Exquisite
Life a Cut Above | September 2007
Singapore Spa Trends
Spa'rty Away!
Singapore spa parties are as hot as ever. By Lingesque
Get one notch up on the party scene. And no, it's no big deal if you are known as the walking GPS of the
newest nightspots, or if you are always the first one in with the details of the big gig coming to town.
No, just not good enough if your evening hangouts do not include one or two spas as your party favourites.
Spa parties, introduced to Singapore back in 1999, have now come of age. Today, the good category spas all offer some form of spa party package. To the uninitiated, party and spa appear to be at opposite ends of
the wellness spectrum. One packs you with toxins from smoke and drinks and leaves you with disturbed rest.
The other detoxifies and relaxes and leaves you with a good sleep afterwards. But spa parties are a different
breed. No barbequed buffalo wings, ham and cheese toasts or vodka punch. Instead, the menu features
hydrotherapy, body polishes, aroma massages and cocoons, and perhaps, a healthy organic cracker and
antioxidants-rich grapefruit juice.
A growing number of ladies (and gentlemen, too, we are told) are getting hooked and booking appointments
for 4 to 6 or more to have an evening out at the spa together. Spa parties feature all the sociable fun of a
gathering minus the fats and alcohol. Plus, the tariff is very attractive. Each person enjoys a better value-added
spa package than they would normally be able to get as individual walk-in customers. Even more, if the standard party menu does not tempt, the spa managers will also be able to customise the experience to suit the hostess'
special requirements, including designating exclusive use of private rooms and Jacuzzi tubs or cordoning off a
lovely corner of the spa floor for the party guests' use. No wonder they are becoming de rigueur as an exotic
get-together for hen nights, birthday celebrations or as part of corporate incentive packages.
So, where are the well-heeled and the beautiful heading to in the evenings for their secret party? We share
our favourite spas and their signature treatments. Make sure that we'll be on your next guest list!
We are now at (from September 2009):
2 Orchard Turn #03-25 ION Orchard
Singapore 238801
Appointments: 65093900
Web: www.estheva.com
The attentive service and exquisite chandelier at the reception of ESTHEVA welcomes new visitors with a hint of posh indulgence to come. Nestled within the grand Palais Renaissance, at the far side of the busy
Orchard Road belt, ESTHEVA has been the beauty haven of those who enjoy the finer thing of life, and what’s more, it’s a convenient
stop after a day’s shopping at the high fashion boutiques housed within the same building, Within a few years of establishment, ESTHEVA has attracted a steady clientele of socialites and high-flyers, and also boasts of a list of overseas members, of whom may book appointments before they even touch down at Changi. A mainly ladies-only environment, ESTHEVA is famous in Singapore for the quality Swiss spa facials and its very own Choc De-Ager© body treatment that has satisfied many. Every lady is made to feel extra special, fussed over by the team of experienced, certified therapists.
To organise a party at their premises, it may be useful to know that ESTHEVA was the first to have introduced the spa party concept to Singapore. You can be assured that they have the extensive experience in managing such events. Consultants will tailor the special party to cater to every fanciful idea that the party hostess might have, or they can propose some fresh ideas too, should you run out of these. They can also easily prepare post-spa refreshments for
your party, such as juicy strawberries in a freshly-warmed chocolate fondue. During the party itself, the hostess can
sit back and rest assured that everyone will have a very pampering good time, herself included.
From the moment guests step into the spa, a hint of flora scent relaxes harried nerves and sets the tone for the rest of the evening. At the Retreat Space, guests have the leisure of settling in slowly, catching up with each other. Then, consultants talk to each guest and work out a course of treatment that is suitable for each person's condition. Guests are then ushered into their private treatment rooms for a series of sensuous aroma-infused spa treats. The house-style can be quite a relief for spa virgins; good news if you are planning on inviting your girlfriends who are new to the spa experience. Thankfully, like all good spas, the therapists respect the sensibilities of all guests. There is always a batik sheet between therapist and client each time the latter is asked to disrobe and lie down. Each spa does this differently. At ESTHEVA, the style is subtle but it works wonderfully, leaving the guest with maximum privacy but also with the knowledge that the therapist is always in attendance to address any concerns.
No matter what one chooses, every treatment is splurge-worthy as only the finest products are used, from the collagen and caviar facials to the luxurious Full BodySmooth or the Citrus Body Massage. And then there is the Choc De-Ager Programme, which is the creme de la creme of the spa services offered here, in all senses of the word. After a full body scrub, a luscious concoction of pure cocoa powder warmed in oil is drizzled onto the body. The sensation of the molten chocolate contouring itself around your body is phenomenal. The chocolatier then kneads away every knot in your body like you are the next praline creation. The chocolate sauce is smoothed into the skin from the toes all the way up, so ensuring maximum benefits from the anti-ageing phenolic compounds found in chocolate.
Chocolate treatment? Before you say "oh-so-gimmicky", or ask whether it's a bad idea for sensitive skin, rest assured that it is not a gimmick nor a bad idea. As only all-natural ingredients of high purity are used, ESTHEVA's assurance is that there will be no skin irritation or comodogenic effects afterwards. In fact, after trying it once, customers have been returning for more, sweating that it leaves their skin soft and supple for one month after the session.
The real benefits and uniqueness of the Choc De-Ager Programme make it an obvious favourite for spa parties, and ESTHEVA constantly receives requests for this. As all the ladies cosy up around a Swiss chocolate fondue fountain at the end of their treatments, sharing their "oohs" and "aahs" over cups of tea, even the least creative hostess can look like a pro party planner, putting perhaps even Bree van der Kamp to shame.
Signature Treatments: Choc De-Ager, Collagen C-Matrix Facials, Celebrity Peel and Aviva Massage
Special Facilities: AromaSteam room, Hydrotherapy rooms, Make-Up Room, Retreat Space, VIP Spa Couple Suites [top
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