Amayori: Luxurious Bathing Rituals from Japan

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I’ve been fascinated with Japan since I was a little girl. I especially loved reading books and watching documentaries about centuries-old practices. Whether it’s the steps to properly enjoy an ofuro [traditional Japanese bath], studies of samurai code, royal court chronicles, or beauty secrets of the geisha – there is something so classy and traditional about the Japanese way of life. I think that was when I fell in love with taking baths, and to this day it’s my favorite way to relax and unwind.

Amayori is a brand I discovered on Instagram while browsing beauty hashtags, and it was love at first sight. A combination of amaya [night rain] and kaori [beautifully scented], the name embodies the grace and quiet elegance of Japanese landscapes, traditions, and customs. Inspired by the bathing rituals of Japan, Amayori founder Francoise Decatrel aims to empower women by bringing inner peace and beauty into their lives through relaxing bath experience using the exquisite selection of aromatherapy bath soaks, scrumptious body treatments, refreshing mists, and moisturizing body washes.

Francoise was kind enough to send me several best-sellers to try. I received Hinoki Onsen Shower Mochi [$21, available here], Dreams of Gion Hikaru Multi-Use Oil [$110, available here], The Geisha Ritual Aromatherapy Perfume Oil [$60, available here], and a small sampler pouch with all of the brand’s fragrances [$15, available here].

The Geisha Ritual Aromatherapy Perfume Oil was the first product I tried. I have a special place in my heart for perfume oils, because they last so long on the skin and take a while to develop. With spritz fragrances sometimes your most favorite note in the bouquet is gone before you know it, and that is never the case with oils. Amayori natural botanical perfumes are created not only to make you smell divine, but also to provide aromatherapy benefits. Each blend is made with some of the most exotic and rare essential oils suspended in camellia oil base, which also provides some skincare benefits as well.

The Geisha Ritual fragrance combines notes of Jasmine, Bergamot, and Yellow Mandarin to create a floriental citrus bouquet that smells nothing short of empowering. It’s been a while since I smelled a jasmine note that pure, so I’ve been keeping my rollerball on the desk where I work to reapply throughout the day. Nothing better than surrounding yourself with beautiful scents, that’s why I collect room fragrances, wallflower plugins, and candles 🙂

Hinoki Onsen Shower Mochi is a very unique product. We often see bath bombs, bath salts, and all sorts of bubbly fragrant concoctions meant for soaking in the tub, but finding similar variety for the shower is actually pretty hard. LUSH used to make great shower bombs, but for some reason they were discontinued and I was left with nothing to fill that hole in my routine. Shower Mochi are exactly the type of treat I’ve been looking for. Sometimes I don’t feel like using the bathtub, but I still want to enjoy the amazing aromatherapy experience. Placing one of these fizzies on the wet floor in the shower gives me a fragrant retreat for 15-20 minutes, which is just as good as using a bath bomb.

Hinoki Onsen is Amayori’s heritage fragrance inspired by the Japanese baths made from the wood of Hinoki Cypress. Its unique, sappy woodsy fragrance adds to the relaxing bathing experience, and helps detoxify the body and purify the mind. Hinoki Onsen blend includes Japanese Hinoki essential oil, bittersweet Bois de Rose, alluring Sambac Jasmine, and zesty Red Mandarin.

Dreams of Gion Hikaru Multi-Use Oil is not yet another body oil. This versatile product can be used multiple ways: as a shower oil to lock in essential moisture, a hair oil to combat frizz and nourish dry ends, a bath oil to provide a relaxing aromatherapy experience, and of course as a body oil that will leave the skin petal soft and pleasantly scented. The ingredients include Coconut Oil, Organic Camellia Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Wild Lavender Oil, and Ylang Ylang Extract. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen, because the formula also includes two citrus extracts: zesty Yuzu Oil and exotic Green Mandarin Oil. Dreams of Gion is definitely a relaxing fragrance; it’s ideal for any evening beauty ritual.

I must say, I definitely enjoyed each and every product, but the unboxing experience was a treat in itself. Each one of these little bathtime treasures was carefully wrapped in rice paper, and housed inside a giftable box. Handmade in small batches, Amayori products are minimally processed, vegan and cruelty-free. They make perfect gifts for anyone who appreciates the craftsmanship that goes into every bottle, every inch of carefully folded wrapping paper, and every golden knot that adorns the outer boxes.

Visit Amayori.com to discover the full range of skin treasures and to learn more about this unique company.

Are you a bath person or a shower person? What is your favorite way to relax and unwind after a stressful day? Have you heard of Amayori before? Let me know in the comments below!

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