On the Menu

Edited by Mark Smith

The scent of things to come

With the growing home-scent market reporting double-digit growth in 2021, we ask leading brand experts how spas can maximise the retail opportunities this presents

Sales of prestige home-scent products grew 95% in 2021 compared to 2019, according to market research company

The NPD Group. The sector became a key focus for wellness brands during the pandemic as people isolated, creating mini self-care spa rituals at home. Drilling down further, sales of candles and diffusers increased 164% and 31% respectively.

“With more and more people having worked from home and continuing to do so, there has been a significant increase in sales of home fragrance products,” explains Sarah Ronchetti, head of spa at Temple Spa. “It is one of the sales opportunities that the pandemic has created and that spas should be monetising.”

Amanda Winwood, founder of Made for Life Organics, concurs: “There has been a substantial increase in awareness of self-care as a result of the pandemic. Europe is leading the trend within the home fragrance market and discretionary spend on products that promote wellbeing is a major growth area.”

Sales engineering

A few tweaks to your spa journey, some clever scent positioning and signposting in touchpoints can maximise retail opportunities during this boom, says Carolyne Beck, general manager of Elemental Herbology: “Offering home scent as part of your retail offering adds to a truly immersive spa experience,” she suggests.

Daniel Golby, managing director of ESPA adds: “The opportunities to market home fragrance within the spa environment are vast. From scenting guest areas with appropriate essential oil blends through candles and diffusers, to spritzing treatments rooms and linens with atmospheric mists, fragrance completes the sensorial journey for guests.”

The key is to create positive connections, says Anna Teal, CEO of Aromatherapy Associates. “Spas should create spaces to showcase the diversity that scenting creates. For example, create a reviving aroma at reception to start the wellbeing journey, then a more relaxing scent in post-treatment lounges where a guest unwinds before heading back out to the real world.”

Taking treatments home In the treatment room, therapists can inform and educate guests about the specific aromatherapy oils used and take it one step further. “Spas can focus sales efforts on home fragrance by recommending products with the same scents used throughout treatment,” explains Golby.

“Have a candle burning at reception with some point-of-sale material next to it that invites guests to take the scent of the spa home with them,” Ronchetti adds.

In terms of new product development, Aromatherapy Associates introduced The Atomiser last year, bringing automated dosed aromatherapy to the spa and home. Temple Spa has a comprehensive luxury home fragrance collection of aromatherapy candles, diffusers and sprays to create a cocooning scentscape for any occasion.

Meanwhile, Made for Life Organics offers a new diffuser and signature candle based on a relaxing combination of ylang ylang, lavender and geranium. Elemental Herbology has added a new diffuser to its Harmony collection, and Voya has launched a Coconut and Jasmine Candle as part of its home retail range. Finally, ESPA offers an Aromatic Essential Oil Diffuser as well as candles, mists and diffusers in many of its key signature blends.

www.templespa.com | www.madeforlifeorganics.com www.elementalherbology.com | www.espaskincare.com www.aromatherapyassociates.com | www.voya.ie

Clear and fresh

Elemis has added two new skin-clarifying products to its comprehensive collection of spa skincare.

Clarifying Clay Wash is a purifying kaolin clay-based facial wash that deeply cleanses to lift away excess oil and makeup while visibly reducing the look of blemishes and blackheads.

Specifically formulated for oily or blemish-prone skin, the non-drying formula soothes and visibly improves clarity. Boldo leaf extract helps purify the skin while improving the appearance of pores, while hawthorn extract balances the microbiome of blemish-prone skin, leaving it feeling soothed and purified.

Promising clearer skin in two weeks, the lightweight, soothing Clarifying Serum is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of blemishes, visible pores and blackheads.

Ideal for oily skin, this balancing formula helps to visibly clear the appearance of blemishes without causing dryness. Willowherb extract calms and soothes, boldo leaf extract helps purify and improve clarity, and prebiotic gluco-oligosaccharide finely balances the skin’s natural functions, leaving it clearer and more even with improved texture and smoothness.

www.elemis.com

The Hydration Edit

Elemental Herbology’s Hydration Edit is a collection of the brand’s new and best-selling products to moisturise and hydrate the skin.

Developed to create an at-home spa experience, the discovery-size products provide haircare as well as skincare for the face and body.

Presented in a limited-edition reusable drawstring bag along with a luxury towelling headband, The Hydration Edit includes Hyaluronic Booster, Cell Plumping Moisturiser, Soothe Bath and Body Oil, Neroli and Bergamot Shampoo, and Neroli and Bergamot Conditioner.

The brand’s hero Cell Plumping Moisturiser works to plump, hydrate and nourish dry skin while improving the skin’s natural barrier, reducing sensitivity and increasing elasticity with royal jelly, co-enzyme Q10 and evening primrose.

Based on the five elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine – wood, fire, earth, metal and water – Elemental Herbology products are formulated free from artificial colours, mineral oils, SLS and parabens.

www.elementalherbology.com

Super serum

Natura Bissé has introduced Diamond Extreme Serum, an energising rejuvenating skin serum, formulated with Smart Energy Complex.

The innovative complex includes artemia salina, a marine ingredient obtained from plankton, which is capable of withstanding the most extreme conditions, and peony root extract, which helps revive the appearance of the skin. The serum is reinforced with ingredients that complement the skin’s own natural cycles of rebalancing during the day and replenishing at night.

ChronoSkin helps to redress the negative effects that altered circadian rhythms can have on the complexion, caused by external and lifestyle factors such as stress, blue light from digital devices, health issues or lack of sleep. Mastic crystal tear oil, obtained from drops of resin from trees that only grow on the Greek island of Chios, and the peptide ingredient peptixyl proyouth help skin to recover its youthful-looking appearance.

The formula is boosted with a prebiotic and antioxidant cocktail that helps maintain the hydration barrier. The result is flawless, luminous, firmer looking skin with fewer visible lines and wrinkles.

www.naturabisse.com

The perfect lift

Inspired by medical-cosmetic lifting techniques, Biologique Recherche has developed Platysma, a facial contour lifting mask.

Designed to act on sagging skin, double-chins and cutaneous ptosis, or eye-lid droop, the mask is infused with a formula of highly concentrated lifting and firming active ingredients, including sweet white lupin peptides, helichrysum stoechas extract and marine exopolysaccharide from the Iroise Sea. These work to improve structural and functional support of the skin tissue, balancing volumes and redefining facial contours.

Black crowberry plant juice and rye extract stimulate the synthesis of essential components of the extracellular matrix, improving the skin’s biomechanical properties and restoring elasticity and firmness. Red seaweed, tara fruit complex and cassava extract are said to offer a real tightening and lifting effect and the facial features are said to be left immediately firmer with contours visibly restructured.

The mask’s fabric is universal in shape and stretchable, ensuring it suits a range of face shapes and perfectly adapts to the area under the chin.

www.biologique-recherche.com

Supplementary health

ESPA has developed a range of wellbeing supplements created by nutritional experts, dietitians and biological studies. The phyto-active, vegan-certified ESPA Supplements range includes one powder and three elixirs that mix into water, smoothies and recipes to nourish the body, boosting natural beauty and calm from within.

Active Nutrients Pro Glow Beauty & Wellbeing Powder contains copper, vitamins A, C and E and ashwagandha, which protect cells from oxidative stress, helping to promote a radiant glow.

Active Nutrients Hydration Shot Beauty & Wellbeing Elixir contains aloe vera, grapeseed extract, hyaluronic acid and coconut water. The elixir also includes bio-ferment, vitamins and minerals to improve psychological function.

Resilience Skin Defence Beauty & Wellbeing Elixir contains riboflavin to fortify the skin, vitamin B12 to support immunity and pantothenic acid to help reduce fatigue. This elixir also contains inulin for healthy digestion and resilience.

Regenerating Skin Renewal Beauty & Wellbeing Elixir is a supplement targeting the visible signs of ageing with a clinically proven complex for a brighter and illuminated complexion featuring vitamin C, zinc, hyaluronic acid, grapeseed, and melon.

www.espaskincare.com

Marine magic

Thalgo has added a new range of marine cleansers to its popular Éveil à La Mer collection, formulated with micronised marine algae filtrate, a complex that includes nine marine minerals and trace elements, and five essential marine micronutrients to revitalise skin on a daily basis.

Reviving Marine Mist draws on the benefits of seawater, boasting 92 minerals and trace elements to replenish, hydrate and fortify the skin. Marine Algae Solid Cleanser combines micronised marine algae to cleanse and purify, with softening, soothing and antioxidant calendula oil. Foaming Cleansing Lotion features micronised marine algae extract to gently cleanse and refresh skin with aloe vera to hydrate and soften.

Velvet Cleansing Milk includes micronised marine algae extract and grape-seed oil to thoroughly remove make-up and comfort even reactive and sensitive skin.

Beautifying Tonic Lotion has a slightly gel-like texture with a subtle marine fragrance to suit all skin types. Micellar Cleansing Water refreshes and revitalises skin in one step, while Micellar Cleansing Eye-Gel offers a fragrance-free fresh gel-in-water texture that is suitable for contact lens-wearers and those with lash extensions.

www.thalgo.co.uk

Cleansed to perfection

OTO’s is releasing a new innovation for stressed skin that is currently available exclusively in the UK as part of signature facials at Montcalm East, Nàdarra Spa at the Coniston and Holte Spa at The Swan, which recently opened in the Lake District.

The unique dual-purpose Cleansing Jam Exfoliator works to exfoliate, cleanse and nourish without stripping the skin’s delicate barrier.

The product features hemp-seed oil, which works to nourish and lock in moisture within the skin. Rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it protects and soothes, balancing sebum production to prevent breakouts.

Rosemary and holy basil oil target impurities, while jojoba seeds and AHA fruit extract help to unclog pores and remove dead cells.

www.otocbd.com

Intense nourishment and protection

Developed to improve chronically dry skin, Sothys’s Intense Nutrition line aims to balance the skin barrier and help ease skin tightness, redness and discomfort.

The line includes a number of nature-derived ingredients, including organic argan oil, rich in omega 6 and 9 and vitamin E; grapevine flower plant stem cells; and phytosqualane derived from olive oil. These work to rebuild the protective barrier and offer comfort by restoring a good quality hydrolipidic film on the skin.

Ultra-lipid SOS Serum, with its dry texture, immediately soothes and restores balance to the skin’s ecosystem. The ingredients are boosted by the addition of pollen extract, wheatgerm and phytosqualane.

Nutritive Replenishing Rich Cream and Ultra Rich Cream rebuild the protective barrier, protect the skin microbiota and comfort the skin with shea butter, centella asiatica and phytosqualane.

www.sothys.com

Lavender haze

Voya’s Lavender Body Wrap is a soothing spa treatment that offers a full-body sensory experience exciting the senses of smell, touch and taste with a lavender scrub and body butter, and concluding with calming tea.

The treatment begins with a deep body-brush exfoliation to remove dry cells and stimulate the skin, leaving it looking renewed, radiant and velvety soft. For spas with a wet room, there is an additional lavender and seaweed sugar scrub. The experience then features a warm application of lavender body butter before the guest is cocooned in Voya’s organic muslin cloth for a relaxing head massage. To conclude, a calming tea is offered, allowing the guest to fully immerse themselves in the present moment.

www.voya.ie

The circle of hydration

Dermalogica has introduced an innovative new hydrating serum to address lifestyle factors that cause the skin to be parched and dehydrated. Circular Hydration Serum takes a whole-skin approach to moisturising, delivering hydration and replenishing the skin from within. Its unique formula also works to prevent future moisture evaporation.

Hyaluronic acid offers deep hydration to create more supple, radiant skin over time. This enhances skin moisture levels for greater resilience while minimising the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is paired with an algae extract-infused moisturising matrix to provide immediate and long-lasting hydration, improving the skin barrier and reducing transepidermal water loss.

Polyglutamic acid derived from fermented soy germs improves skin hydration from within, trapping water on the skin`s surface, and helps improve the appearance of firmness. Plant-derived sugars and a blend of amino acids also help to deliver long-lasting hydration.

www.dermalogica.co.uk

Smart skincare

Swissline has added Smart Rich Cream to its Cell Shock Age Intelligence range. This super-hydrating day cream features a velvety texture designed to envelop and cocoon the skin with hydration while boosting the integrity of its barrier function.

The formula includes a vegan alternative to animal-originated squalene, believed to be the most important fatty acid present in human sebum. Ceramides are natural lipids that help to strengthen the epidermal barrier against transepidermal water loss. Madecassoside and ectoin ease stress-induced conditions and restore the skin’s ability to repair itself, while adenosine triphosphate boosts cellular energy and improves the skin’s metabolism.

NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor) combines active ingredients including amino and fatty acids, triglycerides, urea, ceramides, phospholipids, sodium PCA and sodium lactate. This premier complex also contains arginine, aspartic acid, PCA, glycine, alanine, serine, valine, proline, threonine, isoleucine, histidine and phenylalanine to mimic the skin’s own hydration functions.

www.swissline-cosmetics.com

A season of new beginnings

Mii Cosmetics’ New Beginnings collection draws inspiration from the spring, a season of renewal, to incorporate a fresh and lively, natural colour palette. The range echoes freshly emerging buds, earthly awakenings and the world coming back to life, with names designed to inspire and capture the essence of the shade.

“The collection, like spring, is to provide a sense of excitement that should accompany any new beginning. Each colour represents the start of your story and aims to evoke a different feel and offer a different direction for the wearer,” says Paul Gerrard, head of brand communications at Gerrard International.

The collection includes: Stranger Than Truth, a mysterious powder blue with a grey undertone; All Eyes Fell Upon Her, a wonderous peachy pink; She Humbled Him, an empowering soft pale lavender; Her Intentions Were Clear, a no-nonsense cotton candy pink; Careful. It’s Loaded, a dramatic, yet elegant soft lilac with a grey undertone; and The World Swiftly Changed, a dusty rose pink offering endless possibilities.

The colours will be available in 9ml, 14ml retail sizes and a 13ml professional-only Statement Gel option.

www.miicosmetics.com

Hebridean heaven

ishga has introduced a retail Seaweed Bath that offers a relaxing and remineralising way to create an at-home spa bathing experience. Drawing on its brand heritage, wild fucus serratus seaweed is hand-harvested from the pure, pristine waters of the Hebrides, ishga’s home.

Calming and relaxing, ishga’s Seaweed Bath helps to soothe aches and pains and can also benefit skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and acne.

Rich in polyphenol antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and bioactive polysaccharides, Hebridean seaweed is a healing, skin-nurturing plant that remineralises the body, leaving the skin and hair hydrated. Naturally occurring magnesium and iodine offer anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties. Helping to fight damaging free radicals and skin ageing, seaweed also helps to improve skin elasticity.

Organic hyaluronic and alginic acids help to strengthen the skin’s connective tissue and attract moisture, enabling the cells to lock in hydration, giving a plumping effect.

www.ishga.com

European Spa selects the best professional product launches for spas. Contact mark.smith@spapublishing.com