What treatment did you have?
The Optimale Body Exfoliation, one of five treatments offered as 'men's essentials'.
What was the atmosphere like?
As smooth as you'd expect from a five-star hotel spa. Welcoming, attentive staff greet you in a minimalist, charcoal-grey marble and wood reception area before you're led into the treatment room, all spotless white walls, honey-coloured marble and blond wood. The room was reassuringly well-appointed, with a stylish private bathroom adding to its appeal, and I could have enjoyed a clear view across Victoria Harbour had I asked the therapist to raise the wooden venetians.
How was the treatment?
The massage table had an inbuilt heater, which in the comfortably air-conditioned room was unnecessary. The therapist began by rubbing the exfoliant over my feet before gradually working her way up to my shoulders, arms and neck. The product contained hematite, a crystalline iron oxide. Hematite is said to have detoxifying properties and, according to the therapist, it's particularly energising for men. After I had showered the residue away, she finished the treatment with a mini-massage using vanilla-patchouli oil, which was very pleasant.