As I write this post, the temperature in New York City is 102 degrees. In weather like this, we'll all be bathing more often than usual, so we might as well make the best of it and try out some new body products, right? I've been taking advantage of these two-shower days to test a few things from Poetry, a small company that encourages the "Intimate Ritual" of bathing.
Poetry's bath-and-body line is available in two fragrance blends; I've been using samples of products scented with Verse 1, "a versatile citrus fragrance with notes of sandalwood and jasmine." (The other fragrance is Verse 2, "a potent scent of mint and balsam needle with a hint of grapefruit.") Verse 1 is strongly citrus, with intense, sunny notes of bergamot and lemon and a smooth woodsy base that suggests cedar as well as sandalwood. I don't really notice the jasmine, but that's fine, because the citrus-wood pairing has a cleansing, almost purifying effect on my mind as well as my body. It makes me feel more alert, and purged of all heat-related discomfort, at least for a little while.
The formulas for Poetry's products are simple but good quality, and they feel effective on the skin. One is a body scrub called Sand ($30 for 1.7 oz. and $45 for 6 oz.). It's a mix of turbinado sugar and jojoba oil, and its texture is pleasingly, well, scrubby. It perfumes the air while it's being scooped up and rubbed into arms or legs, and then it leaves just a trace of scent on the skin. (Just be careful afterwards, because it will leave the floor of the tub or shower feeling somewhat slick!)
After bathing, Poetry's Creme in Verse 1 is a refreshing treat ($35 for 1.7 oz. and $55 for 6 oz.). It's a medium-weight cream, moisturizing but not greasy, and it's a nice option for times when you want to wear just a light layer of fragrance without applying perfume. And Vellum, a scented body oil packaged in a decoratively trimmed glass bottle, is my favorite item in the line ($40 for 1.7 oz. and $85 for 9 oz.). It feels particularly soothing in the evening, when I've just rinsed off a day's worth of summer sweat and grime, and it absorbs cleanly into the skin as soon as I finish applying it.
Two other products in the Intimate Ritual line which I haven't tried yet are Immersion Therapy bath salts and Alight candles. Poetry also sells journals and a CD of guided meditation to accompany the bathing experience. The products are also offered in boxed gift sets. To order, or to find additional purchasing information, visit the Poetry website.
I like the idea of Vellum, that sounds lovely.
It absorbs so well and smells so good… and I like the name, too!
These sound truly lovely – especially with the hot dry weather we’ve been having!
Ugh…dry and hot..you definitely deserve *some* kind of skin treat!
These sound great – I love scrubs more and more, as my skin ages and needs to be exfoliated frequently. The Vellum sounds good, too.
So true… I never thought much about exfoliation in my, ah, younger years… but now it’s essential!
I am so envious of you-it was 1 degree celcius today when I woke. Way too cold to stand around after a shower and rub on lotions- although my skin needs it! Bring on spring, Im counting down the weeks!
Back in January, I said I’d never complain about summer again… and yet here I am.
I love the idea of the Vellum–but I can’t do cedar. It just gives me the creeps.
I’ve really come to enjoy body oils! There’s something so simple and sort of… ancient about them.
LOL! I swear I misread “Poetry Sand, Creme, and Valium” !
Hah! Sometimes I could use a little of that, too.
Thanks for the review, Jessica! These sound lovely. I even like the names for the differently textured products.
Have to confess, you hooked me on the Diptyque Lait Frais (orange blossom, petitgrain, hoorah!), and I love it layered with anything in the neroli family, from Penhaglion’s Castile to Diptyque’s own Eau d’Neroli. I also like their Gelee Lactee (sadly discontinued, I believe). . .I own thier Voile Satin (a bit sweet, but nice light texture and fine spray) and still want to try their Huile Précieuses. Wonder why in summer I’m more likely to reach for lotions? Less aggressive sillage in the heat? Maybe.
Thanks for all your bath and body updates–I enjoy them so much. My tub is ringed with far too many products, many with your reviews behind them. Be well.
Oh, I remember that Diptyque lotion! That was a nice one. I may need to buy a new bottle…
Glad you enjoy the reviews! I hope I haven’t been the cause of *too* much of a mess in your bath.