Essence of Essential Oils

Our Heavenly Spa and Recreation Manager, Ms. Archana Ghemeri gives an insight into the essential oils.

Lavender Oil

• Beauty Benefits: Lavender oil is one of the most versatile oils in nature. The fragrance of Lavender is very relaxing and brings calmness to the body and mind.
• How to use: Apply to chakras or vita flex points for direct inhalation. You can also place the oil in a diffuser and light it with a tea candle to create a sense of tranquility.

Lemon Oil

• Beauty Benefits: Lemon oil is a natural disinfectant.  It improves blood circulation and tones the skin. Lemon oil has various properties like antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic. Lemon oil is very good for the skin, especially on skin with open pores.
• How to use: Lemon oil can be taken internally, diffused, inhaled or applied directly.

Rose Oil 

• Beauty Benefits: Rose hips (the flowers which have swollen seeds) are an excellent source of vitamins A, B3, C, D and E. It is used in treatment for conditions of stress: nervous tension, peptic ulcers, heart disease, among others. Rose oil drops added to a room diffuser can help eliminate stressful emotions giving you a comforting atmosphere as the aroma is intense and floral. 
• How to use: Rose oil can be taken internally, diffused, inhaled or applied directly

Chamomile Oil

• Beauty Benefits: Chamomile Oil is one of the most effective remedy for various ailments. In fact, chamomile is the world's most soothing herb. It helps to relieve anxiety and insomnia.
• How to use: Chamomile oil can be taken internally, diffused, inhaled or applied directly.

Ginger Oil

• Beauty Benefits: Ginger oil properties produce healing action on various parts of the body to show effective results. Ginger oil comes with a cooling and pungent aroma because of it is an expectorant property. The use of ginger oil in treatment of common respiratory conditions such as cold, cough, flu, asthma, and bronchitis have been known since ancient times.
• How to use: To gain relief from various health conditions with the use of ginger oil, you need more than just its therapeutic properties. The more crucial aspect is your choice of method of application, which decides how fast your body is able to absorb the essential qualities of the oil for immediate healing.

Tip for the use of essential oils:  

• Essential oils can be taken internally, diffused, inhaled or applied directly. Below are few tips for the use of essential oil.
• Relieve minor burns by applying 2–3 drops of lavender oil on the affected area.
• Rub rose oil as moisturizer on dry or chapped skin.
• Add a few drops of lavender oil on a cotton ball and place it in closets or drawers to give a scent to your linens and repel moths and insects.
• Minimize the appearance of scar tissue by massaging lavender oil, on or around the affected areas.
• Diffuse essential oil to minimize seasonal discomforts.
• Rub a few drops of lavender essential oil onto your hand and spread over your child’s pillow to help them have a deep sleep.
• Soothe corns, calluses, or bunions by rubbing lemon oil on the affected area every morning and evening.
• Place a few drops of your favorite citrus oil on a cotton ball and put in the refrigerator to help eliminate odors.

Generally asked question, is it advisable to use perfumed essential oils?

“Yes, as it’s naturally extraction from herbs, fruits, flower or barks of the plants, as mentioned above. The percentage of essential oil used in perfumes is high and to prevent any allergic reaction, remember to do a skin patch test if you have never used particular oil such as citrus based or any of the base or carrier oils.” says Ms. Archana Ghemeri, Heavenly Spa and Recreation Manager, The Westin Mumbai Garden City.

“Always remember, when mixing your fragrance you should use glass containers, as some plastic containers and instruments do tend to retain fragrance particles. For mixing the blend never use a metal object, but rather use a glass rod.”

Serenity personified

Enter into the world of calmness; listen to the rhythm of your heartbeat; breathe the aroma of white tea scent, this is just a canvas of the environment in which our Spa & Recreation Manager, Archana Ghemeri works. Ms. Ghemeri is a certified clinical aroma therapist and cosmetologist. She is also an internationally trained therapist. Archana is in this profession for over 15 years. In her kitty, she has worked with prestigious organizations including Taj Hotels and Resorts. Archana’s specialty lie in spa therapies, in setting up an international spa and spa standards in countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka and Dubai. Her focus is not only on spa and spa services but also on spa products and creative menus. She personally designs spa products, spa packages and tries to bring new flavors onto the table. Archana specializes in designing spa itineraries to suit customer’s requirements.

She is a firm believer that every individual is different and every treatment given to those individuals must be unique. Every 3 months, Archana modifies the spa menu according to the season for our Heavenly Spa by Westin. She says that every season has its pros and cons and we at The Heavenly Spa make sure that our clients are treated and renewed with the season. The therapists working alongside Archana are trained to international standards and she personally takes care of their learning. When asked about spa trends in India, she said “It is growing and people are moving ahead with more awareness. The only thing I have observed is that there is lack of knowledge in terms of understanding a spa therapy and its value.” While talking to her, it is clearly evident that a Spa experience is much more than just a massage.

Take a sneak peek into the one on one ‘rapid fire round’ with our Spa and Recreation Manager, Archana Ghemeri offering an insight into her experience and path to success:

Describe a massage?

It is a healing therapy which enhances your mind body and soul for better living.

In the eyes of a Spa Therapist…..

We don’t do massages, we do healing! It is a transfer of energy from one soul to another i.e. a therapist to a client and from a client to a therapist.

The most innovative Spa concept you visited in the world?

A Spa in Maldives, it is below sea level with a view of sea creatures whilst having a treatment.

Best Spa destination

Bali, Indonesia

What you do in your free time?

Try to channelize my energy and focus more on the value of each and every individual’s well being.

The one thing you want to change in yourself?

Try and concentrate to stay positive for a better living.

A tip for being happy and feeling renewed…

Think positive and good things will happen for you.