Amayori: Japanese Bathing Rituals

A new brand and concept surfaced on my radar recently, Amayori Rituals. For many in Japan, bathing is a meditative practice – a time to renew, revive, relax and cleanse the soul. Beyond cleansing the body, the bath is viewed as a time and place to wash away the cares of the day.

Bathing is done in two phases. First, there is cleansing which is usually done in a small shower or with a Hinoki wood bucket before proceeding into the bathtub to soak. Soaking and relaxing in the bath is just that – pure enjoyment.

This is the same experience that Amayori Rituals bring to us with their bathing rituals. Drawing on Eastern wisdom and capturing the beauty and mystique of Japanese bathing rituals, Amayori is not just a line of luxury bath, body care and aromatherapy products, but an experience for your mind, body, and spirit.

Whether it be a bath or shower, bathing is an opportunity to nurture yourself, reflect and have a beautiful moment. Rarely are we alone without external influences. This is the perfect time to take advantage of your solitude. With an intention to relax, experience the beauty of Japanese bathing rituals at home.

 Stop, Relax, Breathe and Connect with Yourself.

I was sent a generous gift by the brand where I received Shower Mochi, Multi use Oil and Perfume Oil. Each product had a different scent profile and products are dreamy, magical and virtually take you to Japan to experience the ritual.

In Japanese culture, presentation is everything. Keeping that in mind, the attention to detail with packaging is wonderful, gorgeous Japanese papers delicately wrapping each box. Whilst each product is housed in black opaque UV protection glass bottle making overall presentation of these products wonderful gifts for just about any occasion. The ingredients, scent and overall experience elevates it to a luxurious self indulging treat.

Shower Mochi which is basically ‘shower bombs’ that gradually impart its mesmerizing scent profile as hot water and steam come in contact.

The whole bathroom smells amazing and standing under hot shower as steam wafts of Italian Bergamot Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Yellow Mandarin Peel Oil, and their Natural Essential Oil Blend enthralls me. From a usability and cost perspective, three mochi’s valued at $21 price point, which is $7 per shower sensorial experience. Depending on how long you shower, where you place mochi and how quickly it dissolves in water you can stretch use up to 2-3 times to get most value from each mochi. I reserve this as complete treat to my over worked mind, which sometimes refuses to slow down.

Inci List: Mochiko (sweet rice flour) and Rice Ferment Filtrate (Sake), Organic Citrus bergamia (Italian Bergamot) Oil, Jasmine Grandiflorum (Jasmine) Absolute, Citrus reticulata  (Yellow Mandarin Peel) Oil, Natural Essential Oil Blend

As for the inci list, its as clean, simple and effective as it gets. Nothing negative or cautionary to say.

Speaking of mind refusing to slow down, I have difficulty unwinding and going to sleep. My thoughts, to do lists, idea for upcoming projects, grocery list etc just does not stop. Before you say it, No I cannot meditate. Doing elaborate skincare routines and relaxing rituals helps me unwind. Which brings me to next product which is Dreams of Gion Perfume Oil. Every night I take ten deep breaths of this peaceful and tranquil blend of Wild Lavender, Mandarin, Ylang Ylang, Rosemary. Whilst its no miracle to convert me to instant sleeping beauty, it sure diverts my mind to gorgeous sensorial experience than thinking of to do’s and other lists.

Inci List: Organic Camellia Oil, Citrus Junos  (Yuzu) Oil, Citrus Reticulata  (Green Mandarin) Oil, Lavandula angustifolia  (Wild Lavender) Oil, Cananga Odorata Genuina  (Ylang Ylang Extra) Oil,  Natural Essential Oil Blend, Rosemary CO2 Extract

All their Aromatherapy Perfume Oils have a base of Camellia oil and wonderfully curated blends of essentials oils. I was also provided with samples of other oils, and whilst I still haven’t steered away from Dream of Gion the scent profile and inci list for others is as follows:

Ambrosial Ofuro: Organic Camellia Oil, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Endl. (Hinoki) Essential Oil, Monarda fistulosa L. var. menthaefolial (Mondara) Essential Oil, Hedychium spicatum  (Ginger Lily) CO2, Michelia Champaca (Champaca) CO2, Natural Essential Oil Fragrance, Rosemary CO2 Extract

Hinoki Onsen: Organic Camellia Oil, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Endl. (Hinoki) Oil,  Jasmine Sambac (Jasmine) Absolute, Aniba rosaeodora (Rosewood) Essential Oil, Citrus reticulata (Red Mandarin) Essential Oil, Natural Essential Oil Blend, Rosemary CO2 Extract

Geisha Ritual: Organic Camellia Oil, Organic Citrus bergamia (Italian Bergamot) Oil, Jasmine Grandiflorum (Jasmine) Absolute, Citrus reticulata  (Yellow Mandarin Peel) Oil, Natural Essential Oil Blend, Rosemary CO2 Extract

Zen Morning: Organic Camellia Oil, Organic Citrus aurantium (Sicilian Blood Orange) Oil, Citrus aurantium v Amara (Egyptian Bitter Orange) Oil, Mentha arvensis (Japanese Mint) Oil,  Piper nigrum (Black Pepper) Essential Oil, Natural Essential Oil Blend, Rosemary CO2 Extract

The addiction to this oil is truly what has me devoted to this brand. The versatility, magnetic scent profile, clean inci list and pump packaging has me going gaga. The site claims it can be used as body oil before or after shower, bath oil (few drops in bath), and hair oil. I’ve used it all ways except bath, because the temperatures are too warm to soak in bath. However trust me to experiment more, used as face oil and mixed with my MV Organic Jojoba oil as well. Smelled amazing and instantly absorbs in skin. Moisturized skin well and no noted congestion. The scent doesn’t linger for long.

The inci list is simple and straight forward which encourages its versatility. Surely the price point would ache a bit at $110 however you get full 100ml. So the range of purposes and the price would work but still on luxe spectrum.

Hinoki Onsen: Coconut Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Organic Camellia Seed Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Endl. (Hinoki) Oil,  Jasmine Sambac (Jasmine) Absolute, Aniba rosaeodora (Rosewood) Essential Oil, Citrus Reticulata (Red Mandarin) Essential Oil, Natural Essential Oil Blend, Rosemary CO2 Extract

All in all, I definitely recommend giving this brand a go. It certainly is a luxe treat to unwind and detach from all cares and stresses in the world. Have you tried this brand? Tell me about your experiences.

HHW.com

xx

 

 

 

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DIY Aromatherapy Facial

We’ve been to spa’s or heard of various Aromatherapy treatments. One of which is the aromatherapy facial, which got my attention. These facials are known to soothe the skin and relax your mind. With the use of essentials oils based on your skin type, the scents from these lush oils induce relaxation to a stressed mind. Different essential oils are suited to different types of skin such as:

• Dry Skin- cedarwood, clary sage, geranium, jasmine, lavender, lemon, myrrh, patchouli, roman chamomile, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, ylang ylang
• Oily Skin- bergamot, clary sage, cypress, frankincense, geranium, helichrsum, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, orange, patchouli, peppermint, roman chamomile, rosemary, sandalwood, tea tree, ylang ylang
• Normal skin/Combination skin- geranium, chamomile, lavender, orange, ylang ylang petitgrain, palmarosa.
• Sensitive Skin- geranium, jasmine, lavender, chamomile, neroli
• Mature Skin- clary sage, cypress, frankincense, geranium, helichyrsum, lavender, lemon, myrrh, orange, patchouli, rosemary, sandalwood, ylang ylang.

While the above list is commercial, I was once advised that take a deep breath and have a good sniff at these oils. Based on that, listen to what your body signals. Your body and mind will react to the scent either in a pleasant way (wanting more) or simply gross you out. This exercise will determine what your skin/body needs. I haven’t looked back since and truly believe in this method. At home aromatherapy facials have shaped up as follows:

Cleansing – Makeup Removal – Rodial Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Water to remove my eye makeup and whatever is left on cotton pad I swipe across my lips and rest of face. Then follow with Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm and gently massage all over my face. Once the balm is all over my palms, I cup them and inhale deep breath. Wipe with warm wash cloth.

Cleansing – Skin Nourishment – Followed with Rodial Stem Cell Super Food Cleanser and again massage away to glory. Dip my hands in ice cold water and shock my skin with varying temperatures. Now I don’t know if this would be recommended however I know I thoroughly enjoy it.

Steaming – Next step of temperature shock is boil a pot of hot water, add a few drops of essential oil, hold a towel over my head and let my skin steam away. In an ideal spa environment, this stage will be followed by extractions but I’m a chicken when I do it over myself.

Exfoliating – Instead of extractions, I use grated almond shell (nourishes and gently exfoliates) with orange rind (vitamin c) mixed with whole cream milk (lactic acid) and gently massage all over my face. Wash it off with regular tap water.

Alternatively I use PMD after steaming. Will post a separate review on that.

Mask – Back to wonderful smells and injecting hydration in skin I smear Una Brennan Rose Hydrating Mask all over and let it sit for 15-25minutes. If I fall asleep I guess I stop there if not…here’s how I continue

Toner – Spritz Pixi Glow Tonic, very refreshing and smells wonderful

Moisturizer – Followed with Dr Scheller Lavender Night Moisturizer, since it has water content skin will absorb immediately and then follow with

Facial Oil – Estelle & Thild Oil – Rose scented goodness!

Understandably,  to some this could be sensory overload or a simple assault on senses but to me this is perfection!

xx

HHW.com