What Would Love Do is one of those perfumes that would have been very much suited for a summer release. While romance can blossom in any season, the story behind this product, as well as the smell of the perfume itself, reminds me of long walks along coastal paths and smouldering days by the beach.
All of Lush's Volume 4 perfumes are based on the life and work of Hal Samples, and this one is no different. After Hal visited the Edinburgh Spa for a Synaesthesia treatment a few years ago, he was introduced to his therapist, Janine, and immediately began to feel butterflies in his stomach. What should been an awkward situation, in which both of their stomachs began to rumble in unison during the silent treatment, transpired into another meeting a year later, where they ended up staying up all night, dancing. Thus begs the question 'What Would Love Do?'When I first gave this perfume a sniff, my immediate thought was that it reminded me of 25:43. However, having used this over the last couple of weeks, I have come to realise that there is a big difference between the two, although I can imagine that fans of one will no doubt appreciate the other.
This perfume is a recent release from Lush, that has so far appeared in the Lush Kitchen, and is currently available as an exclusive in the Oxford Street store. What is unique about this perfume is that it is very different from any of the other perfumes featured in the Volume 4 range. A lot of the scents are very complex and heavy on the skin, whereas this one is very much the opposite.
Containing benzoin resinoid, tangerine and lavender, this perfume is bright, fruity and uplifting. It is the former two ingredients that make this perfume what it is - the tangerine offering a fresh, zesty burst of citrus, while the benzoin resinoid wraps the fruit in a bouquet of sweet, balsamic notes. While most Lush fans are used to experiencing benzoin when it's working its magic in Snowcake, this perfume allows the vanillary aspects of the component to take a back seat and instead focuses on its amber qualities - creating a sticky-sweet and very refreshing perfume that reminds me of liquid nectar.
Alongside these two ingredients is the lavender, and it is not until the perfume has been given an opportunity to warm on the skin, that this ingredient begins to make an appearance. On the body, you can detect sweet but very subtle herbal notes that remain in the background the whole time, and this gives the fragrance a slightly rounded feel about it. In other words, I believe that it is the lavender that carries this scent, and allows it to remain on the skin for far longer than the average 'citrus' perfume usually does.
Overall, I found that I could still detect hints of What Would Love Do 3-4 hours after initial application, and while I still believe that it would be better suited for the warmer months of the year, I found that its fruity smell elevated my mood a great deal when I wore it.
As a self-proclaimed miserable person in the winter, this perfume will definitely be one to help me get through the colder months of the year. Furthermore, there is a small hope that I may too be able to have one of those awkward encounters with a special someone, whilst wearing this perfume. However, if this is just wishful thinking on my part, I can always find solace in knowing that I at least smell really good.
Quantatitive Ingredients: DRF Alcohol, Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Benzoin Resinoid, Tangerine Oil, Lavender Oil, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Benzyl Cinnamate, *Cinnamal, *Citral, *Coumarin, *Farnesol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool.
Vegan?: Yes.
2016 Price: £28 for 30ml.
2017 Price: £19 for 30ml.
Year Of Original Release: 2016.
