Karma by Lush

At first, it felt weird to me, but I removed it from my blacklist. It’s orange and patchouli, but on my skin, it smells like caramelized ripe orange—a bit sweet with that green patchouli touch.

I see this as unisex, leaning masculine, youthful, and not dirty at all. The opening is caramel orange with sugar or an orange Fanta; the first hour is very sweet, then the greens and amber emerge. Ideal for all seasons, but be careful in summer because you need to apply very little—it’s very potent. 100% recommended, would I buy blind? Yes.

I’ll be the dissenting voice. On skin, every scent is a world, and I love this one. It’s ideal for cold days, like being hugged by a hot cup of tea with freshly baked orange cookies. That’s what it smells like. Contrary to what you think when you test it, it doesn’t have much projection, especially in the cold. Perfect for keeping it pinned to your scarf for comfort. For those who say it smells dirty… I’m extremely hygienic, even obsessed, and I still love this fragrance.

I feel like it literally smells dirty.

A perfume that disorients me in the opening with that so potent orange; I didn’t like it the first time. Then, after 30 minutes to an hour, everything changed… it became intriguing and addictive, I couldn’t stop smelling my wrists. It’s not a ‘wow, what a delight’ perfume, but it has that mystique that invites you to feel and analyze it. Never buy blind… although I did, it was risky but I got lucky. I also don’t recommend over-applying; most likely, you’ll suffocate people in a closed environment. Even though the sillage is moderate, anyone entering that ‘bubble’ will feel a hit.

I perceive its citrus notes, especially the orange, so strongly that I don’t feel the lavender. The pine note gives it a different touch, but this potion has a patchouli that gets on my nerves. I also don’t like the dry-down being so resinous and sweet. It feels balsamic.

This is probably the perfume that has disoriented me the most. My sensations in the opening and dry-down are very different. After two or three applications, the first thing is a strong, piercing, and uncontrolled citrus orange that masks the lavender. I wasn’t charmed by the opening, I won’t lie to you. Half an hour later, I find myself with my nose on my wrist, intrigued, perplexed, asking myself ‘what the hell is this?’. The dry-down is very original and mystical, where patchouli and cinnamon take charge, balancing the resin I do perceive on skin. It ends up being an olfactory experience I recommend trying on people with an open mind and no stereotypes. Better to try it on skin because on paper, you wouldn’t have discovered its exotic and mystical dry-down that justifies its name. By the way, don’t overdo the application; it’s potent and different. Greetings! If you like my reviews, follow my channel on TikTok: Chuliá Parfum Reviews @chulia.my13parfums

I tested it on blotter paper, so I don’t know about the sillage or longevity. Anecdote: my family had mixed reactions; some thought it smelled bad, others got dizzy, and others just laughed. Honestly, I like Lush perfumes; this one is very fun. It smells like dusty hippie, which I enjoy, but I wouldn’t wear it as a daily perfume. I see potential for a guy over 40; it’s very interesting. Lush is so witty with these fragrances 😝.

Karma is one of Lush’s most legendary and popular scents. It has its own spa massage, cream, soap, and perfume. I love it in cream and soap, but for some reason, as a perfume, it just doesn’t quite convince me. It feels like a scent that should stay in cosmetics. Plus, in the other products, the smell is more pleasant with sweeter orange notes; I think the perfume has too much patchouli. It’s original, not unpleasant, but it gets tiring due to that herbal/medicinal touch I hate. It could be great if they added more orange and removed that strong apothecary vibe.

Ugh. Chungo chungo chungo on the opening. A mentholated patchouli that gives me the creeps. It feels entirely like a room freshener and is unpleasant. Unexpectedly, it takes a 180-degree turn to transform into a balsamic aroma, like dry amber with a hint of cinnamon roll. A twist that, despite making me tolerate it better… doesn’t make sense to me given how the perfume smells at first. A definite no for me.

I tested it the other day at a Lush store and found it curious, so I bought a 10 ml pot. Based on what I read, it seemed very intense, but it’s not at all. It settles right against the skin immediately. Persistent yes, but you have to press your nose to your arm to smell it. At first, it grabs attention, but it can get tiring quickly since its main accord is an orange that reminds you of natural juice. The patchouli is also noticeable, giving it a smoky and earthy tone. I only catch the pine in brief episodes if I really try to find it: it’s there, resinous, and of decent quality, but you need a map to locate it. After hours, the skin scent, getting weaker, is a soft vanilla oriental. The fragrance is original, no doubt, but I’m not sure if in a good way. Maybe because of the name, or because it approaches the smell of certain candles, it seems like this “Karma” is made by dirty, toothless, barefoot, heroin-addicted hippies in a ranch trough full of flies, tossing components together carelessly. It does remind me of hippies, but the kind you’d expect a stab from rather than good vibes. It could be the official perfume of the Manson family.

I just bought the solid version because it was discontinued in Mexico; it’s a very rich and pleasant aroma, not feeling the same as others. The orange is the essence, just like the pine if perceived, leaving a note of that smell used for floor cleaning but more pleasant; very good for summer and even daily use. Lavender refreshes the whole spirit and helps keep going. Being solid seemed very original to me but somewhat limited: the sillage is close to the skin, though with more heat it releases a bit more, but it’s personal. The downside is it can only be applied to the neck and behind the ears, which is limiting for those who used to spray on clothes and hair. Despite everything, I think it’s a good perfume for handmade cosmetics. The price affects it a bit because it’s “handmade,” sitting above designer scents. If you go to the store, ask them to show you the “Gorilla Perfumes” (black packaging) because the ones they’re pulling out now aren’t very good as I expected. Personal rating for originality: 8.