Lush’s Saltburn-themed bath bomb suggests licking some bathwater
Like the Dune 2 popcorn bucket and the Talk to me smoking bowl proof that movie tie-in products are becoming increasingly ridiculous in the best way. Cosmetics retailer Lush has released a limited-edition bath bomb for UK shoppers only (sorry, Americans) called “Salt bomb.” It is clearly inspired by the evocativeness of Emerald Fennell Salt burn, a black comedy psychological thriller that has gone viral for its unhinged sexual desires. In particular, the Salt Bomb is intended to summon one vibrant scene with used bath water.
(Ed. remark: Spoilers ahead for salt burn, and a content warning for dirty talk!)
In the Salt burn In the scene that caused the most controversy, Oxford student Oliver (Barry Keoghan) secretly spies on his wealthy best friend Felix (Priscilla‘s Jacob Elordi), who is masturbating in the bath. Once Felix dries off and leaves, Oliver climbs into the bathtub, squats down and laps the remaining cum-soaked bathwater from the drain. And he Real enters there, slides his tongue along the slit of the drain and moans in ecstasy.
Lush’s bath bomb shows no signs of being a… officially collaboration, but the connection is open and clear, from the product name to the slogan: “Come and relax, or vice versa.”
And then there is the product description:
Enjoy, Saltbomb’s salty, milky bath water is suitable for a stately indulgence.
This salt doesn’t burn, it’s a soothing blend of coconut milk powder and mineral-rich coarse sea salt, while sharing a scent with our year-round moisturizing bubble bar, Milky Bath.
Feel like Hollywood royalty with this limited edition bath bomb that never kills the groove and gives the swimmer a silky-smooth bathwater that they’ll want to cherish every last drop of.
How to use:
Put this little piece of paradise in your bath to create that silky, milky water.
How to store:
Store this creamy concoction somewhere cool and dry until you’re ready to sink into the salty sea.
Oh, and if that’s not enough, the product images look like this:
Image: Sumptuous
Image: Sumptuous
Like the movie scene itself, this product is inspiring discussion at Polygon, where we shared the page with open mouths. So let’s talk about it Salt burnthe limited edition Saltbomb and everything in between.
Petrana: Before I looked Salt burn, I knew his reputation. But I agree with what most of my (very online) friends said about it: if those sex scenes were “freaky” by normal standards, then call me a freak!
Tasja: Wait, are you telling me you’re about to buy a Salt Bomb to enhance your regularly scheduled drain licking sessions? Because we are all quite curious whether this product is actually edible.
Petrana: Hmm, you make a good point. Lush is known for their organic and cruelty-free products, so this might be better for your digestion than the Salt burn bath water. I’m sure it smells better.
Tasja: It should be! I looked up the ingredients and all the things in there that aren’t immediately recognizable to non-chemists (sodium coconut sulfate, amyl cinnamal, benzyl salicylate, geraniol, hexyl cinnamal, etc.) are synthetic fragrances. That said, come on. Tell me Felix Salt burn is not lit, shot, and treated as if it smells at all times beautiful.
Petrana: The movie really emphasizes how wonderful it must smell and taste at all times.
Tasha: And yet the Saltbomb copy mostly just emphasizes the salt. And the milkiness. That’s some very cheeky, funny copy.
Petrana: I’m really proud that the copywriters at Lush weren’t afraid to be hot on the main!
Tasha: But where’s the satisfaction in licking up your own used bathwater, instead of the bathwater of your secret, unrequited crush? One of the reasons why drain licking occurs Salt burn what has been blown up so much in internet circles is that, while provocative and shocking, it captures something about the bitter longing for someone you can’t have. Many of us have felt that ourselves, or at least seen it in other people, whether they’re obsessed with celebrities or someone who doesn’t return their crush. It is an extreme all-out externalization of a very secret internal feeling!
Image: Prime
Petrana: Absolute. I really like how this movie turns out to be a bit disgusting with its sexy scenes, because I think that adds a very messy, human element that makes them more appealing. Oliver’s big, overwhelming feelings are brutal and imperfect, and even though they’re clearly inflated to the limit, there’s something relatable about those emotions.
Tasja: And perhaps also something recognizable about the implicit physical sensations. I’ve never licked a drain before, but that shot from the movie is so close, so raw and visceral, that Fennell and Keoghan made me feel like I could taste the mix of soap, sweat and cum, and the grit of a old porcelain bathtub. Not exactly sensations I wanted in the theater! And now Lush is encouraging us to have them at home, with the added flavor of ylang ylang and coconut?
Petrana: I like coconut.
Tasja: What about ylang ylang? I don’t know what that tastes like. Perhaps there is an expert who can give us an idea of how much it may or may not taste like a rich, carefree, brilliant but ruthless British scion of extreme wealth?
Petrana: Please, dear readers, if you have lapped up the bathwater of the British aristocracy, let us know if there was a distinct ylang-ylang flavor in it. For now I’ll just have to use my imagination. Too bad this bath bomb is only available in the UK. Although I think it’s appropriate for him to be elitist and exclusive.
Tasja: I contacted Lush to see if us regular folks in America would get our own “little piece of paradise,” but a representative told me that the Saltbomb is not currently on their list of upcoming products for the United States. So at this point it’s either just an import or something we can admire and long for from a distance. Either way, we can have our own Oliver-in-love experience!
Now the next question: which company are we looking for a product that allows us to recreate in a useful way Salt burn‘s other most famous sequence, the serious sex scene? I think maybe some kind of soothing lotion would be a good idea.
Petrana: I was so worried about the chafing there. I would also recommend garden forks to hold on and really get a good grip on the dirt.
Tasja: I don’t think Lush makes garden tools! Sounds like an idea you should start looking around at landscape manufacturers. Don’t forget to tell them we’re expecting one Salt burn-related product that is milky and silky and delivered with a leer and a wink.