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Well, this is a turn up for the books from the Body Shop. We’ve had some naughtiness with their Red Musk fragrance and just in time for Valentine’s Day they are rolling out their newest collection Smoky Poppy. Oof!
Packaged in black with an image of the distinctive red poppy, I must say it makes a change from the exhausted red rose symbol of romance and God knows what other soppy and sappy connotations come to mind.
There are seven items that complete Smoky Poppy: a poppy seed scrub (200ml/£13), shower gel* (250ml/£4), body butter* (200ml/£13), massage oil* (crikey! 150ml/£14), body lotion (250ml/£8), bath bombs (6 x 50g/£12) and an eau de toilette (30ml/£8.50).
Smoky Poppy is marketed as the most seductive range ever released by The Body Shop. I’ll say! Judging by the raunchy picture of the couple getting carried away in the promotional image… Any way! The base of the ingredients for this range is laced with the extract of oil-rich poppies. I haven’t a clue what poppies smell like so this is a lesson of education for me, as I’m sure it was for many. I’d describe it as subtly spicy, floral and woody (oops, wrong word? Well, ish. Never mind.) I think it’s good that the Body Shop isn’t just about fruity smells and Smoky Poppy is a welcome alternative with an air of sophistication that will appeal to both men and women.
As with anything by the Body Shop, the key ingredients are sourced from a special location. In this case the poppies come from the Ankara region of Turkey. In every word, these are petals of pleasure. (Ahem!)
I’m keen to try the scrub and the eau de toilette next. And I’ve used the massage oil. To massage into my legs. That is all.
Also thrown into the mix is another new thing from the Body Shop: their first Lip & Cheek Velvet Cheeks (£12). Available in five shades plus a special one in the form of a transforming black shade which is called Poppy Universal. How that works is it adapts to the unique pH of your skin to give your own individual poppy shade.
I’m wearing this red one which is number 40. Lovely for everyday wear with just the right injection of colour. I’m not sure when these are out, though I will hazard a guess that Poppy Universal at least will be available on the same date as the Poppy stuff, which brings me nicely onto…
The Smoky Poppy Body Care range goes on sale on 3rd February in stores and online. By the way, it’s limited edition. Rather like Valentine’s Day.
