You’ve probably heard of aromatherapy, but in case you need a refresher: this popular holistic therapy uses essential oils said to help improve and balance you emotionally and physically. So when I heard about the Four Season Troon Spa’s aroma design bar treatment, which pairs its guests with a dedicated alchemista who blends up a rich, custom-blended body butter enhanced with essential aromatherapy oils I was intrigued. I mean, a treatment that promises not only to make my skin softer but my mood better? Treat yo’self am I right?
Photography: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
After grabbing a chilled tangerine towel and placing my belongings inside a locker room decked out in dark wood, I was escorted by my therapist into a dimly-lit room where a bar cart filled with aromatherapy elixirs waited for me. I wasn’t familiar with the brand Body Bliss before this treatment, and let’s just say now I’m completely hooked. For starters, Body Bliss uses no artificial fragrances and no dispersing massage oils, which means the products contain no paraben preservatives, no mineral oils, no harsh laureth or formaldehyde donors. What’s more, the brand works with a small collective of farmers to ensure all ingredients are organic, ethically wild-harvested, and preserve the natural environment from where they came. In other words? It’s all Mother Nature approved.
Sitting beside the rows of delicate bottles labeled with names such as Cedar, Bergamot, and Lavender Vera was an IPad glowing inside the dark treatment room. On the screen I could see five options available, including: Conscious giving, Aromatic Alchemy, Positive Outcomes, Power Numbers, and Au Soleil. What’s really interesting is that the Aroma Design Bar experience comes to life through the use of the Intentional Aromatherapy App for iPad: a simple, fun and educational app that allows guests to explore, choose and create custom aromatherapy blends by answering a series of questions about themselves.
Photography: Dylan Essertier
“Which path would you like to experience today?” My therapist asked in a soft voice pointing to the electronic screen. I opted for ‘power numbers’ a journey that required I put in my birthday in order to get my perfect aromatherapy blend which turned out to be a combination of ylang-ylang, orange, lime, and jasmine. What was just as fun was reading the description about the recipe in a paragraph that described everything from qualities such as my need for original flair to the fact that I can become easily distracted. True and true.
Photography: Dylan Essertier
After blending my body butter, I was treated to an epic massage that managed to unknot muscles I didn’t know existed. In general, it was one of those holistic, highly-personalized experiences that left me floating on cloud nine. Oh, and the best part? I got to bring home my body butter so I can attempt to recreate this heavenly experience in my bathroom in Brooklyn.
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