I know that many people will swear by the mantra “never look back”, but I’m one of millions that is happily enjoying the continued wave of 1980s nostalgia. This was the decade that saw me enter my teens, clumsily plant my first kiss, and begin to notice that the world was rapidly changing around me. From the strikes to the Big Snow, and of course the exciting arrival of the UK’s fourth television channel, these were ten tumultuous years. So, grab your Sony Walkman, and set the VCR to record Crossroads, because we’re heading back to 1988 to discover Ginger from Cosmetics To Go (aka LUSH).
The 1980s nostalgia boom is still taking the world by storm, but in the UK it seems to feel much more personal. From fashion through to vinyl, we’re loving vibrant prints and catchy music. What we’re also enjoying though is the increased focus on the TV shows that came out during those formative years. On 2nd November 1982 the UK’s new television station launched, the first for fifteen years, and Brookside became Channel 4’s long-running Liverpool-based soap opera. It’s just begun a repeat run from the very beginning on STV Player and, with over a million views in the first week, shows the eighties is big business.
If Brookside wasn’t your thing then you must have heard about the legendary soap opera Crossroads. The sacking of its main star, Noele Gordon, has just been made into a miniseries starring Helena Bonham Carter and written by Russell T Davies. Now, Martin Ramsdin, who is a big Crossroads fan and the man “underneath” Bunny Galore, says of the 1980s fascination, “it was a period that was bold, vibrant and took risks. It did have an element of overblown camp, but it also had a lot of heart”. Crossroads began in 1964 and ended in April 1988, the same year that a new cosmetic drama was about to begin.
Cosmetics To Go was founded by Mark Constantine and Liz Weir in 1988 but, sadly, it only lasted six years. However, in 1995 it rose from the ashes, just like the original Crossroads Motel, and became LUSH. The rest is history. One of CTG’s first fragrances was simply called Ginger but, even though popular with customers, it was discontinued during the cross over period. Finally relaunched in 2003, this time coinciding with the ending of the revived Crossroads (was someone at LUSH a secret fan?), it has happily remained in production ever since. Described as a “retro floral with a spicy kick”, are you ready to rediscover Ginger?
From the first spray, Ginger feels like a classic Revlon with its bergamot and mandarin mixing with a touch of aromatic clove. However, the arrival of sappy ginger, which is the real focus throughout, is accompanied by contrasting notes of traditionally feminine jasmine and rose with the more masculine and earthy geranium. There’s also a subtle hark to the 80s thanks to a touch of peppered banana, from the ylang, before the treat of a classic Estée Lauder-esque base. Its oakmoss and soapy sandalwood, along with a whisper of patchouli and vetiver, make this the perfect fragrance to celebrate a decade of leg warmers and Liverpool.
Ginger is available from the LUSH website at lush.com, as well as selected stores, priced at £75 for 100ml. [Sample provided by LUSH]
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