When the Sky Breaks: The Unsettling Beauty of Lush's Weather Turning

First Impressions

The name promises petrichor—that earthy, mineral scent when rain first hits dry ground. Instead, The Smell of Weather Turning delivers something altogether more unsettling and verdant. This is not the gentle patter of spring showers, but rather the sharp, ionized air before a storm breaks, filtered through an apothecary's garden at dusk. The opening is aggressively green, a wall of herbal intensity that either captivates or repels with little middle ground. There's something medicinal here, something almost challenging in its refusal to be immediately pretty or comforting.

Released in 2010 as part of Lush's distinctive fragrance line, this scent reads unequivocally feminine on paper, yet wears with an androgynous confidence that defies such simple categorization. The dominant accord is green—not just green, but 100% committed to that verdant vision—backed by aromatic (62%) and herbal (48%) elements that give it an almost pharmaceutical precision.

The Scent Profile

Without specified individual notes to guide us, The Smell of Weather Turning reveals itself through its accord structure, and what a structure it is. The green dominance announces itself immediately and never truly retreats, creating a through-line of chlorophyll-rich intensity that some describe as freshly cut stems, others as crushed herbs in a mortar.

The aromatic and herbal aspects weave through this greenness, creating what community members identify as a distinct tea character—not the sweet, bergamot-laced comfort of Earl Grey, but something closer to matcha's grassy bitterness or the astringent pull of green tea leaves still damp from steaming. This herbal complexity develops over wear, revealing layers that read differently depending on skin chemistry: sage, perhaps, or the camphorous edge of rosemary, the earthiness of vetiver.

Fresh spicy notes (45%) add a peppery, almost effervescent quality that could account for that pre-storm atmospheric feeling—the electrical charge in the air before lightning strikes. The woody (37%) and mossy (24%) base accords ground the composition, preventing it from floating off into pure abstraction. These elements create an earthy foundation, though for some wearers, this earthiness tips into something more metallic, even rusty—a peculiarity of skin chemistry interaction that proves crucial to understanding this fragrance's divisive nature.

Character & Occasion

The data tells a story of exceptional versatility, at least in theory. Fall claims 98% suitability, making this quintessentially an autumn fragrance—think gray skies, wool sweaters, the first frost warnings. Yet it also scores 63% for spring, 52% for summer, and 50% for winter, suggesting a chameleon quality that adapts to cooler weather across seasons.

This is definitively a daytime scent (100%), though it maintains respectable evening potential (49%). Picture it worn to weekend farmers' markets, gallery openings in converted warehouses, long walks through botanical gardens. It's a fragrance for those who want to smell intentional rather than generically pleasant, who appreciate being asked "what are you wearing?" even if the question comes with a slightly puzzled expression.

The herbal tea enthusiast will find much to love here, as will anyone drawn to complex, earthy compositions that prioritize character over mass appeal. Its documented layering potential makes it valuable for fragrance experimentalists—those who treat their collection as a palette rather than a rotation of finished works.

Community Verdict

The Reddit fragrance community awards The Smell of Weather Turning a mixed sentiment score of 6.5/10, and the nuance behind that middling number tells the real story. The consensus acknowledges its accuracy to concept—this does smell like weather, just perhaps not the specific weather you anticipated. The distinctive earthy and fresh character earns genuine appreciation, particularly from those who value complexity over comfort.

The compliments come with caveats. Yes, it layers beautifully with other fragrances. Yes, it develops intriguingly with those tea and herbal notes emerging over time. But—and this is a significant but—the performance varies wildly based on individual skin chemistry. Some wearers experience the intended atmospheric green composition; others report disconcerting metallic notes, even a rusty quality that undermines the entire experience.

The community is particularly frank about the name potentially misleading expectations. This is not a rain scent in the conventional sense, which disappoints those seeking something in the vein of traditional petrichor fragrances. It's more apothecary than atmosphere, more herb garden than rain garden.

How It Compares

Positioned alongside Lush's own Dirty, The Smell of Weather Turning shares DNA but pushes in a more complex, less straightforwardly fresh direction. The comparison to Diptyque's Philosykos Eau de Parfum suggests shared woody-green tendencies, while the Encre Noire and Aromatics Elixir references point to its darker, more challenging aspects. Serge Lutens' Fille en Aiguilles connection hints at the piney, resinous qualities some detect in the woody base.

Among these distinguished company, The Smell of Weather Turning occupies the most experimental, least polished position—which is either a drawback or its greatest asset, depending on your perspective.

The Bottom Line

With 482 votes averaging 4.03 out of 5, The Smell of Weather Turning achieves respectable if not exceptional popularity. That rating, combined with the mixed community sentiment, paints a picture of a fragrance that rewards specific individuals while leaving others cold—or metallic, or confused.

This is not a safe blind buy. The skin chemistry lottery makes sampling essential before committing. But for those whose chemistry aligns with the composition's intent, this offers something genuinely unusual: a green, herbal, atmospheric scent that refuses to play by conventional rules. At Lush's typically accessible price point, the risk-to-reward ratio favors the curious.

Try it if you love tea, herbs, and challenging compositions. Try it if you're building a layering wardrobe. Try it if you're tired of fragrances that smell like everything else. Just don't expect it to smell like rain—expect it to smell like weather turning, whatever that means to your particular skin.