Bath or shower? I’m usually a shower person. Perennially chasing my tail and worrying about everything, the protracted process of taking a bath stresses me out more than it relaxes me. That’s probably also got something to do with the hideous, mildew-y bathrooms that seem to be de rigueur in rented East Village apartments.
So on the occasion that I do draw a bath I want it to be the most glorious, self-indulgent experience with so much loveliness around me that I forget about all the things I should be doing instead. I need a deep bath, preferably set on feet in a divine bathroom, candles, a good book, sliced fruit, a big glass of iced water to hand, music in the background and, above all, some really, really good oil or bubble bath.
Since I arrived back in England I’ve been wallowing in my mother’s glorious bathroom, testing out various bath potions that I’ve been sent for possible review, ignoring both my laptop and my mother shrieking at me that she can’t work her computer.
Most impressive line so far, in terms of scent and my skin afterwards, is Abahna. Set up by owner Claire Croft in 2006, the inspiration behind the brand is the long and varied history of bathing rituals. There are four fragrances (my favourite is the White Grapefruit & May Chang which has just the right amount of citrus to uplift, rather than overpower), and the range contains everything necessary for indulgent bathing from bath oils to salt scrubs.
The packaging is absolutely ravishing, far, far nicer than Jo Malone, I think, with a pretty floral pattern and lovely casings. Wonderful for presents.
Since I was so impressed with the range, Abahna then very kindly offered three of their wonderful Foam blending sets which retail for £40.00 each for my readers. The set speaks to the rituals that inspired the line as the bather creates their own bathing addition.
I do rather lust after one of these: the set contains three Abahna essential oil blends and a flacon of unscented bath foam. Pour a little bath foam into the ceramic bowl and use the coconut and mother of pearl spoon to mix together your bathing potion. (The bath foam contains gentle coconut-based cleansers with skin conditioning organic honey, aloe vera and chamomile, and is free from parabens, SLS & SLES & artificial colourings.)
The three 100% essential oil blends are: White Grapefruit & May Chang, Frankincense & Sweet Orange, and Himalayan Cedarwood & Rose Otto.
So to enter for a chance to receive one of THREE of these sets just in time for de-stressing over Christmas (ha!), simply leave a comment below to tell me what essential thing you need to take a a bath. Loofah? Roberts Radio? — no — by not in, real sponge, waterproof pillow?
Keep it clean: no smut please!
www.abahna.co.uk
{ 100 comments… read them below or add one }
all i need is dark silence…
I think you have everything covered ie. candles, roberts radio, book, luxurious bath products.…
how about dangling feet and hands over the sides whilst someone gives you a fabulous manicure and pedicure, a non slip bath mat in the bath to stop you from drowning and a telescopic book holder, that pulls put from the wall, so you don’t have to use your hands and saves the book from getting wet!
Many things:
1. Bath (nice and big — I am dreaming of having white bath in my bedroom — ok, dream girl, dream)
2. My iPhone with some relaxing music (you will be surprised but relaxing is for example Metallica)
3. BUBBLES. Huge, huge cloud of bubbles! Greatiness of bublesssss. My pressssioussss. Bubbliness of bubbles.
4. Nice smell.
5. My animals near bath. Big dog and two rabbits with ADHD. Thats why I need bath in my room!
A good book and plenty of hot water for top-ups!
Just several moments of no pager beeps, cell phone noises, landline rings, or email alerts! Heaven!
Ooooo– that looks so pretty.
Candlelight and a glass of wine are my bathtime essentials.
I like all manner of sybaritic delights, but a clean bathtub is essential — or there is no bath.
Oh… what do I need to take a bath? Well, there are two sorts of bath. There is bath-with-baby and bath-with-nobody. Fun as the former is, I think I prefer the latter (if that isn’t too disloyal to said baby!). And my needs are simple — peace and quiet. Maybe a book (but not a magazine — too heavy to hold out of the water). Maybe a box of Charbonnel et Walker pink champagne truffles. Maybe even a glass of… but no. All I really *need* is the luxury of some peace.
A facemask and a glass of wine!
The perfect bathing experience for me?
Kids in bed so no chance of bath invasion. Deep hot bath, bubbles galore.
Simple un-interrupted relaxation.
Bliss.
My ideal bathing environment would include…
1. a deep bathtub that I can fill up to my hearts content with hot water and lots of bubbles.
2. a good mix of relaxing music from La Traviata to Adele
3. beautiful, fresh smelling candles
4. no roommate anywhere in the apartment
5. AND a glass of Leitz 2007 Riesling Kabinett
Perfection!
Nylon or Vogue magazines or a great book.
I’ve just graduated with a degree in English Literature. As one would imagine, i’m still revelling in being an absolute book snob — able to namedrop ridiculously complex books (which I obviously haven’t read, but had cause to look up on wikipedia).
But baths are my own time: I can read absolutely whatever I want, and (I imagine!) my fellow English grads will have no idea that I’ve not only abandoned the dreaming spires for law, but for Jilly Cooper, Georgette Hayer and other books of frivolity and decadance.
Perfect bathtime reading.
Lights off, window open, hot bath, and preferably rain coming down hard and fast outside.…= the perfect bath.….
it has to be an en-suite bathroom with a fluffy white bath sheet hanging on a lovely warm towel rail, Eve Lom rescue mask, candle light only, glossy magazine (somehow it doesn’t seem such a crime if a magazine gets wet but it does if a book does..), radio 4 with something interesting tho 7 or classic would be good, not too long (in length) a bath otherwise you keep sliding down, bubbles. And then to get into bed with lovely clean white cotton sheet (linen if someone else is doing the ironing) and being able to read a bit more…
All I need for my perfect bath is my thoughts and my Fortnum and Mason Rose bath oil. Wonderful!
Cup of tea, or, if I can afford it — champagne.
Avoiding smut here as that can sometimes feature in my bathtime ritual I will leave it out, and just keep in the clean bits. I love any product that will scrub away the days stresses and if it contains oils that also helps my often parched skin, very hot water (I’m not sure how good the heat is, but I don’t care), and then a rich sweet smelling lotion to blend into my glistening (from the bath and scrub) skin… that just about does it for me.…
Some exfoliating gloves, a good intensive conditioner whilst relaxing, and lastly but most importantly; time and silence. Lxx
I need a freestanding clawfoot tub. And lots of bubbles. Spoiled? Yes, I know. Oh, and a book on tape is really nice, too.
Candles lit, fine scents, very hot water and lots of foamy bubbles!
Maybe it is silly, but I need…time. I always promise to myself a good long bath and I end taking a shower.
All I really need for a bath to be perfect is a book…but not just any book. I Capture The Castle is the ultimate bath-time book (I appreciate the bath all the more as I’m not doing a Cassandra, sitting on the colander with the wind howling down the chimney. Tho’ I do like to think my life will be change forever as I’m in there).
I’m with SAK: darkness.
(I’ll assume I’m out of the running for this prize, though, since I won something already.)
warm water and a nice fluffy bath towel!
Hot steaming water, fluffy towels, a book and a glass of wine. And the children in bed!!
hmmm, I’d say an Abahna Bathing Foam set apparently ;o)
a big, CLEAN bathtub!
Sounds divine. My sister swears crushing a couple of uncoated aspirins into a hot bath works wonders for sore muscles and brains.
Hot water is my essential. I have a temperamental boiler and have lost count of the number of times I’ve ended up shivering in a tepid bath. Rubbish.
Definitely a good book. I read until the water gets cold and I have to run top-up after top-up!
I HAVE to have a good stiff long-handled back brush. Especially in winter I feel that I’m not really clean or revitalized until I can exfoliate mechanically. After using a brush to scratch my back I can lean back and luxuriate in the soapy water, and finally when done and dried off, put on flannel pjs and cuddle up with my dogs. Nothing better!
Candles, bubbles and a good book!
Hana
Either a book, the radio, or someone to talk to is essential.
Books are dangerous though, because I normally only take a bath when stressed, and hence use lavender essential oil, which puts me straight to sleep. Great for the stress, not so great for the book I end up dipping in the bath
Try cardamon essential oil, that makes for an amazing bath.
Candles… glass of champagne… bubbles… and a warm fluffy towel to wrap up in after. A waterproof magazine would be a useful invention!
An empty house — I hate even the possibility of being disturbed! For me, the ultimately relaxing effect of a bath is not having to bother with anybody for at leat 45 minutes…
My essentials…A long and deep enough bathtub, plenty of scalding hot water, a favourite book, and time.
Everything else — scented oil, candles, huge fluffy towel, music (all of these, or a combination) — is icing on the cake.
RS
it’s naughty but as a rare treat.…with the heating on full and the window wide open!
heaven to stare out at the huge trees in the old graveyard at the end of our garden, and if i’m lucky enjoy the sound and smell of november rain!
x
Good question — I have a bath twice a day, in the morning to perk me up and in the evening to wash away my urban sins.
The ingredients for a good morning bath ritual include:
**Body brushing
**Bath filled with Himalayan bath salts and a few drops of orange blossom
**Using leftover coffee grains from morning pot to scrub thighs using upward movement (this really works)
**A delicatly scented body oil or cream with citrusy undertones
Evening baths or weekend baths, need the following:
**A magazine –such as Sunday Times Style
**Application of a hair mask whilst in the bath
**Lots of sea salt and a few drops of spruce oil in the bath
**Fresh Rosemary tea on the side to choo away the winter to come out feeling cleansed
**Gallons of body moisturiser at hand to lock in moisture
**heated Kimono for graceful bath exit
ok, I am going against the flow… but my must-have ingredient for the perfect bath is my husband. Relaxed, steamy chats from the two ends of our bath tub are the closest thing I have to pillow-talk, as at bed time he falls asleep at the speed of light! and he is not a lazy-Sunday-mornings-in-bed guy. But he loves hot baths. So this is our private, intimate ritual time. Sure, I love my candles, my pillow and my music, but in comparison, they are only nice side dishes compared to the main course
Solitude, darkness and time.
I take a large glass of white wine, a good book and bath oil. Heaven.
a good book, and someone to wrangle a 2.5 year old and a 12 day old to somewhere where I can’t hear them…
I need good relaxing music, and that the water + room is warm — I hate taking a bath in a cold room
A babysitter! And a good book.
Aussie shampoo and conditioner, the kind that gives shiny, boofy hair with volume!
A Nancy Mitford book and some Lindor. Perfect.
A good book, a cup of tea and silence (or earplugs)
My perfect bathtime… It would have to be one of those massive old fashioned bathrooms with a chandelier and a huge freestanding ball & claw bath standing in front of a roaring fire… Rain beating down outside… candles everywhere and a really good book.
Dead Sea bath salts and a large, clean tub.
My little girl being fast asleep and the luxury of quiet