«A daily bathing ceremony is one of life’s simplest luxuries. It is a chance to prepare yourself for the day ahead or reflect on the day just gone.» – Claire Croft (founder)
Today, I would like to introduce you to Abahna, a beautiful British brand that is now available exclusively at Marionnaud in Switzerland and that celebrates the ceremony of bathing. Something that has become very important to me. During the last months I had such a crazy schedule that I had this feeling of being literally crushed under a heavy pile of work. I wondered if I was just spinning my wheels, or if it was even worth it. I decided it is time for a change, to look at my own personal time management.
To counterbalance my busy social life as well as all my travels, I knew that I needed to allow myself some me-time to recharge my energy. Since a few weeks, I start my day with a book and leave my laptop unopened while having my first cup of coffee. In the evening, I light a scented candle, take my book and indulge in a bath without checking my iPhone at all. This helps me to clear my mind so I can focus on my actual goals that I would like to achieve in the near future.
Following the idea that bathing could be both rewarding and therapeutic, Claire Croft founded Abahna in 2005, inspired by exotic bathing ceremonies and spas that she experienced during her travels to India and the Far East. Influenced by the world’s many and varied bathing traditions, Abahna borrows from «nahana» (Urdu for to have a bath), the Russian «banya» and the Portuguese «banho». Her focus is on the product formulations and also on the packaging aesthetics. Therefore she carefully works with English suppliers who meet her high standards.
Let me introduce you little further to the ceremony of bathing as throughout the ages it has involved so much more than just getting clean. In ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, the purifying properties of water were revered with sacred practices, while across Asia and Africa special ceremonies honoured its life-giving powers. And still today, Japanese onsen, Moroccan hammam and Scandinavian sauna are steeped in elaborate bathing customs.
In all of these traditions, aromatic oils and natural extracts have been used for health, beauty and emotional wellbeing. Divinely scented and brimming with therapeutic qualities, these ritual preparations are the inspiration behind the Abahna collection.
Claire Croft designed every beautifully packaged product with these rich traditions in mind – from exotically scented soaps, foams and creams to natural wax candles and room diffusers – so that you can enjoy the benefits of your own sumptuous, multi-sensory bathing experience. Before you let the ceremony begin, please read those bathing do’s and don’ts.
- Don’t soak for longer than 20 minutes at a time – extended wallowing can dry out skin and zap energy.
- Don’t soak for longer than 3 minutes in a cold bath.
- Always wait until at least 40 minutes after eating before bathing.
- Bathing more than twice a day is not recommended, as it can strip your skin of its natural oils.
- Try to avoid having a really hot bath just before bed as it increases your heart rate which can make it hard to sleep.
And now enjoy your bath and some you-time. Abahna products make also beautiful gifts.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Abahna
