Super soaks

Turn bathing into an art form with the latest and greatest most luxurious products, guaranteed to add the Midas touch…

LIKE EVERY COSY cashmere jumper, roaring log fire and hot chocolate before it, a bath – that forever faithful friend you call on after a long, stressful day – is as comforting as it gets. ‘ We’re hardwired to feel comforted by warm water because we start our lives in the womb,’ says Suzanne Duckett, author of Bathe: The Art Of Finding Rest, Relaxation And Rejuvenation… ‘Studies show that we unconsciously take warm baths to eliminate feelings of being alone and to, more consciously, alleviate stress and anxiety.’ So make bathtime the boujiest it can be with the best bubbles, lotions and potions out there.

DREAMY CREAM

Sumptuously creamy and scented with summery, citrusy smells of Jamaican amyris and iris, Maison Francis Kurdjian’s Amyris Femme Scented Shower Cream (1), £55, leaves limbs buttery soft.

ICONIC SCENT

Marilyn Monroe might have bathed in Chanel No.5, but now you can smother yourself in its most recent scent – new Chanel Gabrielle Foaming Shower Gel (2), £42. This pot of gold imparts a light veil of jasmine, ylang ylang and orange blossom scent.

SCRUMPTIOUS SCRUB

Not only will Aesop’s Geranium Leaf Body Scrub (3), £25, help unclog pores, do away with dull and dead cells and drench skin with nourishing oils (like bergamot), it also takes the edge off an unquiet mind thanks to its aromatic, chill-inducing scent.

BEAUTY BAR

Nothing beats a luxe soap and Byredo’s Rose Fragranced Soap (4), £27, peppered with raspberry and patchouli, lingers longer than most bars.

SUPERIOR SALTS

There’s something satisfying about using the mini spoon that’s housed inside Mauli Ritual’s Himalayan Healing Salts (5), £42, to scoop out the mineral-rich pink salts inside. They’re infused with calming oils like sandalwood and frankincense for elevated chill time. 

CITRUS FLAME

Time in the tub is not as well spent without the flickering flame and a lingering smell of uninterrupted calm in the air. Our current squeeze is Jo Malone’s Christmas limited edition Orange Bitters Scented Candle (6), £47.

SWEET SUDS

While Laura Mercier’s Crème Brûlée Honey Bath (7), £33, starts as thick and satisfyingly gloopy as honey, it melts into the water for a bubbles-galore kind of affair, while vitamins A and E give skin its glow back.

SKIN SAVIOUR

A splash of Susanne Kaufmann’s Witch Hazel Bath (8), £41, under hot running water will leave even the most irritable skins feeling supple, hydrated and soothed, thanks to its witch hazel extract.

NATURAL NOURISHMENT

Turn the simple scrub into a ritual with Aman’s Nourishing Jade Scrub and Soak (9), £100, which contains a blend of healing stones, such as cooling jade, with oil for a 2-in-1 that leaves a cocooning film of oil over skin.

OPULENT OIL

Anyone who’s tried an Aromatherapy Associates Bath and Shower Oil (10), £48, knows they’re like liquid relaxation. The potent essential oils, such as lavender and peppermint, make for a necessary indulgence.