A spa in bandra uses melted scented candles to make a lotion that's gently massaged into your skin for a relaxing experience

Candles create the perfect ambience for a soothing massage -- softly illuminating the room and engulfing it in olfactory bliss. But imagine melting a candle and using liquid wax in place of massage oil. Bizarre? We thought so too, when we stepped into Bamboo Tree, the cozy all-day spa located off Bandra's Carter Road. As we sat waiting in the leafy verandah, we were assured about not having to worry about being rushed to the Burns Ward.



Turns out, candle wax includes the best of both worlds: the soothing properties of a massage oil combined with the luxuriance of a fragrant spa candle.

The proprietor of the spa stumbled on the idea while browsing the Internet, and asked a friend who deals in fragrances and candles to try her hand at churning out all-natural massage candles.

So, you get to choose from four scents: strawberry, lavender, orange and chocolate. With the intoxicating but comforting smell of chocolate as our pick, we surrendered to masseuse Awon, who lit the palm-sized candle. The soy candle, suffused with jojoba oil and shea butter, has a low melting point, and is not too hot, allowing the masseuse to pour it into her palm.

As the relaxing massage began, sounds from the other side of the door ceased to exist and we swirled in chocolate decadence. The oil from the candle is quickly absorbed by the body, leaving you with skin that smells delicious for hours later.

Though the massage might feel no different from a regular one, in terms of technique, the romance associated with candles makes the experience an exotic one.

You wrap it all up with a steaming cup of cranberry tea.