What's not to lava?

Firm celebrates third coming of a 60s icon

- Robyn Vinter

Depending on your age, you may remember them from Doctor Who and The Prisoner in the 1960s, or from TFI Friday and the Big Breakfast in the 90s. Or if you're young enough, you might not remember them at all. But now it seems lava lamps are back.

Rising sales would suggest a third wave of the lava lamp phenomenon is on the horizon, thanks to the trend towards mid-century interiors and gen Z's fascination with the late 90s and early 2000s.

Cressida Granger, the managing director of the British lava lamp pioneers Mathmos, said the company's lamps had seen a surge in interest. "It feels like they're in the current conversation in a way they haven't been," she said.

Sales have been rising steadily in recent years and 2025 was expected to be a huge festive season. Mathmos oversold in the run-up to Christmas, which means the company will be short of stock come January.

So what does Granger put this appeal down to? "They're sort of nostalgic, aren't they? So that's comforting when the world's changing," she said.