Last year March, Patty and I spent a week in Santa Fe. In July. It was beautiful – but stunningly hot. Shocking triple digits. ‘Dry heat’ is …hot. My cuticles started just peeling off, it was that hot. And I thought I would just shrivel up and blow away. It was that hot.
Mid-way through that hot-assed week, though, March guided us up a mountain to Ten Thousand Waves spa. It was a good 20 degrees cooler up there and it seemed that we were much closer to those lowering skies that presaged rain. The spa was much like all my favorite spas – filled with wood/stone/water – quiet and tranquil. Gorgeous orange hummingbirds flitted about in the dampening air. I could feel my skin rehydrating and my nerves calming down. About 20 minutes into our time there, it started to rain. Glorious, cooling rain! The rain combined with the spa ‘essence’ to create that amazingly relaxing ambience that all good spas have; even the outdoor areas were quiet and tranquil and that unique ‘spa’ smell was everywhere.
Once you leave a spa, alas, the outside world works HORD to erase that tranquility. All too quickly, the scent dissipates and, once again, you’re thrust into whatever maelstrom this planet has in store for you.
But. What if you could keep that scent – the scent of tranquility – and go through your tough days with a flexible layer of beauty and protection? I think I’ve found such a layer in Aromatherapy Associates’ new EdP, released in honor of the co-founder, the late Geraldine Howard. Geraldine designed this blend, with 28 of her favorite essential oils, and the blend reflects her love of beauty and tranquility and the desire to provide physical and emotional support via the art of aromatherapy (here’s a link to the company’s philosophy behind their products). Now, let me just say this: I am an aromatherapy/spa devotee from waaay back and I adore the Aromatherapy Associates line, so I’m already inclined to love it – but even with that being said, this is a special scent, indeed. It manages to bridge that gap between the spa and the outside world – it smells both therapeutic and pretty! so you can wear it without the folks in your office wondering if you just got a massage (you know what I mean). After the initial EO blast the scent sits close to the skin and creates an almost private veil. After the first 5-10 minutes, you don’t smell it as much as you sense it. And sometimes, especially during Tough Times, that’s what you need.
The PR brief lists the prominent notes as Turkish Rose, Sandalwood, Italian Bergamot and French Cassis (blackcurrant) and they talk about a ‘seamless’ blend. Normally I would roll my eyes at that – especially with an EO blend, but in this case, ‘seamless’ really is an apt description. ‘Shimmering’ is another – the rose is strong in this one – but it’s a rich, sparkling rose, nothing sour or heavy about it and after the initial punch the rose goes into support mode, allowing the other EOs to move and shift about, finding their Happy Place. I’ve been wearing it for the last 4 days – I’m still stressed by that pinched nerve (though it’s getting better) and I first put on my beloved No5 to combat my fatigue and fury (I hate being ‘busted’) – but I found that No5 just sharpened my already pointed fangs. So I switched to this EdP – and…I dunno….somehow I feel less ugly, less fragile….less…less mean. And that is a good thing.
It’s a limited edition EdP and is only available at Net-a-Porter and Aromatherapy Associates. But! I was sent a bottle by their people (this is my disclaimer right here 😉 and I would love to share a bit of it with you! Drop a line here – how are your nerves these days??? – and I will get The Girl to poke at random dot for a draw!
I hope your pinched nerve gets better soon! Pinched nerves are awful, I had one in my lower back a long time ago 🙁 The last few weeks have been slightly insane at work, and it has made me hesitant to wear any perfume at all because I’ve been on the edge of a migraine for a while. Finding a source of scented comfort would be wonderful, thank you for the giveaway!
I cannot wait until my next massage! I live with chronic, sometimes severe pain and massage is the most reliable relief I get, apart from drugs I don’t want to become addicted to. This scent sounds beautiful – it’s been a tough and stressful week – first days of Fall classes at the college where I teach, the whole Texas hurricane/flood thing (we’re well out of harm’s way but have friends and family who are in the middle of it) and a slow to heal ankle after major surgery. I’d love to try something soothing!
I am pretty stressed out by the national political scene, and by too many hours in the dental chair.
I do find that meditation and peppermint oil help.
Thank you fr the drawing!
Many problems with a family member who is not dealing with major problems. Also, my doctors tell me that I may have asthma or some other respiratory problem. The many inhalers make me jittery. I sing in a choir and am having trouble doing that which has given me so much joy in the past. Yet when I look at the devastation in Texas, i realize that I am so grateful for the blessings I have received.
Musette,
Best wishes for your pinched nerve. Ouch. For me, the school year just started, and I’m nearing the finish line: my youngest, DD, is a senior in HS this year. For the first time, we’re part of a car pool. So, we can’t be late cause other folks are depending on us! I did that thing last night where I kept waking up and looking at my alarm clock to see what time it was. Uuuuuugh. Haven’t we all been there and done that? So, not so much stressed as tired to the bone. Plus I was hospitalized a couple weeks ago, much to my surprise, for an infection in my guts. Puh-lease. This is not the way to wind up the summer and start the fall off. 🙂
Nerves haven’t been great for awhile, due to me noticing how my anxiety seems to be getting subtly worse. But I’ve also noticed that if I pull back and observe the anxiety while feeling it, it can prevent me from getting too hooked into it and swept away by it. I’m very intrigued by such a lovely sounding blend of EO’s! Thanks for the draw opportunity!
Throwing good thoughts to Rosarita313. I did a slip & flip in my kitchen once that got me the same pin job & tried to pretend it wasn’t really my foot sticking out of the ortho shoe. Hang in there -just a few more days.
About the scent? Sounds divine & I could use some calm.
I am probably missing something, but I can’t find this on either their website or Net-a-Porter.
Man, I neeeeeed a massage.
Not living a typical summer this year. Body issues and working more than usual I haven’t been able to enjoy the the warm weather this year. I most certainly could use aroma therapy right now. When I do get outside for a walk I bury my face in the wild roses that grow on the east coast of Canada. Vacation starts in three weeks woot woot.
Back to school means back to work for me, and although I love my job, I don’t like waking up this early so much. A relaxing day at the spa sounds wonderful and a massage could relax the muscle in my upper back that are getting tense from writing on the black board a lot! 😉
Oh, this sounds lovely.
I would love to inhale that ‘scent of a spa’, but, so far, I have not found it.
For the first time in years, I actually had a massage a few weeks ago while on vacation. It was wonderful. I took my daughter-in-law, and we left my son and grandsons behind. Pure Heaven.
My life has not been too stressful, just the ‘sandwich generation’ work of taking care of elderly parent and worrying about adult children. Most of my friends are in the same boat.
Hope that you feel better soon.
This sounds like a lovely scent. I’d love to try it. I started a stressful new job three months ago, and can certainly see myself needing that protective veil some days!
My nerves are shot. With all the political stuff, Texas, and my daughter is in the Navy. I need to be soothed! Thanks.
I have had a pretty stressful month (work related) and that is not going anywhere soon.
Hmm. Well yes, the nerves are frayed and snapping and have been for weeks. I dislocated my toe in July, the day before my father’s memorial service, by tripping over the vacuum cleaner cord and falling flat on my face with my foot rolled under itself like feet aren’t meant to do. No one medical could yank it back into place so a week later I had surgery where it’s pinned into place with the pin sticking out of my middle toe like a bent paper clip, wearing cut off men’s socks and a short orthopedic boot for protection. It’s been six weeks and the &*%# pin comes out Friday. I have had to walk on my heel this whole time, only able to drive short distances. I feel like you, Ms A, but the fury has died down to a constant sense of irritation, like at this point I can’t even stand myself. My poor husband, my plan is to take us both for pedicures this weekend.
OMG. Poor you. Poor Husband! My darling A, please do be careful with the pedi, okay? They tend to not pay a lot of attention, just do their thang, and …well, make sure they realize you are still a bit gimpy!
Other than that, ENJOY!
xoxoxoA
The start of a new school year always brings excitement but also stretches my energy and my nerves more than a little but. I’m not sleeping all that well, so the aromatherapy reminder you’ve offered is a good one. I like to put lavender eo on my feet which is especially nice at the end of a long day. And if it helps me relax and sleep better then yay! My mum has long been a source of aromatherapy info and she has given me several helpful blends over the years. Rose, sandalwood, bergamot, and cassis sound like heaven.
Keep taking good care of yourself! I mix a bit of Lavender EO in with a slicker of Vicks VapORub on my feet – really settles things down! xoxoxoA
My nerves are shot. But I am having a spa day tomorrow and if it is half as wonderful as your day I will be happy. And this place, Refuge in Carmel, CA, encourages silence. Since my husband just retired I could use some silence. 😉
LOL! Retirement. Always sounds SO good. In theory. But y’all will find a happy medium – nearly everybody does. In the meantime, LOTS of SPA! xoxoxoA
okay – that was weird – anyhoo, what I was going to say before the ‘bots just snatched my reply was this: find a place you think you might feel comfortable in, then go visit. I’m pretty easygoing about therapists, as long as they are not velociraptors I’m okay (consider that TRex can’t do bodywork because his arms are too short, so he’s out of the running) – anyway, if you find a good, reputable spa, you’ll find a good, reputable massage therapist. I like folks with limited ‘energy’ since I’m already over-energized. If you don’t want to do a full body massage to start, just have them do the non-personal bits, like your shoulders and feet. OMG. FEEEET Yaaas..
El O looked askance…then I got him a gift cert to a great spa. He was SOLD!
xoxoxoA
and omg. on the poor nerve. My heart goes out to you, hon!
Still dealing with a pinched nerve myself (L5, S2). There are days when the nerve and I manage to get along civilly but then there are days where it gets the best of me. I feel ya! Have never had a massage–can’t get past some stranger’s hands on me–but I love the IDEA of massage in a relaxing setting.
Tiara – GET OVER IT! And GET ON THE TABLE! You will thank me. You will thank the therapist. Best thing is to
I actually have a hard time with people touching me, too. However, once I managed to push down that discomfort and got a massage, I realized that Musette is so right. Massages are glorious.