All the way from Sri Lanka, Spa Ceylon is a treat for all six senses

The small yet delicious little Spa Ceylon boutique, which opened in Karachi’s Bukhari Commercial Area yesterday, is a potpourri of colour that one immediately associates with the vibrant land and people of Sri Lanka. But it’s not the colour but the fragrance that hits you first. A heady ribbon of lemongrass wafts out onto the road and as you walk in, you’re hit by a sensory overdrive of exotic aromas, from that lemongrass to mandarin, coconut, lavender neroli, jasmine, aloe mint, cardamom neem, sandalwood vetiver and more.

Noor Mandviwalla with H.E. Mr. Noordeen Mohamed Shaheid the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, the brand’s co-founder and director, Shalin Balasuriya and Saeeda Mandviwalla at the store launch

The opening was a bustling affair with the brand’s co-founder and director, Shalin Balasuriya flying in from Sri Lanka and H.E. Mr. Noordeen Mohamed Shaheid the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan coming in for the inauguration. “There is a great sense of pride in seeing this esteemed Sri Lankan brand bring its presence to Pakistan; and through its success we can only see strengthened trade relations between the two nations,” he said.

Spa Ceylon certainly did have a feel-good factor, the deliciousness you feel when you walk into a Body Shop store, but better because of the Asian association.

Aamna Haider Isani and Noor e Sehar

“Spa Ceylon’s USP is Ayurveda,” Mr Balasuriya spoke about the 5000 year old art of living that was the basis of all product development. “Spa Ceylon occupies a unique lifestyle space where personal care meets wellness. Given its brand attributes of high-performance authentic formulations, Ayurveda origins, environmental activism and ethical sourcing, it will continue to resonate with the modern consumer.”

Brought into Pakistan by Saeeda Mandviwalla and her daughter Noor (as Executive Director of the boutique), Spa Ceylon offers various beauty and wellness ranges, my favourite being the lavender series. The diffusers are a little pricey but the idea of a home smelling like lemongrass is too good to resist.