BENGALURU: Scents increase productivity at work place by accentuating positive and feel good vibes in the office, says Neetha Bhoopalam, who is certified in aromatherapy and perfumery.
It also lets you be more alert and sharpens learning ability, she adds.
Therefore, choosing the right soap is important, she believes. Realising this, many in the city have switched to customising their soaps.
Vibha Raj loves travelling and keeping her skin clean is a challenge. She was looking for an organic solution to keep her skin clean. That’s when she got to know about handcrafted soaps. “They smell good and help me stay fresh. I use the one with charcoal to get an even skin tone. It has a soothing smell that helps me relax when I am too tired after travelling. Sometimes, I get blemishes for which I use neem soap. Another soap with lavender helps me remain calm and relieves stress,” she explains.
Wanitha Ashok, a fitness trainer in the city has been using natural products since she was three to four years old. She uses these soaps to keep her skin off chemical products. Her favourite is a soap with cinnamon oil. “The soap has honey in it along with cinnamon and that’s a good combination for winter,” she says.
An ardent user of goat milk, she also uses a soap that has goat milk and lavender oil. According to her, goat milk provides skin nourishment and reduces dryness.
After a workout, the soap with peppermint and lemongrass helps her relax.
An actor has to look presentable even at their worst.
Actor Nabha Natesh had to find ways to remain fresh. She uses a soap with tea tree oil that helps her take off the make up. “It’s good for skin and helps you regain its charm. When I am exposed to sun and dust, I use the one that has charcoal that helps me clear the skin,” she says. While natural products have kept her skin healthy, eating fresh and healthy is equally important, she opines.
Even men are switching to handmade soaps after knowing its benefits. Nitin Hajela, a food critic, has been using natural soaps for three months now. Having a combination of oily and dry skin, getting a right soap was always challenging for Nitin. He found a solution in musky soap. “My skin feels refreshed and better than before,” he says.
Observing the trend, Neetha constantly tries to experiment with new oils and fragrances. She says that women mostly prefer fragrances like floral, spicy, earthy and a blend of these as well. “Men love fresh, musky, woody and spicy fragrances,” she says.
Fragrances play an important role in healing a person. “The fresh scent of lemon is invigorating and that of lavender is soothing. Scents can make people alert, improve learning ability and increase productivity in the workplace. This is the reason why pleasant scents can be contribute to happiness or making you feel relaxed. Similarly, a disgusting smell can make you feel irritable and depressed,” she says.
The scents used in soaps are extracts from the plants. Ylang Ylang and lavender essential oils have relaxing properties. Lemongrass energizes and heals a person. It has antioxidant properties too. Tea tree oil works wonders on the skin and for any skin ailments. Frankincense helps tighten the skin and reduce wrinkles.