New Niche Fragrance Review: New Lush Gorilla Perfumes Collection – Scents With Soul + A Funky Full Bottle Draw

Lush Gorilla Header CaFleureBon

That I am a long-time fan of Lush is not a secret. When I saw the advertisements for a new collection of scents from the perfume division of Lush, Gorilla Perfumes, I was anxious to get my nose on them. The packaging and aesthetic is completely different from the Gorilla scents I had experienced. The labels are funky, with bold graphics, and the bottles conjure images of an old apothecary. When I was offered the opportunity to review this new line, I was thrilled.

Lush Gorilla Constantines CaFleureBon

Mark and Simon Constantine

Mark and Simon Constantine, the father and son team of pefumers behind Gorilla, strive to find ways of evoking emotions and memories with their perfumes. Some of them are amazing to wear, others are difficult, but all of them are interesting and worth smelling. This new line is no exception. The Constantines have searched their memory banks and dug into their desires, and created a collection of intriguing perfumes.

Lush Gorilla Voice of Reason CaFleureBon

One of my friends claimed that Voice of Reason “is sweaty, sexy and possibly the skankiest scent I've ever smelled. Intriguingly offensive. I highly recommend that you all find a way to smell it if you haven't already”.  Although I enjoyed her description, I don’t find it offensive. It is definitely sweaty and sexy, though, and quite smoldery. There is some lightness brought to it from a touch of rose, but this is a dark wooden bartop that has been saturated with good whisky and strong cigar smoke for decades. I really like it, but can see that it could be too dense for some. Definitely worth seeking out.
Notes: Tonka bean, Australian sandalwood, Buddha wood oil, rose oil, coumarin, and geraniol*
Lush Gorilla Sikkim Girls CaFleureBon
I love the name of Sikkim Girls, and it conjures exotic-looking women who have auras of equally exotic perfume. When I first applied the scent, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. The top notes have something in them that are a bit astringent. Fortunately they fade quickly and I am left with a rich, almost soapy, tropical fragrance on my skin and surrounding me. Sikkim Girls has beautiful sillage, truly the aroma of island air.  The scent deepens as it lingers on skin and becomes quite sensuous; a winner and a must-try for lovers of tropical flowers.
Notes: Frangipani, jasmine, vanilla and tuberose*
Lush Gorilla Flower's Barrow CaFleureBon
Perfumes that have a nice wallop of rose geranium will always win me over. I find that particular note very relaxing. Flower’s Barrow has geranium, and also Roman chamomile, which can practically put me out. I almost can’t describe how happy this perfume makes me. There is an herbaceous edge to it, and the bite of blackcurrant. It reminds me of being in my father’s pottery studio on a day when he had been doing a raku firing with eucalyptus leaves. It isn’t mentholated or medicinal like eucalyptus itself, just has a bit of that lingering smoke.in the sweetness of the perfume. Flower’s Barrow will be a bedtime scent for me, as well as any time I am feeling the need to just calm down.
Notes: Sage, thyme, blackcurrant, sweet geranium , rose, Roman chamomile*
Lush Gorilla The Bug CaFleureBon
The Bug is meant to be a statement about the technology-driven, paranoia-ridden world we live in. Green and dank, loaded with labdanum and galbanum, this perfume is edgy while still smelling very much of this earth. The Constantines have managed to create a scent that is aloof and disconcerting but not bristling with the metallic, synthetic notes you might expect from a perfume with this theme. Those who are fans of green scents should try this; I am fascinated by it.

Notes: Australian Sandalwood, tonka, galbanum, black pepper. Cistus Labdaniferous Resin, Canarium Commune Gum oil (elemi)*

Lush Gorilla Devils Nightcap CaFleureBon
I know there are a lot of hard-core oakmoss lovers out there. Devil’s Night Cap is made just for you. It is a wonderfully earthy concoction that takes you right into the heart of a fairy-tale forest, where ogres stalk the earth and trolls live under the stone bridges. Singing at the very edge of this fragrance is a trill of floral notes and clary sage. The perfume dries down to a quiet, mossy bed of forest floor detritus. Beautiful.

Notes: Bitter oakwood, oakmoss, clary sage, ylang ylang, Quercus Robur Bark Extract, Orange Flower extract*

Lush Gorilla Sun CaFleureBon
Sometimes the world just gets too gloomy, and you want to splash on something that will make the sun come out, even if it’s only in your mind. Sun will do that. It is a fresh pop of orange peel and tangerine juice, with a whiff of mimosa. Even the perfume itself is a bright yellow. It isn’t loud or bitter, and has a bright citrus feel without being a traditional cologne-style scent. It warms on skin, thanks to a touch of wood, and will brighten any day post-haste.
Notes: Orange, tangerine, mimosa (acacia), Australian sandalwood*
Lush Gorilla Euphoria CaFleureBon
Achieving a euphoric state via perfume is a pretty tall order. Euphoria has one of my favorite calming notes, clary sage, that has been blended with touches of citrus and rose. Of all the fragrances in this line, I feel that this is the least unique, although it definitely smells nice, is wearable, and should find fans. Maybe I have smelled too many all-natural perfumes and am a bit jaded, but this seems to be in the general vein of several I have smelled recently. Try it if you like clary sage, or if you are just looking for a perfume to ease you into a calmer frame of mind.

Notes: clary sage, grapefruit, lime, neroli , Rosa Damascena, Orange fruit extract*

Lush Gorilla Furze CaFleureBon
Furze is a powerhouse of a floral scent, and I am really taken by it. Furze, or gorse, the inspiration for the perfume, is a common plant in the UK, but I have never smelled it that I know of. What I have smelled is acacia, and this is bursting with an aroma that smacks of so much pollen in the air that your hay-fever-prone friends can’t leave the house. This is heavy, greasy with coconut and made richer by vanilla. This could be my favorite in the line, actually. I was transported when I applied it, and could envision trees bursting with soft yellow flower clusters, pollen swirling in the warm air.  It settles into a lovely, beachy aroma that wears a bit closer to the skin after the initial cloud.

Notes: Vanilla, coconut, Bitter orange oil, acacia Decurrens  flower extract*

I am impressed with and happy about these new perfumes. They are bold and unique, and I think each one will find an audience. Lush is just mainstream enough that I am hoping some adventurous souls will take a chance on a perfume that is different from the department store offerings, and realize there is more to perfume than fruit and ozone. All of these are gender-neutral, have great longevity, and variable sillage. They are available in store in the UK, online in the US and UK, and will be launching in 15 US locations in June.
Gorilla Perfumes was kind enough to send me bottles of these, and we have one for a lucky USA-only reader, too. Let us know which one strikes your fancy, and please add “USA” to your comment. Of course anyone is free to leave a comment; we just can’t ship this prize outside the US. The Draw ends on March 22, 2013.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook Page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option….or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

*Notes have been extrapolated from the Lush website and ingredients lists, and are not necessarily in scent pyramid order.
Note: The Bug was selected as one of Contributor Michael Devine’s Top Ten Green Fragrances for Saint Patrick’s Day.

Tama Blough, Senior Editor

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75 comments

  • rosiegreen says:

    They all sound great and I love the packaging. I will need to go to my closest Lush store posthaste. I live in the U.S and I really,really,really want to try The Bug.

  • Farawayspices says:

    I do so enjoy the fact that Lush fragrances are not afraid to be quirky, nor do they smell like they were made to satisfy a test panel. I would like to try Furze.
    As an aside, I wish they would bring back Gloog shower gel, it is delightfully like a nice crisp fresh can of Dr. Pepper.
    I’m in the USA.

  • I have never tried Lush scents. They all sound worth sampling but Flower’s Barrow could be just what I’ve been looking for. Heading to a Lush store ASAP.

  • I would love to win, given how interesting these all are. And of course. I’d like Voice of Reason. 🙂

  • This winter has been dragging on so long that I don’t know which I need more, to feel transported or to calm down. I’ll go with Furze for the pollen rich feel. Thanks!

  • I love that you reviewed these, Tama!!!! I’ve been so curious about them. Can’t wait to try them. From your descriptions, I would choose Furze. Thanks for the draw!

  • I have heard so much about Furze and would love to smell that one. Curious about all, however. They do, indeed, sound unique. Thanks and I am an U.S. reader.

  • I would love to try Furze, though quite a few of them sound appealing. I am in the US, thanks for the draw!

  • I live in the US and I’d love to win The Bug. Thanks for another great draw and reviews.

  • I love Lush! They make really high-quality fragrances for a great price point. I have most of their fragrances, and can’t wait to try these when they come to O Canada.

  • wefadetogray says:

    they all sound amazing with except of sun since I m not a fan of orange peel smells in anything, sadly, since there is nothing more wonderful than the sun now that I am covered in snow here.
    difficult task to pick just one mmmmhh I would say sikkim girls followed too closely by Furze

  • helical gnome says:

    I like the aesthetics of Gorilla. It looks like something right out of a graphic novel or a manga.
    I’d love to try the bug.

  • I must try The Voice of Reason. It sounds polarizing but full of potential. Thanks for the draw…btw, I live in the US.

  • I live in the USA and my choice is The Voice of Reason! Great article and thanks for the draw! 🙂

  • hello, I’ve aways wanted to try gorilla perfumes. Seems like an affordableline, but I’ve just not stepped into the Lush shop or even the mal in many months. So many of them sound so good, hard to say which one I’d choose ifI were picked in the draw. I suppose I wont be to daring and will say – Flower’s Barrow

  • Great review! You make them all sound enticing. I suppose my choice would be Flower’s Barrow (looking for a wonderful, calming night scent.)

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    i am noticing the father and son team is a huge fan of Sandalwood given the fact that Australian Sandalwood features in so many of their fragrances. I am interested in “The Voice of Reason” because dirty, impossible to wear kind-of-scents always intrigue me and motivate me to push my boundaries 🙂

  • Another lover of sandalwood so I pick Sun and I reside in the US.
    thank you for this draw and great review Tama!

  • Can’t wait to try all of these, but SUN sounds like a fit for me. I live in the USA.
    Thanks for the reviews and the draw!

  • just breathe says:

    I woke up this morning to slushy snow..this winter weather is really depressing me so I could use some “Euphoria” 🙂 and I live in the US.
    thanks for the draw1

  • I would simply LOVE a bottle of Euphoria-the description alone is mouth-watering! I’m in the USA. Thanks for the opportunity!

  • All sound wonderful and love the packaging. I think Devil’s Nightcap my be my thing. I live in the USA.

  • They all look interesting, worth a sniff. I do live in the USA, and I think I’d choose Flower’s Barrow for first in line… The devil is tempting, but then that’s what he does, right? So let’s resist and smell the flower’s.

  • Edwina Wall says:

    I am lucky enough to live near the Bucktown, Chicago Lush which had an early feature of these perfumes available. I managed to acquire Furze, like you I fell in love with it’s deep coconut and flowers scent. But I was also intrigued by The Voice of Reason. I work part of the year as a Steward in Antarctica, where there are no flowers to smell, so having a variety of Lush perfumes is greatly appreciated by me and all those who come within my scent radius. I am in the USA.

  • I got to sniff a few of these when I visited a Lush shop in London in January. The Voice of Reason is increidble but maybe too intense for me! I loved Flower’s Barrow and Sun. BUT they did not have Devil’s Nightcap and, being a lover of green scents and oakmoss in particular (like in Goth Juice), I think that is the one for me.
    Thanks for the great detailed reviews.

    USA (NY)

  • I have yet to smell any of these in person! Can’t wait to try them. I think I’d like Euphoria.

  • Julia Fisher says:

    I would really love to try Sikkim Girls, although I must admit that I’ve been dying to try the whole new line since LUSHFest 2012.

  • Oakmoss? DId you say Oakmoss? Devil’s Cap pleez! I’m in the US.
    I’m a fan of LUSH and enjoy Leap Frog and imogene rose regularly!

  • I am a big fan of the gorilla perfumes
    They are really affordable and well made
    These all sound appealing but Furze or devils nightcap both sound fantastic

  • It’s been so gloomy and cold and rainy lately I want SUN!!!!! Please, please send me some SUN!!!!

  • This was fun to read:) I think that The Bug sounds very ‘me’. I am in the US and thanks for the great review Tama!

  • I would love to win the sweaty and sexy “The Voice of Reason!” Thanks so much for the reviews, I loved reading them, and the draw.
    I am in the USA.

  • Julia Fisher says:

    I commented above that I would love to try Sikkim Girls but forgot to mention that I’m in the USA!

  • I can never get enough oakmoss and would love to try Devil’s Nightcap please. I live in the US.

  • Would love to try Furze! Mm, coconut. Flowers Barrow also sounds interesting. I’m in the USA. Thanks for the draw.

  • SisterSpecies says:

    I have never tried anything by Lush after a bad run in with Breath of God. But boy oh boy does Voice of Reason sound like something I would like to try. Many thanks. USA

  • Igor Kipnis says:

    USA

    If you say Furze is your favorite, I trust your judgment and wouldn’t mind trying it myself.

  • i first became aware of Lush through these Gorilla Perfumes; they had sent me a virtual tour of their bus which they took to the road to promote these new perfumes.

    the visuals were a buffet for the senses… and i have not even smelled anything as of yet!

    The labels and names are as kitschy as they are attractive!

    Being a rose geranium devote, also, i would love to experience Flower’s Barrow- perchance to dream.

    thank you for the article and draw!

  • i first became aware of Lush through these Gorilla Perfumes; they had sent me a virtual tour of their bus which they took to the road to promote these new perfumes.

    the visuals were a buffet for the senses… and i have not even smelled anything as of yet!

    The labels and names are as kitschy as they are attractive!

    Being a rose geranium devote, also, i would love to experience Flower’s Barrow- perchance to dream.

    thank you for the article and draw!

    i am in the USA.

  • USA
    Voice of Reason sounds very me–skanky and dense (hah)

    I’m curious about all of them, especially Furze, and also The Bug and Devil’s Nightcap. But I would choose Voice of Reason!

  • susie frankel says:

    My choice is SUN…as in the Beatles…here comes the Sun.. I live in the USA. Love the labels/titles of these scents…lots of edge.

  • Oh, Tama! I LOVE it when you bring a new and exciting line to my attention I had not heard much about…and love your “tell it like it is” style of reviewing!! 😉

    DEVIL’S NIGHTCAP is my choice: for the name, the notes (I am hoping it is just dripping with oakmossy goodness) and your fairy tale/fantasy world description.

    The others all sound great!

  • I live in the USA but smelled most of these when I was in the UK in December. I bought Voice of Reason; I wish I could remember which I liked best of the others. I think The Bug and Devil’s Nightcap would be my top two choices, followed closely by Furze. Thanks for the draw!

  • Oh, this is hard. Devil’s Nightcap, I think? But your description of Furze is so appealing that they’re almost tied for me!

  • Sarah Lathrop says:

    Flower’s Barrow sounds lovely for summer. I live in the USA and can’t wait until I can smell all these scents at the Lush store in the somewhat-local mall. Thanks for the chance at an advance sniff!

  • Sikkim Girls would be my choice to try. J’adore frangipani and any aroma that helps transport me into island mode…I’m here in the good ol’ USA!

  • GregorySop says:

    With a name like Devil’s Nightcap…the earthy tones really seem to sound intoxicating. They had me at Druids. I am from the USA (Stuck in Ohio) Thank You
    Greg

  • I am afraid I am becoming a “lushie”. I initially thought my choice would be Sikkim Girls but after reading this I would much prefer Furze. I am in the USA.

  • The girl at my local Lush, which does not yet carry these, suggested I would like Devil’s Nightcap so I’m aiming for that one. I love the bottle shapes and labels, … and I live in the USA.

  • Awww, I just realized my comment requesting Euphoria didn’t say USA. 🙁 I do live there, though!