FRAGRANCE | Smuggler's Soul by Lush: A light, lemony take on sandalwood

halfwhiteboy - Smuggler's Soul Perfume by Lush

We got this from one of our smelling sprees at Lush last year but it's only now that I was able to give it a full wear. Marketed under the Gorilla Perfume brand, Smuggler's Soul by Lush now comes in those uniformly rectangular bottles with the same white paper label and font. This use of a uniform bottle design and packaging across different fragrances, it's a trend I see in several other houses like Guerlain, Chanel, Dior, etc. Yes, I pine for the loss of individuality.

Now back to Smuggler's Soul, where a bright, lemony citrus dominates the opening but never harshly. Unlike some citrus top notes, it isn't sharp at all, rounded by some floral note perhaps. Up close I get a hint of smokiness in the background. Just a hint.

The lemony accord gradually tapers but never goes away. Instead it's joined by a slightly creamy sandalwood and a very mellow vetiver, none of which attempt to outshine the other. I get no sharpness from dry wood and the earthiness of the vetiver is also very toned down here. They all work in harmony, producing a vibrant and uplifting scent that's very apt for warm weather.

Performance is about average for me but nothing that a respray or two couldn't remedy. Smuggler's Soul for me is nice to have around with its creamy, woody citrus. Or citrusy, creamy wood, whichever way you view it. I believe it's a safe blind buy because it's a pretty affable fragrance. Go, give it a try.

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