Lush Skinny Dip is one of those discontinued scents that collectors still chase years after it disappeared from the shelves. It started life as a shower gel in the Cosmetics To Go era, then returned as a buttercream, body lotion, bubble bar and spray perfume before Lush retired the whole line. Its reputation rests on an odd but memorable pairing: sharp clove and powdery violet sitting on top of a creamy, almost edible base.
What Does Lush Skinny Dip Smell Like?
The opening is unambiguous. Clove bud oil hits first, and it hits hard. Clary sage adds a dry, herbal edge that keeps the spice from smelling like a holiday candle. Within the first half hour the heart takes over: violet and ylang-ylang give the scent its dusty, powdery floral character, while creamed coconut smooths everything out into something closer to white chocolate frosting than a flower bed.
The drydown is where Skinny Dip earns its cult status. Cedarwood and vetiver ground the sweetness with an earthy, slightly smoky wood note, so instead of collapsing into plain sugar the scent ends up warm and grounded, like spiced cocoa butter on skin. Lush’s own catalog copy called it violet and clove scented, and longtime fans frequently compare it to a richer version of Phoenix Rising or Bathos.
It is worth knowing that this scent divided people when it was still sold. Lush itself described the shower gel as something people loved or hated. If clove reads as medicinal to you, the whole composition will too.
Performance
Realistic expectations matter here. Community consensus places Skinny Dip at roughly 3 to 6 hours on skin, which is why we rate longevity a 5. The first hour projects moderately, sometimes further than you expect given how much clove oil went into these formulas, then the scent pulls back to a close personal veil. As a spray perfume it performs better than the bath products did, but nobody will mistake it for an all-day beast. Plan on reapplying for evening wear.
Best Clone Or Alternative
Perfume Parlour Flesh Water 1795 is the practical answer. Perfume Parlour lists it openly as belonging to the same olfactory family as Skinny Dip, and the note structure lines up: sage and clove up top, violet through the middle, cedarwood in the base. At $13.00 it costs a fraction of what surviving bottles command. Fragrance Revival also sells a Skinny Dip-type eau de parfum for about $89 per 100ml if you want a larger alcohol-based bottle.
The tradeoff with Flesh Water 1795 is texture. It reproduces the spicy, woody skeleton accurately but flattens the creamy white chocolate and coconut layer that made the original feel rich. Similarity is high, around 85 percent, and for most buyers that is close enough. The original still wins on depth and that buttery warmth in the base.
When To Wear It
This is a cool-weather scent. Fall and winter suit it best, and mild spring days work too, but heat amplifies the clove into something cloying. Daily wear, casual outings and office use are all realistic as long as you apply lightly. Two sprays max indoors; the spice carries.
Who Should Buy It
Buy it if you remember Skinny Dip fondly and want the memory back cheaply, if you like gourmand scents with real spice instead of vanilla syrup, or if you enjoy unusual compositions like Lush’s Lord of Misrule and want something in the same spirit. It suits anyone comfortable smelling like a bakery with a wood floor.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if clove or carnation spice turns your stomach, if you prefer fresh or clean fragrances, or if you need eight hours of performance from every bottle. Anyone sensitive to sweet-powdery florals should sample before committing.
Final Verdict
Skinny Dip was never a mass-appealing designer scent, and that is the point. It is strange, cozy and specific, and its discontinuation turned it into a nostalgia purchase. Do not pay collector prices blind. Spend the $13 on Flesh Water 1795 first, confirm the clove-and-violet profile works on your skin, then decide whether the original’s extra creaminess justifies the hunt.