As someone who spends a substantial time in the bathroom, I feel like I am most equipped to talk about this—(half) kidding. Ever since I was a kid, my mom would call me out for taking incredibly long showers, but I later realized it was because I enjoyed every step and savored the products on my shelf.
Fast forward to adulthood and not much has changed, though this time, I find myself gearing toward certain scents like citrus to uplift, honey or sweet scents that make me feel cozy, and so on. But why do we have certain scent preferences, especially with our skin and body care products?
“The thing with scent is that it’s wildly subjective,” shares Mark Zavalla, the man behind SAAN SAAN, a candle and home scents studio. “It’s not as common or essential as food or music or other sensory interests or needs, but it’s one of the strongest senses that have a direct link to our behavior or state of mind. And that is the whole idea of aromatherapy.”
The word ‘scent’ actually came from the Latin word ‘sentir,’ which means to feel. So really, to smell is to feel.
Scent can elevate our daily rituals, down to the most mundane things. Slathering on your favorite lotion can set you up to have a great day by making sure you’re in a good mood while soaking in a relaxing bath at night can contribute to a good night’s sleep. We also tend to gravitate towards certain scents because of nostalgia or life-altering moments in the past, because our olfactory nerves are connected to memory—that can be choosing scents similar to the ocean because you grew up spending summers in the beach. “I learned this just recently,” Zavalla says. “The word ‘scent’ actually came from the Latin word ‘sentir,’ which means to feel. So really, to smell is to feel.”
This is probably another reason for those long showers, bath soaks, or even a multiple-step skincare routine, it allows us to take care of not just our physical body, but also our mental and emotional state because scents can transcend in that way.
“For me, aromatherapy is one of the many ancient ways to thrive in the world,” says Sheryl Ebon Martinez, a ceramicist and a tea and zen practitioner, “I’ve always relied on lavender to help me get a good night’s sleep whether it’s by lotion, scented oil, or tea. Spearmints or any minty scents can keep me alert when I’m doing an important task, while sandalwood or agarwood are my scents of choice when meditating.”
Martinez also incorporates aromatherapy through incense, “In meditation, the length of the incense stick also serves as a timer to the beginning and end of the meditation so that there are no unnecessary words required to start or finish a sit.” In this case, scents can help us be mindful of every moment in our lives, it brings awareness to the things we do. “If you extend that to other activities like bathing or showering, putting on an aromatic lotion that pulls you right in the present, then we can relieve ourselves of needless anxiety and overthinking,” she adds.
Now look at your shelves and wonder why you pick the ones that you do—is it connected to scents and memories? You might be surprised by the answer. Below, we’ve rounded up a list for you to stock up on these favorites to elevate your daily bathroom routine and inspire mindfulness.
Le Labo Hinoki Shampoo and Conditioner
Le Labo, a fragrance brand hailing from New York City, is now open in Manila. Known for their line-up of fine fragrances that are compounded in-house, they also offer grooming and home essentials.
Bring the warm and mesmerizing Hinoki scent to your bathroom in the form of a deeply nourishing shampoo and conditioner. The scent is inspired by Buddhist temples of Mount Koya in Japan which are surrounded by hinoki trees.
Le Labo Hinoki Shampoo
Available at Le Labo, Greenbelt 5
Le Labo Hinoki Conditioner
Available at Le Labo, Greenbelt 5
For Keeps Clean Beauty Soap Set — Cleanse, Unwind, Arise
A clean beauty brand founded by women, they strive to create products that are effective and safe for both the body and the environment.
Their soaps are made with cold-pressed ingredients that preserve the nutrients. It comes in mini bars to allow one to experience each variant. Cleanse makes sure to deep clean the skin without drying it out, Arise energizes and uplifts the mood, while Unwind soothes and aids in sleep.
For Keeps Clean Beauty Soap Set — Cleanse, Unwind, Arise
P275, Lazada
Drunk Elephant Sugared Koffie Almond Milk Body Scrub
Drunk Elephant is unmistakable with its cute packaging that’s made with biocompatible ingredients, allowing one to mix and match depending on your needs.
This body scrub is made with straightforward ingredients like powdered coffee beans and brown sugar, as well as moisturizing oils to nourish the skin. Who doesn’t love the aroma of coffee to wake up the senses and slough off dead skin cells?
Drunk Elephant Sugared Koffie Almond Milk Body Scrub
P1,750, LOOK
L:a Bruket Sea Salt Bath in Mint
A natural and organic skincare brand that was founded in Sweden, L:a Bruket aims to never compromise on ingredients and to eventually train your skin to perform better in the long run.
Baths are made extra luxurious with the addition of this peppermint bath salt. It soothes muscles and it is said to trigger anti-inflammatory responses in the body. The scent also helps clear the sinuses!
L:a Bruket Sea Salt Bath – Mint
P1,900, Rustan’s
Diptyque Satin Oil for Body and Hair
Founded in Paris, France during the 1960s, Diptyque remains to be one of the go-to brands for fine perfumes and home scents.
This dry, satin oil that smells of jasmine promises to soothe and enhance the skin and revitalize the hair. Spritz on at any time of the day for a quick moisturizing boost!
Diptyque Satin Oil for Body and Hair
P3,700, Adora
Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm
This skin, hair, and body care brand from Melbourne, Australia offers a line of well-curated products that enhance daily living.
Awaken the senses with this citrus-based body balm that refreshes and softens the skin. It’s perfect for Philippine weather as it is easily absorbed. A quick tip is to store this in the fridge for an added cooling sensation!
Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm
P1,900, Aesop
Wonderhome Naturals Organic Pre Poo Spray in Mind-Clearing Eucalyptus Oil
Here is a locally founded brand that aims to create clean cleaning materials for home and personal use. They are distinguished by their use of bio-plastic for their containers, a combination of ocean-harvested plastic mixed with bio-wheat.
This handy pre-poo spray kills 99.9 percent of germs found on toilet seats and it also traps poo odor for your peace of mind.
Wonderhome Naturals Organic Pre Poo Spray in Mind-Clearing Eucalyptus Oil
P110, Lazada
SAAN SAAN Reed Diffuser No. 10 Kung Tag-Araw
SAAN SAAN is a soy candle and home scent studio that inspires mindful living.
Keep your bathroom, or in this case, any room in your house smelling great with this reed diffuser reminiscent of an endless summer. It features notes of lemon, bergamot, sampaguita, olive, and pine.
