truly does smell like they're captured the outdoors and bottled it in gel form. The beautiful shade of green its presented in makes it even more magical, and this would be a perfect accompaniment to a spring-time bath. At the same time, the pine makes it feel very Christmassy as well, and is certainly one of the products I will be taking home to enjoy on the days leading up to Christmas Day.
In the shower, the scent is robust and long-lasting - the heat elevates those individual notes and engulfs the room with a strong but equally light and refreshing aroma. I was not surprised to find that the fragrance stays with you for a good couple of hours after leaving the shower, and the very nature of the scent means that you feel thoroughly clean and uplifted.
You only need to use a small amount and it goes a long way - lathering up with ease whether I massaged a little between my palms or stimulated the suds by coating my body first. While I wouldn't say it was overly moisturising, it still left my skin as smooth and as soft as most of the other Lush shower gels I have used.
Overall, I wasn't expecting to be so enamoured with this shower gel, so I am pleasantly surprised to find that I would class it as being a firm favourite of mine, and one that I would buy again if I find myself with a shortage on my hands. Winter, spring or summer, this shower gel assassinates any of Lush's previous attempts to bottle nature, and I would highly recommend that you grab yourself a bottle when the opportunity next arises.
Quantitative Ingredients: Water, Agar Agar Gel, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Chicory Infusion, Rosemary Infusion, Lauryl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Perfume, Cypress Oil, Pine Oil, Oakmoss Absolute, Sicilian Lemon Oil, Patchouli Oil, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Chlorophyllin, Methylparaben Propylparaben.
Vegan?: Yes.
2016 Price: £11.25 for 250g.
Year Of Original Release: 2005.
