If you’re a Lush fan you probably know their OG Gorilla perfumes – Karma, Dirty, The Breath of God – but they’ve recently launched a whack of new ones and many of them are fabuuuulous!

But ja, a quick side bar for those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about. Back in the day, when Lush’s owner dude first created a line of essential oil-infused fragrances, someone referred to him as a ‘guerrilla perfumier’ which he thought was funny as considered himself more ‘gorilla’. And just like that, the name stuck.

So, let’s flash forward a bit. If you visit Lush online you’ll see the Gorilla perfume line up’s  had a bottle makeover and expanded to include newbies like fresh, slightly masculine-smelling Rentless, spicy Cardamom Coffee and citrusy What Would Love Do? Each perfume is inspired by art, music and poetry with an and aims to tell a story and evoke memories.

Lush kindly sent me a bunch of scented wash cards relating to their new perfumes and asked me to pick a favourite but it was damn near impossible.

I think I must’ve been getting my period or two days into Atkins because, usually I’d beeline fo the lighter, citrusy fragrances but I was totally craving ‘sweet’ and couldn’t stop sniffing I’m Home (R445 for 30ml and R875 for 100ml.). Just listen to its delicious description: ‘Rich Colombian cocoa brings a deep, dark chocolatey base to I’m Home, while vanilla brings a delicate sweetness. The lavish essential oil benzoin resinoid adds an earthy but fudgey fragrance.’

Generally, I really don’t like sweet fragrances at all but, weirdly, this hits the spot. When I sniff it I get a mix of mostly white chocolate (not dark) and vanilla paste (not el cheapo vanilla essence), and, thanks to the resin, it’s got an opulent, oriental feel that lends it a little maturity, keeping it miles away from ‘vanilla teen body spray’ territory. It also reminds me of something from my youth (like I’m soooo old) that I associate with happy memories but I can’t put my finger on it. I think that’s a large part of why I like it so much because, like I said, 99% of all chocolatey-vanilla fragrances are dead to me.

In short, I’m Home is the kind of thing I look forward to wearing out and about in cooler weather or on any old day when it’s just me working from home and wanting to be surrounded by a ‘comfort scent’. Does anyone else have something like that? A scent they love to bits but wear it when they’re not going out or simply getting into bed? I have a few, my ultimate favourite being a Sabai Arom Coconut de Samui body spray I buy in Thailand. Weirdly, it smells just like buttered popcorn!

Anyway, if you’re anywhere near a Lush be sure to pop into store and give their Gorilla perfumes a sniff. You’ll find they’re also selling solid scent versions for just R145. Brilliant because it’s so hard to pick a favourite and yet it’s January and I’m broke AF.

Love, love

Leigh