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One of the ultimate luxuries is a firm but relaxing massage with oil seeping generously into your body, even as the aromas of the essential oils lift your spirits, and relax and recharge you. We handpick some of the most relaxing massage oils that promise not just to rejuvenate the senses but also to relax them.

Calm oil

The Body Shop has launched a new range of massage oils, including one called Divine Calm. Seeped in almond oil, it has lavender and camomile essential oils (priced at Rs 795). Along with this oil, we also recommend The Body Shop’s Sensual series of oils, particularly one with ylang ylang and vanilla essence, and also its unfragranced massage oil with birch and twinflower extracts.

Essential rules

Speaking of oils, I can vouch for some of the essential oils from Blossom Kochhar. Reasonably priced, these are an absolute must for massage lovers. But hey, do you know how to use the essential oils that come in those tiny bottles? No, don’t go slathering them and finishing them off in one go.

Instead, make your own concoction — take some (a generous amount) of olive oil in a bottle, add unfragranced almond oil, a little coconut oil and a few drops of essential oils, shake it, and you’re ready for that excellent massage. We recommend Kochhar’s rosemary essential oil along with the bath and body oils for “fatigue”, “freshness” and “mind clarity”. These “mood” and essential oils are priced between Rs 100-150 a bottle.

Flower power

Some of the massage oils from French luxury salon Jean-Claude Biguine have special properties that not just tone and tighten but also help keep the skin supple, even as they nourish it. Priced anywhere between Rs 1,500 and Rs 4,870, these oils have active ingredients like sunflower, sesame, hazelnut and wheat-germ extracts to prevent the skin from ageing quickly.

Grape good

L’Occitane, a well-known international brand, was brought into India by Ravissant some years ago. The French brand has come out with a new range of massage and essential oils, of which we pick the grape beauty body oil (price: Rs 1,210) that claims to prevent dry skin while also toning it. Enriched with softening grape seed oil, cypress and lemon essential oils, the grape beauty massage oil claims to have the goodness of Vitamin A that nourishes the skin leaving it satin soft and delicately scented.