dinosaurchurch

[dinosaurchurch]

I completely forgot to post up last years wrapped playlist. 2024 was definitely a bit of a hodgepodge of events and my music followed suit.

There was a handful of albums that dominated my listening, the top one being Aurora's What happened to the Heart? - an absolute fantastic album and was hands down 'album of the year' for me. Both Caravan Palace's Gangbusters Melody Club and Pocket Sun's Mirror in Blue Light took second and third respectively. Runner up was definitely Magdalena Bay's Imaginal Disk.

I also finished the prequel arc to DIVE, the story I've been working on last year so that definitely influenced my listening habits. Most of the top 10 songs were from the playlist I made for the inspiration behind the story.

Either way, some of my other favourite artists are cooking up some goodies for this year and I can't wait! Hopefully 2025 will be just as good as 2024 or better!

Cheers!

[dinosaurchurch]

I'm looking forward to the wet, foggy days. There's something comforting about them that I can't put my finger on. We're a month away from the spring solstice.

Foggy trails.

November 18th 2024.

[dinosaurchurch]

Still Holding On.

November 30th 2023.

[dinosaurchurch]

I gained quite the collection of Lush perfumes over the past four years since I started collecting them. I've branched out a little bit from the brand although I'll admit most designer perfume houses don't capture the kind of scent I personally like so I tend not to indulge in them.

So here's all of the Lush scents I own. I've tried the bulk of what they have to offer including some discontinued scents. Detailed below I have reviews for the thirty-two scents I own. Lush makes some very unique scents, some I absolutely adore and have yet to come across anything like it.

Hopefully this provides a little bit of insight in what they offer, I don't like to blind buy scents myself so I like to share my thoughts!

1000 Kisses Deep:

Available only in the 100ml liquid format and part of Lush's 'black label' collection. This scent is very much jasmine forward, if you're not a fan of jasmine - you will not like 1000 Kisses Deep. The biggest things that shine about this scent is the resinous amber and mulled fruit scent of apricots. I personally would not call this a 'sweet scent', there's nothing gourmand about it spite the fruit notes, they land more dried florals and fruits than fresh plump and juicy.

Definitely a year round scent, 1000 Kisses Deep is like a warm hug with a bit of a shimmery sparkle of a scent. It's very romantic and sensual. The jasmine turns clean and powdery on skin, reminding me of fuzzy sweaters and hugs over kisses. It's fairly similar to another scent that Lush currently offers called "Keep it Fluffy" - it's slightly more heady and full bodied.

Projection is decent, not super overpowering. Lasts around 5-6 hours on skin.

7/10. Warm jasmine fragrance for special occasions.

Alina:

Available as part of the core collection and in a solid, 30ml, and 100ml bottle formats. There's nothing that currently smells just like Alina, this is a scent made up of three different perfumes blended together representing three different generations by the perfumer Alina herself (which is neat). Old Songs are Waking is one part of this fragrance, there's a scrub that's offered around Mother's Day that has been release both this year and last year that makes up the sweet, syrupy berry vanilla of this busy scent.

Overall this is a spicy (from cloves and pink pepper), resinous, woody scent that holds a bit of a floral/soapy note. The sweetness sits in the background along with a mature white floral, I would argue this is a bit of a feminine scent spite Lush's marketing of all of their scents being unisex. The biggest standouts is the spices and clean woody notes for me, on skin it settles with the pepper note being the most forward. I'd say this a more 'warm weather scent', the other parts of the fragrance get to shine in the heat versus the cold so for me, I wear this in the late spring/summer. I will warn folks that this is a BUSY scent and has a lot going on - definitely one I'd highly recommend testing first before purchasing; not blind buy friendly.

Projection is decent, this is a fairly strong scent from Lush's collection and easily lasts on skin for about 6-8 hours with only a few sprays.

7/10. Good spicy/clean frag.

Baked Alaska:

Only available in the December 2024 kitchen subscription box it bares the same scent as the 'Baked Alaska' soap that typically comes back as part of the Christmas collection every year. It's also only available as a solid perfume. Baked Alaska is a very fresh, clean lemon scent that has a tinge of herbal/floral notes kicking around in the background, on skin it doesn't change much. The closest thing Lush currently offers would be "Dad's Garden Lemon Tree" body spray which is slightly brighter/green as a scent overall. The two are very similar, so imho if you have one you don't really need the other.

Projection is very surface level and the scent lingers on skin for about 4 hours at most. Overall I prefer Dad's Garden body spray, both are fairly straightforward and aren't anything wild.

5/10. Mid. Nothing special.

The Bees Knees:

Available as part of the core collection in solid, 30ml, and 100ml formats. I want to warn folks that there's nothing gourmand or sweet about this fragrance spite what they might think when they read the name. The Bees Knees is a smoky, herbal, medicinal, hay scent. It's warm, earthy, and only has a faint honey scent on the dry down. There's a slight spiciness that comes through with the smoky note.

It's personally one of my favourite scents that Lush has to offer and there's nothing else they've made that's like it. It's unique and to me very nostalgic as it takes me back to crisp winter mornings through wheat fields with a woodstove going in the background. It's very cozy once it dries, I will also say that the solid versus the liquid is slightly different - the solid is less smoky and carries a more medicinal/herbal take on the scent with almost a hint of creaminess. I prefer the liquid although the solid does perform well and lasts for several hours.

Projection is average. The scent lasts for about 5-6 hours and is easily layered with other scents. I enjoy pairing up vanilla scents with it giving a smoky/sweet fragrance.

9/10. Perfect cold weather scent.

Breath of God:

Available only in the 100ml format as part of the 'black label' collection. Breath of God is definitely what I'd call a cold weather scent, reminiscent of Tibetan mountain temples it's smoky, woody, airy with a heavy dosage of incenses. There's a sweet underbelly to this scent that gives it a more lively take and mellows nicely with the smoky side of the fragrance. Very unisex, and easily layered with either green scents or even bright citrus scents.

Hands down another favourite scent of mine. Breath of God isn't for everybody but it's gorgeous and is fairly strong. Projection is good and it can easily last 10-12 hours with just 3-4 sprays. I can still smell it on my clothes the day after wearing it. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to smell just like what I described, it really is a magical fragrance that transports me to another place.

10/10. Lush's best 'smoky' fragrance.

Confetti:

Unavailable here in Canada, this fragrance was actually brought back to US shops in the 100ml 'black label' format only. Confetti is a violet forward floral fragrance that has a jammy pear note that's combined with sandalwood and rose. It's exactly as the name implies and definitely gives me the mental image of confetti or glitter especially when it dries down turning more sugary than the initial spray. There's a hint of a green freshness but overall it's somewhat heavy of a fragrance and is definitely a rougher blend.

If you don't like rose or violets, this is not the fragrance for you. It's a very much in your face kind of floral.

Projection is vast, lasts easily the whole day on skin even with just two sprays. Confetti is a powerhouse of a scent from Lush and one I'd argue is probably a contender for their strongest. A little bit goes a long way. I personally bought my bottle when it was being disconned, it's technically 'expired' but still performs just like the day I bought it.

8/10. Very floral heavy and rough around the edges.

Dad's Garden Honeysuckle And Chamomile:

Unavailable currently; was disconned last year sadly. This is a well light airy floral scent with both jasmine and orange blossom. To me it's spring time in a bottle - reminiscent of grassy fields blooming with wildflowers on a bright dewy morning. It's a pleasant scent that easily wearable and it's overbearing. With a bit of green/grassy note pairing up with the florals it invokes bright sunny gardens. Very fresh, very gentle with a subtle sweetness - the chamomile shines through with a photorealistic scent. Spite having no actual honeysuckle, you can definitely smell honeysuckle.

Projection is average. Lasts around 5-6 hours on skin with a few sprays. Light and not at all cloying definitely a favourite of mine.

9/10. Spring/Summertime everyday floral.

Death and Decay:

Available in only 100ml format as part of the 'black label' collection. I'm not usually someone who goes for powdery florals but Death and Decay is something else. it's an almost one for one of funeral bouquets and the tears someone might've shed holding one. It's got a sopping sad yet beautiful scent of fresh lilies and jasmine flowers with a touch of sweetness from the tonka. It's a very gothic, feminine fragrance that really stands well with it's name. It's heavy yet soft and powdery especially once it dries down. There's something nostalgic about it, something very unique that I've yet to come across out of the dozens of florals I've smelt.

It's not light and playful but Death and Decay also isn't a mature floral either. Definitely one I'd recommend giving a sniff before dedicating yourself to a whole bottle.

Projection is decent, lasts about 7-8 hours on skin with a few sprays. sticks to clothes like crazy. Definitely worth having.

8/10. Brooding, powdery floral for special occasions.

Fantabulosa:

Unavailable currently. Fantabulosa is a very unique scent, definitely what I'd coin as "Tank Battle's sweeter sister". The labdanum and the chamomile oil give this scent it's signature sweet ever so slightly herbal undertone. It's a strange one with oakmoss, seaweed, and violet composing the rest of the scent in equal parts however it doesn't come across as 'green' or 'earthy'.

I can totally understand why people get banana from this scent, although that initial note dies down pretty quick to an almost aquatic mellow resinous sweetness that I find difficult to describe. Absolutely not blind buy friendly but I would argue that if you like the aforementioned Tank Battle, you'd probably like this to an extent. It just doesn't hold the wet, metallic note and replace the initial blast of bubblegum with banana and that's pretty much Fantabulosa in a nutshell.

Projection is average. Sadly has very little lasting power on skin. I have to spray it on clothes for it to stick any bit, which it still only lasts about 4 hours. Reminds me of another scent Lush offers that has the same problem - Sun, gorgeous scent, little staying power. I don't think I'd buy Fantabulosa again for that alone.

5/10. Polarizing, but doesn't last.

Fresh As:

Available in solid, 30ml, and 100ml bottles as part of the year round collection. If you want pine, then look no further. Like putting your face into an evergreen tree it's fresh and bright with the scent of pines and fir. Very wintery, more masculine leaning as a fragrance and is easily layered with other scents of a wide variety. It's pretty straightforward and doesn't change much scent wise once it dries down. It's a very photorealistic scent and definitely transports me to a Christmas tree farm during early winter or late autumn.

Projection is good. Lasts about 7-8 hours on skin. Well worth the money.

8/10. PINE TREES.

Furze:

Available in 100ml 'black label' bottle only. The solid version was only available in recent years as a kitchen box exclusive. This is a summery grassy, coconut scent with a hint of warm creamy florals of neroli in the background. It's definitely a summer scent as implied, bringing back days at the beach. Personally I find it smells just like coconut playdough especially for the solid version considering it's much more creamier than the liquid. Not quite my taste but someone else might love it.

Projection is okay. Lasts about 4 hours on skin.

4/10. Better coconut summer scents exist; not my cup of tea.

Ginger:

Available in 100ml 'black label' bottle only. I've had two bottles of Ginger, the formula has been slightly different out of the two so I'll be reviewing the current one which is the black label that you can still buy from Lush and not the old white label. Old formula smelled more of pickled ginger for anyone who is curious, I personally like the newer batch better.

Ginger is very much a retro floral as implied by the description Lush gives it on their website. It's a nostalgic, very 50s/60s floral with a bit of pepperiness along with the prominent ginger fragrance. It's absolutely stunning and has an earthy, dry woody note in the background. It's reminiscent of an age gone by and makes me long for those times even though I wasn't alive to witness them.

The scent does change slightly on the dry down, for me I get a smoky scent that pulls through with the ginger and the dried geraniums. It's an interesting scent for sure and one I'd definitely recommend people try if they want something spicy.

Projection is decent. Lasts all day on skin, although it draws closer to the surface as the day goes on. Perfect for not wanting to drown in a scent and sits lightly on the skin without ever becoming overpowering.

9/10. Retro spicy florals at their best.

Goddess:

Available in the 100ml 'black label' bottle only. This is a deep, dark, yet sensual scent. Holding equal parts spices, florals, and a grounding woodiness Goddess is unique and one that stands out from Lush's lineup. There's a sparkly fizziness that's reminiscent of cola from this scent that shines through from the oudh. Very luxurious it definitely has an almost alluring glitter with how the jasmine intermingles with both the osmanthus and the rose (both of which I wouldn't be able to pick out if it wasn't listed in the ingredients). There's also a slightly smoky element to it that peeks in to find a place among the rest of the scent.

Goddess very much reminds me of the colour purple for some funny reason and hilariously enough Lush does offer a purple sparkly bath bomb that just so happens to be purple with this scent. It's very much a cold weather scent for me, I think it's a bit too heavy for the warmer months of the year.

On dry down it gets a little more woody for me and mellows. It's definitely one I'd say to test first and not blind buy if you can help it.

Projection is good. Lasts easily 8-10 hours on skin with a few sprays and sticks to clothes extremely well. I'd highly recommend if you enjoy heavy woody/spicy scents.

9/10. Very aptly named.

Go Green:

Unavailable currently. The solid was exclusive to the July 2024 kitchen subscription box, this review is based off that version considering I've never smelled the long disconned liquid version.

Earthy and grounding, Go Green is a lovely mixture of sandalwood, vetiver, and citrus giving it an almost lemony scent with oakmoss. It's warm yet bright and comforting with a tinge of sweet creamy citrus to pull through. On skin the citrus takes a little bit of a backseat as it melds to a more cozy wood scent, I'd definitely buy a bottle if it was ever rereleased in it's liquid format.

Projection is minimal. Lasts about 4-5 hours on skin but really mellows out as time goes on, loses the citrus almost completely.

5/10. Cozy, but doesn't last.

Grass:

Interestingly enough this is the only scent in the current 'black label' lineup that's available in not only 100ml, but also a 10ml travel size. Grass is bright, green, and very mellow of a scent. It's a woodsy floral that invokes the cool mornings of early summer and the scent of fresh cut grass. It's not a vegetal scent and I would argue that it's not super photorealistic but it's a very fun and playful green scent out of Lush's lineup that I adore.

Sandalwood, neroli, and bergamont are the ingredients that makes up this scent and they come together perfectly to make something that's very refreshing. On the dry down, it becomes more mellow reminding me of late summer afternoons with a touch of warmth that gives me quite the nostalgia. Very much a summer scent, although I wear it year round because it's one of my favourites.

Projection is good. Lasts about 7-8 hours on skin with a few spritzes. Not heavy, cloying or overpowering and definitely gets lighter as the day goes on. Absolutely lovely and also very easy to layer with other scents, my two favourites to pair with it is Breath of God and Dad's Garden.

10/10. Bright grassy summer afternoons in a bottle.

Karma:

Available as part of Lush's year round collection it comes in solid, 10ml, 30ml, and 100ml bottles. This is a very nostalgic 60's bright 'hippie' scent with patchouli, orange, and pine. The old formula used to be more patchouli heavy (which I liked better), but the current rendition has a stronger orange and pine note. Karma is bright, very playful and very easy to layer. Doesn't change much on skin and is definitely a scent staple for anybody who enjoys Lush's scents.

Karma was actually what got me into Lush perfumes in general, I absolutely loved the Karma Kream body lotion they had with the same scent. I'm currently on my second bottle of Karma. I would definitely argue that it is, through and through, the essential 'hippie' scent.

Projection is good. Lasts a good 8-10 hours on skin and is easily wearable year round. I can see why it's part of their core collection.

9/10. Easily wearable hippie shop.

Kerbside Violet:

Unavailable currently as it was disconned last year. Kerbside violet is fifty percent florals, fifty percent fresh cut grass with the two melded together primarily by violet flowers budding up through cracks in the concrete. This scent instantly transports me to a spring time rainstorm in a field of grass and flowers - very green. It's not a heavy floral whatsoever but does have an almost earthy/wet element to it. Absolutely recommended for anyone that enjoys green florals. Bright and fresh I'd argue this is a timeless scent that can be worn by anybody.

Projection is fantastic. Lasts all day on skin and sticks to clothes for at least a few days. An absolute shame this has been disconned, I'm hoping Lush brings this back one day because I'd absolutely buy another bottle.

10/10. Essential green floral for everyday wear.

Lord of Misrule:

Available in solid, 10ml, 30ml, and 100ml bottles from Lush's year round collection. Somewhat similar with Karma on the patchouli note Lord of Misrule also has black pepper and vanilla. It's absolutely a one of a kind scent that I have yet to smell anything remotely similar to. Sweet, yet spicy the vanilla and the patchouli create an almost syrupy scent.

This is definitely a scent I would recommend trying on skin before buying because it'll bring out different parts of the scent majorly depending on the person. I tend to have a much more sweeter dry down than what's initially sprayed, however some folks get the peppery side of Lord of Misrule (I wish my skin did that). It's easily layered with other scents and lends itself nicely to some that I've already mentioned namely Fresh As and Breath of God are my go to.

Projection is fantastic. Lasts all day on skin and sticks around on clothes for at least a couple of days. An essential fragrance from Lush.

10/10. Sweet and Spicy. Very Autumn/Winter.

Lust:

Available in the solid, 10ml, 30ml, and 100ml bottles as part of Lush's year round collection. Heady, in your face, sweet jasmine with a very sensual touch is Lust in a nutshell. It's a very bold, very confident fragrance that just screams floral. If you do not like jasmine, then you're not going to like this scent. There's vanilla, ylang ylang, and sandalwood that round out this fragrance and give it it's signature sweetness. The jasmine is like sticking your face into a pot of fresh flowers and almost drowning in them.

The projection for this scent is insane. Lasts forever and is definitely another contender for one of Lush's strongest fragrances. If you love a dirty, hefty floral and just so happen to love jasmine then look no further.

10/10. Sexiest jasmine scent you'll ever own.

No Way To Say Goodbye:

Available in solid, 30ml, and 100ml bottle formats from Lush's year round collection. This is a blackcurrant heavy scent, with rose, litsea cubeba oil and tonka to back it up. Very syrupy, very jammy, and very sweet almost like fresh berries. No Way To Say Goodbye is definitely different out of any of the other sweet scents that Lush has to offer. It's heavy yet playful almost in the same sense that Confetti was except this is more mulled fruit with a sticky sweet rose to combine it with. Not a mature floral by any means and certainly not green either. I could see a younger audience really loving this scent.

On skin, at least for me, it dies down to a more creamy, less jammy version of itself. Almost like a berries and cream with rose. I personally really like it but I don't know if I'd buy a big bottle since I'm not someone who reaches for sweet scents as a general rule of thumb.

Projection is decent. Lasts about 5-6 hours on skin. Performs okay for what it is.

7/10. Syrupy and fun.

Orange Blossom:

Unavailable currently. Part of the handful of fragrances that were disconned last year. This is one of the few really strong florals that I adore, Orange Blossom is not for the faint of heart. With bitter orange oils and extracts to give that signature orange blossom scent, it's rounded off slightly with both bergamont, rosewood, and beeswax to take the edge off of this potent fragrance lending to an almost spicy finish. This definitely mellows with wear, the dry down is not as sharp considering there's a bit of green/vegetal note upon spraying.

Reminding me of warm summer days or very late spring when the flowers on the fruit trees are in full bloom I'd consider Orange Blossom a more warm weather scent. It's got a good amount of depth and warmth to it once it dries and becomes more smooth with a woody base.

Projection is amazing, similar to Lust. This sticks like a punch in the face and lasts on skin all day with just a few sprays. It's very potent and spite it being slight rough at the start it settles nicely as time goes on.

9/10. In your face summer floral.

Prince of Darkness:

Available only in solid format from the October 2024 kitchen box subscription. Prince of Darkness smells exactly as it sounds, patchouli with rich lavender. It's simple but gorgeous of a scent with almost a hint of sparkle behind the two main scent notes - very reminiscent feel of what Goddess gives with how it smells from the get go.

For a solid it performs really well, projection isn't crazy but it does last 5-6 hours on skin with a few swipes. I would love to see Lush come back with a liquid form of this scent or even something similar. Pairs really well with some of the heavier scents or even Karma or Lord of Misrule.

7/10. Witchy yet simple; leaves you longing for autumn/Halloween.

Rentless:

Unavailable currently, but definitely one I long to come back. Rentless is absolutely not blind buy friendly but it's a gorgeous cold weather scent that screams autumn/winter to me. It's a very complex scent that's well rounded with a layer of sweet spices and a hint of smoke. With the main base being being of patchouli, labdanum, tonka, and vanilla I would've never of guessed either of these were there if someone didn't point it out to me. The biggest things that stand out besides the well rounded earthy, subtly sweet base is the whiff of citrus mainly of grapefruit and the cinnamon/anise that shines through - the very same that you get from holiday cookies or cakes without the sugary sweetness.

I wouldn't call Rentless gourmand or sugary by any means, its resinous, slightly woody, a touch leathery with a good layer of spice. For me when it dries my skin brings out the patchouli/labdanum a little more and creates almost a woody/spicy scent. It's warm, comforting and reminds me very much of the beginning of winter when you get the first cold snap.

Performance wise, this is a powerhouse. Two sprays and I can smell it the whole day, my bottle is over four years old and it still performs like new. It's well worth every penny I paid for it and will probably last me a long time because I don't have to use much to enjoy it.

10/10. Spiced winter/autumn staple.

Rose Jam:

Available currently in solid, 10ml, 30ml, and 100ml bottles as part of Lush's year round lineup. There's also a body spray worth mentioning that lasts forever with a slightly stronger lemon note compared to the perfume that deserves a nod to.

To me Rose Jam screams Valentine's Day with it's jammy, almost sugary rose scent that met with a bright candied lemon. It reminds me of rose sweets, or white chocolates you can buy for the romantic holiday. Very fun, playful and not at all a green or powdery scent, Rose Jam runs as a youthful fragrance imho.

Projection is decent. Lasts all day on skin with only a few sprays. Performs really well for what it is even if it can be very simple/one note.

8/10. Valentine's Day in a bottle.

Shade:

Available in solid, 30ml, and 100ml bottles as part of Lush's year round collection. This is an interesting scent and definitely one of the few that Lush offers that I would argue is a true unisex scent. Shade starts out a woody, powdery scent with a touch of citrus - more particularly lime and almost reminds me of a gentle house cleaner in the best of ways. It's definitely one that I recommend trying if you enjoy warm woodsy scents because this has almost a feminine softness.

Not overpowering in the slightest on skin it dries as a very grounded wood fragrance that easily layered with other scents. Slightly keeping the powdery note it settles nicely into something very intimate that's great for getting up close.

Projection is average. On skin it lasts 5-6 hours and is definitely on the lighter side. I personally really like shade, I mainly have it for layering which I think it's best for.

7/10. Unisex intimate layering woody scent.

Sikkim Girls:

Unavailable currently. I managed to get my hand on a decant of this disconned beauty. Sikkim girls is a heavy white floral featuring frangipani, tuberose, jasmine and vanilla. The biggest thing I pick up is the frangipani and the jasmine, it has almost an incense quality to it but it grounded with the sweetness of the vanilla which sits very much as the backdrop of this fragrance.

I will mention it since I get it from the frangipani note that there's a certain ureic scent that I pick up from it on initial spray but thankfully it dies down to a more softer, creamy scent overall. Kind of has a slight musty smell and might turn people away, I can see folks either loving or hating this scent. It's definitely another that's not for the faint of heart and is absolutely what I'd consider almost an old age floral that transports me back a century ago. A very Victorian edge that transports me to old temples with a certain exotic touch. Not something that I'd recommend people blind buy, that's for sure.

Projection is crazy large. Lasts forever on skin and you'll feel like you're drowning if you spray too much. An absolute powerhouse of a fragrance and one that doesn't need any more than two to three sprays per wear.

9/10. Heady white florals not to be worn on a whim.

The Smell of Weather Turning:

Available only in 100ml 'black label' bottle, disconned in both the US and Europe so I would imagine Canada will follow suit soon which is a shame. This is hands down one of Lush's most unique and wearable fragrances, it's a wild ride start to finish and really needs time to settle as it mellows out over time.

I adore this scent, the peppermint is stunning - electric even that I haven't seen in anything else even other mint forward scents. The Smell of Weather Turning is a medicinal, herbal blend that dries down to a mellow hay/tea/chamomile scent that's very nostalgic and brings me back to playing as a kid in the wetland not far from my house in the summer humidity. Very refreshing, the opening has a very prominent mint scent that holds a cooling feel and sits like the wet rain on skin. Both the beeswax and the bay leaf oil compliment this scent nicely bringing out an overall sweetness and a touch of green herbs to the blend. There's definitely an airy, breezy feel to the initial touch but warms when it dries with an almost aquatic feel.

Projection wise is decent. Lasts 10-12 hours on skin and far longer on clothes. Not at all heavy or cloying and lays lightly even after hours of wear. Absolute perfection. Highly recommend.

10/10. Refreshing/unique light scent with the oncoming storm.

Tank Battle:

Available only in the 100ml 'black label' format. There's nothing quite like Tank Battle, it's Lush's weird and quirkiness at it's finest. Composed primarily of labdanum, patchouli, and clove oil this is a wet, earthy dirt scent like sticking your face into a mud puddle in the best of ways with a bubblegum sweetness.

Upon first spray this scent actually reminds me exactly of pickled beets (which I love), that moment when you crack open a fresh jar that someone made themselves at for turkey dinner is exactly what I smell. Once it starts to dry it becomes this cool, metallic, wet concrete scent that's complete with an earthy dirt to join in. Mellow and not at all overwhelming, it's something that is unforgettable as it sits quietly yet loudly at the same time. If silence made a sound, this is partly what I would imagine. It evokes images of a city being overtaken by nature in my mind.

Projection is decent. Lasts 10-12 hours on skin, Tank Battle like some of Lush's other labdanum/patchouli scents sits for a long time without choking someone out. It's quite the blend but very refreshing.

10/10. Weird in the best kind of way; one of kind experience.

Toil And Trouble:

Only available as part of the community fragrance releases from November 2023 and only in a 30ml bottle. Toil and Trouble is another patchouli/labdanum fragrance that has a bit of a twist with both the sage and orris oil changing the scent to be this witchy, earthy, yet almost fruity fragrance. If you've ever smelled the scrub by the same name that comes out every year with Lush's Halloween releases then you know exactly what this smells like because they're one for one.

If you love green, very herbal, strong patchouli scents with an almost fizzy spiciness then this is definitely something that I'd say go for it. I personally love the scent, it's deep yet bright. Reminds me of a cocktail of potions inside a witches hut, very Halloween, very much a cold, sharp autumn night with a layer of frost. It's a shame that this was limited edition and only released in a small format.

Projection is average. Lasts on skin for 6-8 hours. Makes me want to buy dozens of tubs for the scrub just for the scent.

8/10. Witchy and patchouli heavy that screams Halloween.

Tuca Tuca:

Unavailable currently. This was another scent that I slept on and ended up getting a decant of. Tuca Tuca is absolutely delicious, it's a sweet berry violet flower scent that has the same jammy/sticky goodness that Rose Jam has without being heavy on the florals. It's a playful, youthful scent that packs a punch but holds a syrupy note to the point it's almost gourmand.

It's the same scent family as Don't Rain on my Parade, however for me, the dry down has a caramel note that really shines through that I get when I move that the shower gel didn't have. It's definitely more on the juicy berry side than the other iterations of the scent, something that I'll warmly welcome considering they're far and few between without being muddied by other scent notes.

Projection is decent, doesn't stink out a room but it's definitely noticeable and is my personal most complimented scent. Lasts 10-12 hours on skin with just a few sprays. If I could bathe in this I would.

10/10. Delicious berry violet scent that turns heads.

Two More Hearts:

Unavailable currently, got axed during the culling last year. This is the other fragrance that screams Valentine's Day to me. If Rose Jam was the sweets, this is the fuzzy sweaters, the warm hugs and the playful kisses. Two More Hearts is Keep it Fluffy's more fun, sweeter sister - all the goodness of sweet florals without dipping into being powdery or mature like its counterpart. Definitely the fun fragrance that wants to live life and go out to whatever celebration is planned.

It's rose and jasmine with a touch of santal wood and sweet citrus creating a fuzzy, resinous scent that's very much romantic. Youthful and exciting, this is sadly one that I think a lot of people slept on including myself for the longest while.

Projection is fantastic. Lasts easily 12 hours or more on skin, I can always smell this the day after on my clothes with just 3-4 sprays. It's a shame this was disconned, Keep it Fluffy should've been the one to go imho.

10/10. Sweet Romance in a bottle.

V:

Available in only 100ml 'black label' bottle. This is Lush's other sweet violet scent, but V has a deep brooding spiciness to it that isn't present in any of the other scents. Very gothic with it's mulled fruit, aged woodiness, touch of clove, and the deep violets. The violet in this scent is very similar to that of Tuca Tuca - V is like her older foreboding sister that hangs out in the crumbling castle walls during the winter months. This is a strong heavy scent, and definitely isn't for the meek.

Spite how dark V is, I wouldn't called it a 'mature' scent by any means - there's still a youthful shine with how the violet is presented; almost syrupy and sweet.

Projection is average. Lasts 6-7 hours on skin and much longer on clothes with a few sprays.

8/10. Spiced sweet violets for cold mornings.

In conclusion:

I've tried a lot more of Lush's scent library than this and my tastes have definitely changed over the years but this is my impression of the ones that I have. I do only buy what I enjoy. Hopefully this helps folks decide whether or not they're for them because I find reviews can be all over the place and not always accurate, people do have different sniffers!

If I was to say a top five of mine I'd probably have to choose Grass, Dad's Garden Honeysuckle And Chamomile, The Bees Knees, The Smell of Weather Turning, and Tank Battle. Runner up would be between Rentless, Breath of God, or Tuca Tuca depending on how I'm feeling.

There's a couple of fragrances I'm looking to grab sometime this year from Lush - Devils Nightcap and Time of the Season - both are supposed to be more green scents (my favourite type of scents!).

I'll be doing up reviews of the Lush body sprays next so keep your eyes peeled!

Cheers!

[dinosaurchurch]

My younger sister planned a puffin and whale watching tour with Gatheralls for my birthday last year. We didn't really see any whales but lots of sea birds, if anyone ever gets the chance to do this when you visit the small town of Bay Bulls - I'd highly recommend it. I had a lot of fun.

It was also super cool getting to see the coastline that Mickeleen's Path follows from the water. I loved seeing the sea caves.

August 11th 2024.

[dinosaurchurch]

First hike of the year! It’s been perfect weather to get out and stretch the legs!

Stiles Cove Path.

January 10th 2025.

[dinosaurchurch]

2024 is over.

There was a lot that I had happening behind the scenes that I didn't talk about. Last year was definitely interesting, life went faster than I wanted it to at times and I felt the stress (I literally now have a bald spot on the back of my head to show for it thankfully the hair is starting to grow back). If there's a single word I could describe 2024 with it would've been "shift".

A lot shifted. I moved towns back last March, I got a couple of new skills under my belt with regards to my day job, picked up old hobbies I thought were long gone, dropped off some bad habits and frankly figured out a timeline on what do I want to achieve during the course of my thirties. For a long time I felt like I was just here riding the wave and there were times where I was getting tossed with the tide but now I'm determined to do what I want spite everything else.

I've struggled with sometimes being too complacent for my own good, letting things slide because I've got too much on my plate dropping everything - perhaps too much. That's what happened over 2024, with depression nipping at my heel I felt like I wasn't able to balance everything that I should've. There was a lot that simply fell to the wayside, the biggest one being my lifting (which might surprise people considering I've retained most of my strength, yay me?).

One of the biggest things I came to terms with this year is ultimately the dawning feeling that I'm still by myself. That regardless even if I share a blood bond with someone, I'm different than the people that raised me and now there's things that I know better than they do. To grow past your own parents is a bizarre feeling but one thing I told myself is if I have a family of my own some day, I don't want to make the same mistakes that my fam did with me.

The kind of wisdom I've gained since even the beginning of my thirties is something I know I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. To truly feel like I'm an adult and not just pretending is wild, all of the glitter of childhood has left - that rosy coloured lens that I saw certain people and places has been entirely wiped away but yet I'm not cynical about it. Embracing in the fact that life isn't glamourous as I once thought has grounded me and made me appreciate the small efforts that go in to making my simple life enjoyable. I didn't think I stressed out over much but apparently I did.

I have no regrets on how the previous year folded but it felt like a whirlwind. It was a stark reminder of how little I still know and how distant I feel emotion wise with the events that transpired. It's that tug-o-war I have with my inner world that I know I can't win but it doesn't mean I shouldn't try; I can't let every intrusive, negative thought consume me because if it does I'll end up back at the bottom and I don't want to see that place again. I was there a few years ago, I promised myself I'd do everything in my power to keep my shine if I could help it.

I think the most jarring thing about 2024 is realizing how much of a rosy lens people have on me. I have to admit that I dropped a friendship that I had partly due to the bizarre pedestal I was placed upon by the other person, to be idolized is not something I desire in the slightest. I want people to know that I'm like them even with my quirks, I'm only human - that's partly why I write these entries and make them public, I could keep it all to myself but why? Especially these days where we only get to see a sliver of what life really is like thanks to social media and what glittery nonsense people curate for others. I don't care to post myself up as a shining example of whatever, I'll be myself with warts and all. Alas, I digress.

Last year wasn't all bad, it was kind of a fine balance between being amazing and wanting to just scream into the void. I may not have had panic attacks or an existential crisis every other week but it definitely felt like I was wading neck deep in crap at times. Faithfully I can say my mental health continues to stabilize and improve from where it was in the beginning of 2022 (The lowest point I've ever been in my life). I got to appreciate the small yet significant stuff over the course of 2024; savouring the moments and basking in the fact that I'm still here to enjoy them.

A lot changed over 2024, almost too much. Having a best friend move to the mainland (I still miss her so much), everything that happened with my day job (IYKYK), and getting plopped down in a different town a lot sooner than originally planned (I detest moving and I pray I won't have to do it for a long damn time). At least I got to explore my surroundings considering I wasn't really that familiar with the neighbourhood until I bought a house here (which turned out to be great - I found a new favourite coffee shop even).

The biggest thing that was a stability point in the turbulence of the past twelve months was the bond I share with my partner (and soon to be husband), I cannot stress enough how lucky I am to have someone like him. Honestly the support he provides is a gift and is something I cannot stress how thankful I am for. I might feel like I've grown away from some of my family but those I share a friendship with even if I don't talk every day with them, I can say I've gotten closer with. That's one thing that I count my blessings for is the tight knit social circle I do have whether it's the pals irl or online, I wouldn't be here without them.

I guess this leads to the question - since 2024 is finished - where do I go from here? What do I have planned for 2025, what goals am I looking to achieve? A fair amount I think - getting back to the gym is definitely one of the biggest. I did dabble into cycling the past summer, which was a lot of fun and I absolutely want to do it again.

I finished the prequel arc to DIVE, I feel like I'm going through a bit of 'development hell' with the comic version. There's a lot of revamping for designs I have to do considering I'll be drawing up the whole thing myself (big project I know). Currently I've been chipping away at the inverse version considering I really enjoy writing and the brainstorming phase of coming up with the different plot lines - something I'm sure I'll always be doing to some extent. Keep your eyes peeled for that one.

Besides my creative hobbies, I just want to get better at what I'm already doing and kick some bad habits to the curb. I'm always looking for self improvement so this year is no different in that regard. I just have to keep myself on track when the going gets tough. Self care is still about doing what's hard in the short term to reap the benefits in the long term, and that's what I think 2025 is going to hold for me.

Setting myself on a good path, I'm excited to chomp into another year. Thirty is definitely the new twenty.

Cheers.

And Happy New Year.

[dinosaurchurch]

2024 is done and dusted.

I happy to have gone on this adventure and have the people I cherish the most along for the ride. This year definitely wouldn't of been as good as it has without you!

Happy New Year 2025!

[dinosaurchurch]

Christmas lights down at Bowring Park.

December 24th 2024.

Merry Christmas everyone!

[dinosaurchurch]

Today marks the first day of winter. A lot of folks don’t like winter but I’ve grown to love it. The bright cold mornings with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea are something I crave. The powdery snow casting a glitter in the sunlight.

We haven’t gotten much snow here on the east coast (we’ve currently got a rainstorm brewing outside) so I’m sure we’ll have a green Christmas. That’s not usual for us.

December 21st 2024.

[dinosaurchurch]

So it's funny that the older I get the more things stay the same or rather I revisit things I used to enjoy as a kid. One that I've dabbled back into is makeup. I really loved farting around with it when I was in high school (which was almost 15 years ago! Jesus how time flies!) and now that I can afford the nicer quality stuff I took the plunge.

It's weird to say that the older I get the more I enjoy the more stereotypical 'feminine' stuff spite growing up as a very tomboyish person. I definitely don't act 'lady like', that's for sure. I've always been that person that goes by the beat of my own drum and sometimes that means that I go back and dust certain things off or leave others behind for good. I was contemplating getting back into dolling myself up for a while considering I've found a love for dressing fairly nicely (albeit my clothes aren't fancy by any means) and putting a lot of care in taking care of my skin/hair with my daily routines.

If there's anything I could say to people is now that I've hauled my mental health out of the gutter over the course of the past few years, I've been putting more dedication in putting my best face forward. It's something that helps me feel better about myself knowing that I'm putting effort into being the best version of me possible. I've had people say that your body is a 'temple', I much rather not be the one that got ransacked by raccoons after the rave if possible.

It's nice to do all this stuff for me. Keeping myself healthy (I eat fairly well and I'm pretty active as is) but also looking great. Really helps bat away bouts of depression. Even if I don't leave the house, it's good to just savour what I have and relish in small moments of bliss when I get them.

Stay hydrated and unbothered!

Cheers!

[dinosaurchurch]

Stiles Cove Path.

November 11th 2024.

This was the only really nice sunny day we had for the entire month of November. I'll forever cherish it for that.

[dinosaurchurch]

Spotify wrapped has dropped! I really enjoy getting to see how my listening played out over the course of the year, I find its somewhat different each time it rolls around.

2024 I was in a much better place mentally and my music choice definitely reflected that. I may not have listened to as much as last year (I have a shorter commute to work than what I used to since I moved towns) but it was still a good chunk.

The biggest thing of note this year was Boogie Belgique was still my top artist and funny enough I clocked more minutes with them this year than last year. That was in spite of the sheer fact I found their music soothing during a couple of mental rough patches I hit over 2023, my fathers passing being the biggest one.

The other being Aurora's "What Happened to the Heart" being the album that dominated my listening. I binged on the more harder sounds from the album for the climax of the prequel arc of DIVE, it was the perfect set of songs I needed to incite my imagination for the final handful of scenes. I have to admit I love that album and it's definitely something I'd highly recommend to anyone looking for something off the beaten path. I shamelessly have 3 different copies of that album myself.

There was a handful of albums I had on repeat throughout 2024. The top 3 being Aurora's "What Happened to the Heart", Caravan Palace's "Gangbuster's Melody Club", and Pocket Sun's "Mirror in Blue Light". All vastly different sounds but I love them all the same and have a hard copy of all of them.

Runner up for one of the top albums of the year I'd say is Magdalena Bay's "Imaginal Disk". If you haven't heard it, you should.

Overall this year was amazing for music and I'm very much looking forward to what next year will bring. My vinyl collection has grown a lot, it's been hard keeping up with what's already been brought to the table.

Cheers!

[dinosaurchurch]

Basking in the sunlight.

November 11th 2024.

[dinosaurchurch]

Colours of Fall.

October 30th 2024.

[dinosaurchurch]

It's hard to believe that there's only two months left of 2024. Looking back on the rest of the year it seems almost like a blur at this point. A lot had happened, I moved house in the spring to another town, finished the prequel arc of DIVE, and even got to spend time exploring the new neighbourhood that I live in. Summer was gorgeous this year, it's why I think my art took such a back seat (my lifting too sadly although I did get into cycling more so at least I was doing something).

I think this year is the year I really buckled down on my bad habits, even if it's been one thing at a time. Something I never really talked about was the sheer fact that over the course of the pandemic I didn't save a dime, I didn't want to admit that I used retail therapy a little too much. That's one thing that I wanted to kick this year instead of racking up my own personal debt due to my bad spending habits. It's something that even my late father was guilty of that I happened to dip in as well. Don't get me wrong, I know I absolutely could be in a worse position than what I'm already in (I do have a decent paying job) but I've come to the realization that there's certain goals that I won't be able to accomplish if I don't kick this habit so that's the main reason why I've got to nip it in the bud so to speak.

Everyone has their vice. I will admit I almost feel like someone who's going to rehab for an addiction at this point but it's got to be done. I told myself that I was going to make better habits and hold myself more responsible. I've been critical on others for breaking their word and yet I've done it myself, I don't think it's fair of me to snap at others when I'm just a guilty but I guess that's human nature. Doesn't mean I've got to make an excuse for it though, it's lovely being to buy what I like considering I grew up in a really poor family.

I remember being a kid wanting what others had, you could definitely say I was envious of those that could afford the nice things - new clothes, nice toys, live in a spacious house. Having everything second hand save for my undergarments was not something I'd ever want to put a kid through if I could help it, being poor sucked. You get bullied for it and the fact that you get very little choice of what you actually get to have is also kinda shite - I love being able to express myself how I want to, not limited to what someone else deems because I've got to take their old stuff off of their hands and that's my choices. Like I'm not knocking thrift shops or anything of the sort but it's definitely awkward when you get your older cousins clothes who's much bigger than you and the opposite gender and that was what you had to make due with.

Growing up poor was definitely a humbling experience as well, don't get me wrong, it made me appreciate the luxuries I do get to enjoy these days. Like buying real maple syrup instead of that corn syrup shite, what a blessing. Or getting to buy the nice shampoos that smell amazing instead of the dollar store 2 in 1 crap, my hair thanks me everyday for that. I think head and shoulders actually gave me dandruff instead of getting rid of it but I digress. life can definitely be a struggle.

I'm just glad that I've got the self awareness to be able to point out where I need improvement. It's going to be hard to do what I need to do but when is doing what's right ever been easy? I don't think there ever has been a time where life will be a complete cakewalk and I'll get to fully enjoy the fruits of my labour.

There's a lot that I have planned but I'm not wearing myself thin trying to accomplish what I want either to the point of exhaustion. I've done that enough in the past to know I'll crash and burn if I try, one thing at a time. As much as I need to form better habits (one being to quit grabbing lunch on the go so often) I know that I've got to take it in bite sized portions and do what I can within reach instead of trying to chew it all off at once. That's the worst thing about being as stubborn and ambitious as I am - you overwhelm yourself to where there's no possible way to complete everything on the list and some of it ends up being half assed.

Part of being kind to yourself is self discipline. It's one thing to point out someone mistakes but it's another to do it with yourself.

I know who I am and where I'm going. It's going to take a while but I know I can do it.

Wish me luck.

[dinosaurchurch]

PERSONAL UPDATE:

I haven't hardly drawn a thing since the beginning of the summer but I decided to finally break that streak. I also decided to sort of opt out of the October Art Challenge that I've been doing the past handful of years now since I've been very busy with other matters. I think I'm still going to be filling out some sketch pads but I'm not crunching it out in a month, I'll absolutely admit to folks that last year when I did the art challenge I had some pretty bad hand cramps - I don't usually draw much during the summer months since I'm outside a lot.

I've got some projects on the back burner that I need to return to that I want to get into first. It was nice that I know I can complete a drawing a day if I wanted to but I don't think I'm out of practice bad enough to warrant drawing 24/7.

Getting back to the comic is definitely one now that both the 5th and the prequel arc are finished (I'm currently cracking into the 'inverse' version of DIVE where the protag and the antag swap places). I've got a lot planned, and I do want to use my time more wisely in the future so I'll be doing just that. I'm also hoping to update more often in general considering I don't post very much.

But I digress, I'm sure I'll elaborate in a future post.

Happy Halloween everyone!

It's been a hot minute since I've drawn anything (I haven't hardly touched my tablet or a sketch pad since the beginning of the summer). I decided to cook up Corento for this year's piece, he's an animal whisperer of sorts so I thought him chillin with some bats suited. I had to look up some ref for the bats but overall I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.

Enjoy the candy coma!

Cheers!