Inspired by a journey

In September I was lucky to take trip to Istanbul, a fabulous city on the banks of the Bosporus, a vibrant city with one foot in Europe and one in Asia.

Visiting the Bazaar on the Asian side of the Bosporus I was able to shop for essential oils, look for bottles and get inspired. The 500 year old Bazaar appears unchanged, busy and bustling full of interesting people and items. After some searching I found a small shop selling essential oils and to my delight handmade soaps. The young man there told me how he had taken over the business from his father who ran it before him. Communications were a challenge but we soon managed once we realized that we were both in the same business… the business of scents and essentials oil products. He magiced a cup of coffee grinds for me so sniff after smelling different oils in order to clear my nose from the previous scent. I came away with pure Rose and Jasmine essential oils aswell as Amber thick and golden, pungent Patchouli. The idea to create a Perfume was born.

www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/.../GrandBazaar

The next stop of our trip took me to Paris and there in a Chocolate shop of the kind that makes your heart beat higher I found sugared Rose and Verveine Petals. I realized that a perfume should be a complete sensuous experience. Smell and Taste. When dabbing on your perfume you could nibble a few of your crystallised sugar petals. I returned to Mallorca to harvest autumn Rose petals and Verveine leafs sprinkle them with sugar and dried them in the sun. The result is a limited number of Turkish hand blown bottles filled with a delicious perfume, each in a box with a small bag of crystallised flower petals.

Denise Acabo Chocolaterie & Confiserie, L’Etoile D’Or. 30 Rue P. Fountaine, Paris

Hunting for antique perfume bottle in Montemart Paris

While in Istanbul my husband and I visited a historic Hamam dating back to 1557, a classic Turkish Bath except that we were able to go as a couple.   

Traditionally the Hamams have times for women and children and separate times for men. To lie under the ancient dome on hot marble slabs and slowly heat up, relax and cleanse your body was a most fabulous experience. You were then scrubbed down rigorously by two young men with lots of soap and hard gloves and intermittently washed down with bowls full of cold water. These bowls are beautifully styled and apart as a water thrower are used to carry about what you need in the Hamam… your own soap, exfoliating bar and loofha glove.

 http://www.suleymaniyehamami.com.tr/

Inspired.....Gaia bathtime travelcase

It looks like the kind of bathtime goodies that we produce at Gaia have been used in places like this for centuries to cleanse and delight the senses.

Trudi Murray

Gaia Bathtime Calle Corderia 28 Palma de Mallorca

http://www.gaia-natural-mallorca.com/