11
Helpful Review
Cardamom is what you get
Backstory:
Recently, I have been very interested in coffee scents, so I have already been able to test a couple. In the realm of spices (whether in the kitchen or in perfume), cardamom is currently my favorite. Thus, "Cardamom Coffee (Perfume) | Lush / Cosmetics To Go" has been on my testing list for quite some time.
However, this fragrance now belongs to the Black Range at Lush and is not directly marketed in Germany. Souk offers are also rather rare. Fortunately, I found it at a Lush store and was able to test it there. The salesperson explained to me that the store imports the fragrance directly from the UK, which is why the price tag of €200 for a 100 ml bottle is so high.
Fragrance description:
Lush works with essential oils. According to the ingredient lists, it consists of the following oils:
Cardamom Oil
Olive Leaf Absolute
Rose Oil
Colombian Cocoa Absolute
Oudh Oil
So just as it is listed here among the fragrance notes on Parfumo.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room:
Is it an authentic coffee scent? I wouldn't describe it as such. Shortly after spraying, you get the association of coffee beans. As the fragrance develops, the smell of espresso comes through more often. It behaves quite differently here than, for example, "Coffee Addict | Theodoros Kalotinis," which for me now smells more like cheap Nestlé coffee with a lot of (gross) powdered milk from a machine and a hint of Starbucks. Follow is a bit more to my liking than the latter, although it is also too sweet for me.
So what is "Cardamom Coffee (Perfume) | Lush / Cosmetics To Go" then? For me, cardamom clearly dominates the entire fragrance development. When sprayed, it appears authentic and slightly spicy. However, when I compare it directly to my glass of cardamom pods, those are significantly sharper and more biting than the perfume. Here, the rose and cocoa act as softeners. Compared to "Cuirs Nomades - African Leather (Eau de Parfum) | Memo Paris," the cardamom is much more pronounced and remains prominent. In "Gris Charnel (Extrait) | bdk Parfums," the cardamom is depicted much softer and creamier. The cocoa is very similar to "I'm Home (Perfume) | Lush / Cosmetics To Go."
The notes are carried on a sweet and woody base. For me, it shouldn't be any sweeter.
Overall, the fragrance development is rather linear.
Longevity and sillage:
Both are perfect for me. Not too short and not too long, yet sufficiently strong. I am not a fan of fragrances that last longer than 24 hours.
Bottle and value:
The bottles at Lush all look the same. The sprayers are okay, but the caps are subpar. I like the bottles from the Black Range the most, as the label is black with gold/copper lettering. The perfume itself is also very dark. Overall, the bottle is okay.
The price of €200 is, in my opinion, completely exaggerated. Especially considering that other Lush fragrances cost only €80.
Overall result:
The fragrance completely captivated me. While I haven't found my coffee grail here, I have found perhaps the most authentic cardamom scent ever. This led me to purchase a bottle.
Recently, I have been very interested in coffee scents, so I have already been able to test a couple. In the realm of spices (whether in the kitchen or in perfume), cardamom is currently my favorite. Thus, "Cardamom Coffee (Perfume) | Lush / Cosmetics To Go" has been on my testing list for quite some time.
However, this fragrance now belongs to the Black Range at Lush and is not directly marketed in Germany. Souk offers are also rather rare. Fortunately, I found it at a Lush store and was able to test it there. The salesperson explained to me that the store imports the fragrance directly from the UK, which is why the price tag of €200 for a 100 ml bottle is so high.
Fragrance description:
Lush works with essential oils. According to the ingredient lists, it consists of the following oils:
Cardamom Oil
Olive Leaf Absolute
Rose Oil
Colombian Cocoa Absolute
Oudh Oil
So just as it is listed here among the fragrance notes on Parfumo.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room:
Is it an authentic coffee scent? I wouldn't describe it as such. Shortly after spraying, you get the association of coffee beans. As the fragrance develops, the smell of espresso comes through more often. It behaves quite differently here than, for example, "Coffee Addict | Theodoros Kalotinis," which for me now smells more like cheap Nestlé coffee with a lot of (gross) powdered milk from a machine and a hint of Starbucks. Follow is a bit more to my liking than the latter, although it is also too sweet for me.
So what is "Cardamom Coffee (Perfume) | Lush / Cosmetics To Go" then? For me, cardamom clearly dominates the entire fragrance development. When sprayed, it appears authentic and slightly spicy. However, when I compare it directly to my glass of cardamom pods, those are significantly sharper and more biting than the perfume. Here, the rose and cocoa act as softeners. Compared to "Cuirs Nomades - African Leather (Eau de Parfum) | Memo Paris," the cardamom is much more pronounced and remains prominent. In "Gris Charnel (Extrait) | bdk Parfums," the cardamom is depicted much softer and creamier. The cocoa is very similar to "I'm Home (Perfume) | Lush / Cosmetics To Go."
The notes are carried on a sweet and woody base. For me, it shouldn't be any sweeter.
Overall, the fragrance development is rather linear.
Longevity and sillage:
Both are perfect for me. Not too short and not too long, yet sufficiently strong. I am not a fan of fragrances that last longer than 24 hours.
Bottle and value:
The bottles at Lush all look the same. The sprayers are okay, but the caps are subpar. I like the bottles from the Black Range the most, as the label is black with gold/copper lettering. The perfume itself is also very dark. Overall, the bottle is okay.
The price of €200 is, in my opinion, completely exaggerated. Especially considering that other Lush fragrances cost only €80.
Overall result:
The fragrance completely captivated me. While I haven't found my coffee grail here, I have found perhaps the most authentic cardamom scent ever. This led me to purchase a bottle.
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