I tried a totally feelgood treatment at this underground Edinburgh spa

Contributed

It amazes me how many people still don’t know about Edinburgh’s Lush Spa, even though it’s been there for 11 years.

As much as I’d like it all to myself, I will not be the gatekeeper for this lovely destination, which is down a staircase at the back of the ethical beauty brand’s Princes Street shop.

I’m all for sharing my experiences, including the most recent. First of all, I was booked in for one of their free fragrance consultations with Lisa.

This took place down in the spa, where it’s quiet and you can smell a few of their creations without distraction. It feels a bit like I’m having my fortune read, as Lisa asks me to pick three cards with words written on them - one each for morning, afternoon and evening. I go for Confidence, then Inspiration, and Grounding. She also asks me what I enjoy in a perfume, and I say herbal notes.

Off she scurries upstairs, before returning with Lord of Misrule, Pansy and Karma. I can’t do the classic orange and patchouli Karma, which came out in 1995, because a friend used to wear it. The black pepper and patchouli Lord of Misrule is great, but a bit too wintery.

Pansy is gorgeous. “Is it new?” I ask. Nope, it was released in 1993. It’s the rosemary that attracts me, and the bergamot. We have a winner, though I do also love their body sprays, including the biscuity and comforting Supermilk.

For the next part of my sensory experience, I’m booked in with therapist Kris for the Synaesthesia treatment, which incorporates light, colour, taste and smell.

To decide on what products, scents and moves he’ll be using, I’m again invited to choose a word, this time from a selection in a paragraph written on a board. There’s Belonging, Mischief (does anyone ever choose this? Kris says they do), Peace, Inspiration and other words. I go for Resilience.

Once I’m in the treatment room, a cloud of ylang-ylang scented dry ice emanates from under the bed. Oh, I am a sucker for Lush’s theatrical stuff.

The 80-minute full body medium pressure massage, which is choreographed to a soundtrack that includes folky music, and the sounds of nature, is totally joyous. Kris, who has been at this spa since it opened, is up there with the best masseurs I’ve ever had. My highlights included the stretching moves up the side of my neck, from clavicle to jaw, with a cool peppermint-scented massage bar. Also, when a cool stone is slid down my spine one way, while a hot stone goes in the other direction.

I feel lengthened and stretched, and totally chilled.

Afterwards, I’m served a cup of Dorset black tea at the spa’s kitchen table, and Kris gives me the remainder of the cocoa-buttery massage bar and a bath bomb to take away.

I use it in my tub the next day, and, as it gets down to the last fizz, a scrap of paper appears. On it is the word resilience, with an extract from Elizabeth-Jane Burnett’s poem from her book Swims. What a gorgeous experience.

I’m no gatekeeper. You have to try this.

Synaesthesia is £160 for 80 minutes and fragrance consultations are free at Lush Spa, 115 Princes Street, Edinburgh (0131-225 4688, www.lush.com)

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