Lush - Organic Bath Products

Lush, with its hand-made organic bath products, is gaining a loyal following. The wide variety of scented soaps and bubble baths are only part of the reason why.

Lush, a company founded 30 years ago in the UK, is really beginning to catch on in North America. Lush produces fresh, scented hand-made bath and body products, and has over 100 shops world-wide. After getting its start by working with The Body Shop (also a U.K.-based business), Lush ended the relationship and relaunched in 1994. Its loyal customers and passionate advocates make it clear that Lush is here to stay!

The company uses organic, natural products as much as possible, and is committed to animal-free testing. So much so, in fact, that one skin-care item this company has yet to introduce is sunblock, simply because Lush has not been able to find any that have been developed without testing on animals. "...Ahh, no animal testing." Okay, that may not be exactly what you think as you relax in a bath accented by a Lush product, but it's nice to know regardless.

There are so many wonderful items in every Lush store; it's easy to spend time lingering over the scented soaps, buttercreams, and shampoos. Most fun, however, is probably the shop design. To reduce waste, many soaps are arranged in large blocks, as in a cheese shop. The staff cuts off a chunk of your requested soap, bags and ties it in clear cellophane, and puts your purchase in a sturdy recyclable paper bag. Also like in a cheese shop, the staff is happy to cut a free slice of whatever soap you wish to sample. Lush employees are generous with free samples, and this is fortunate: Some of the more strongly scented soaps and jellies really need to be experienced before being judged. For example, when I sniffed the Karma bar in the store, the spicy patchouli-and-orange scent turned me off. But the smiling Lush employee suggested I try using the Karma bar in my shower at home, and cut off a generous wedge. Now I cannot imagine a more perfect morning wake-up shower than one involving the stimulating Karma soap bar! Try it: The scent is not subtle, but once your skin is dry post-shower, you will appreciate the complex, not overpowering citrus scent that lingers on your skin.

The last time I was in my local Lush shop, a table was set up offering free hand massages with the customers' choice of massage body butters. The set-up was comfortable, relaxed, and rather spa-like. I've heard of another Lush store which sponsored a "prom night," so I can only assume that Lush stores worldwide host fun events such as these.

Along with the melt-in-your-hands massage body butters, Lush offers a wide and varied selection of buttercreams, shower jellies, shower gels, bath ballistics and bath melts. Customers are welcome to sample temple balms, hand and body lotions, moisturisers, and gentle face cleansers. Skin toners and shaving creams are the more masculine of all selections, and they are also as organic and natural as possible. The shampoo bars are a great items to pack while traveling, and you can buy shampoo bar tins as well. Feel free to sample the perfumes. The fragrances offered by Lush often complement the scents of the top-selling Lush soaps and bath products.

Lush has an active mail-order business, which is especially useful for finding discontinued favorites. However, the convivial, relaxed atmosphere fostered by its staff makes a visit to an actual Lush store a real pleasure, and in today's often rushed world, a luxury as well.

Related, on Suite 101:

Lush Articles Index

Happy Pill Bath Bomb

Lush Bath Bombs

Lush Bath Melts

Lush Wins Award!

Home Bath Treatments

Overhaul Skin Care Gift Set

Copyright Jennifer Miner and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Print Article

Email Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds