Style & Beauty Treat
Style & Beauty Treat Yourself IN CONVERSATION F A R I D A I R A N I The founder of Australian Ayurvedic beauty brand Subtle Energies reveals why she uses only the purest essential oils Essential oils: nature-identical or pure natural? A perfume’s “essential oils” will likely be lab-created, nature-identical synthetics. No problem. Commendably sustainable, too. But in skincare, essential oils should be the pure, natural, real thing. Why? No lab, when isolating and synthesising an essential oil’s aromatic compounds, can also replicate its trace elements. And in aromatherapy, it’s the synergy between an oil’s chemical constituents, major and minor, that works not only on a physically therapeutic level but creates a mental, emotional and spiritual equilibrium, too. Where do the best oils come from? It depends on the grower, best if artisan, and on the terrain – whether the plants are wildharvested or cultivated. Even altitude makes a difference. Our Kashmiri lavender has much more of the sweet, sedating aroma and less of the “bite” of lavender grown at lower altitudes. Some regions of the world have exceptional plants but lack a legacy of distillation – and finding the right distiller is the most difficult part of the process. We find most of the finest, purest oils in India. India has also really mastered the art of steam distillation. But you get a lot of masters of duplicity, too, so navigating that is a constant challenge. What do you use as a preservative? Nothing. Essential oils act as preserving agents themselves.” subtleenergies.com.au – AP Farida Irani, and her Soothe and Enrich serum, above T H E I N N E R C I R L E A new members’ club devoted the art of living well Over the past decade, wellness has gone from a noble aspiration to a social-media buzzword to a full-blown industry. Separating out the true difference-makers from the time-wasters is a job in itself – which is partly what motivated the creation of The Arc Circle, a new private members’ club dedicated to providing its global membership with unique access to a curated collection of world-class clinics, wellness hotels, beauty centres and health consultants. “We view health, wellbeing and better ageing as among the defining trends of our time,” explains co-founder Christian Schwalbach, “and we are acutely conscious of their importance to Centurion members.” Which is why the club is designed to help members place health considerations at the heart of their lifestyle, supporting longevity and enabling them to live their best life at every stage of their life. The one-of-a-kind offers at world-class hotels, clinics and destinations are supplemented by a handpicked roster of leading coaches, trainers and consultants – including former Olympic champions – who are on call to support members with their physical and emotional wellbeing, or simply to offer expert guidance in a particular sport, therapy or technique. This multifaceted approach puts a special focus on The Arc Circle members’ individual needs with personalised itineraries and plans. In the Covid-19 era, this is –unsurprisingly – also supported by constantly updated insight into the latest international guidelines, safe wellness destinations and more. The club’s co-founder, Michael Klotz, says that they are aiming to “establish a new benchmark in luxury health and wellness with the launch of The Arc Circle by supporting members with a genuinely transformative portfolio”. He adds, “After all, what is more precious than one’s health and wellbeing?” thearccircle.com – Karin Schmied Full disclosure: The Arc Circle was founded and created by Christian Schwalbach and Michael Klotz, who are respectively also the Group Publisher/Editor-in-Chief and Associate Group Publisher of Centurion Magazine. PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: © CHIVA SOM, © SUBTLE ENERGIES (2) 40 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
3 1 PHOTOS COURTESY THE COMPANIES 6 4 5 F R E S H T A K E S Summery scents have a special, insouciant allure: either fresh and flirty, evoking carefree days by the ocean, or more darkly seductive, redolent of evenings under the stars. The classics maintain their appeal – Bulgari’s Eau Parfumée au Thé Noir, Hermès’ Un Jardin sur le Toit, Maya Nije’s Tropica, Guerlain’s Vetiver, Elegantes’ Rose, Tauer’s L’air du Désert Marocain, The Different Company’s Une Nuit Magnétique, Cartier’s XI L’Heure Perdue – but there’s always something new to tug the helpless perfume-lover towards the fragrance counter or to blind-buy online. And this summer, many of the most alluring scents are unisex. Marketed as such, too, not simply discovered to be. At last. 7 2 8 1 Armani Privé: Cyprès Pantelleria An aromatic green fragrance inspired by the otherworldly volcanic island of Pantelleria, with zesty notes of mandarin, clary sage, cypress, oakmoss and patchouli, armanibeauty.com 2 Van Cleef & Arpels: Orchid Leather How to create a memorable late-night entrance this summer: arrive enveloped in this sophisticated woody oriental with notes of plum, cardamom and incense, vancleefarpels.com 3 Clive Christian: Crab Apple Blossom From the perfumer recreating 19th-century royalty’s scents, this delectable citrus floral, with notes of bergamot, rhubarb and sandalwood, is soft but longlasting, clivechristian.com 4 Escentric Molecules: Molecule 01+ German maverick perfumer Geza Schön adds to Molecule 01, his famous single-molecule Iso E Super scent, with mandarin, patchouli or iris, escentric.com 5 Acqua di Parma: Colonia Futura This harmonious love letter to Mother Earth has a woody vetiver base with soft top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and lemon along with a swirl of clary sage and lavender, acquadiparma.com 6 Ilk Perfumes: Virtuous A delicate fragrance inspired by Tuscany in summer from the champions of layering with notes of sage, incense and violet to evoke baking heat and soothing shade, ilkperfume.com 7 Shiseido: Ginza Woody floral with notes of pomegranate, pink pepper, freesia and hinoki, the bold black dagger referencing the samurai use of “personality as a magic weapon”, shiseido.com 8 Louis Vuitton: On the Beach With notes of Japanese yuzu, neroli, pink peppercorn and cypress, this is breezy, and fleeting enough to free you to wear something completely different in the evening, louisvuitton.com – AP CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 41
