Kajame is fantasy crafted into an oil. It’s mostly to impress, and that it does. Named after a star from the night sky above, the brand is the epitome of spirited openness, where only the rarest of all natural oils float unhindered. Made in an obscure French laboratory under the strictest of dermatological control and service comes the Rose Sandalwood Body Oil ($79), a sensuous blend of base and essential oils, which resonate on the level of cosmology bringing a holistic bent to versatility. However exotic the manufacturing may be, the brand is so exclusive, you won’t to even buy this oil in any retail outlets or even their web site, except from the sole US distributor - Bigelow Chemists. And, to support fair trade, Kajame insists on employing local Moroccan artisans from the rambling souks to recreate the gaily-coloured ‘tarbouche’ bottling. High luxury from the Middle East.

From the heart of the oil is everyone’s golden anti-ager, Argan. Supporting the hero huile are Prickly Pear Seed and Apricot Kernel oils with hefty dollops of Aloe Vera and Mango Butter. It’s a core of moisture that seemingly heaves of passionate. Prickly Pear Seed is a rare, elusive oil which is highly expensive due to its time-consuming extractions. Also, Prickly Pear Seed oil contains more than 88% of unsaturated fatty acids with a proportion of approx. 70% of linoleic acid (Omega 6 fatty acid). Highly nourishing, it’s an excellent complement to the Vitamin E rich Argan, but also brings the added tonic effects of tightening skin while treating signs of premature aging. Yes, think fine lining. And, from underneath, Aloe Vera stimulates collagen to strengthen skin.

It’s a surprisingly complex oil, particularly when the spicy facets shine through. Many have said fragrance is a requisite part of the lifestyle in the Middle East. Here, no one leaves home without putting on scented perfumes. An oil is just a perfect accessory to such fragrance harmonizing. Kajame's fiery Rose is keenly balanced with the enigmatic pitch of Sandalwood (just try to sniff out the most miniscule notes of clove), resulting is a spectacularly weaved duet. Sandalwood is always that one essence which brings a touch of mystery to any oil. But, here the dark creaminess lends a tremulous reverie inviting you to feel the scent, not simply smell it. If nostalgia had a scent, this would be close to it.

There is an addictive form of magic with Kajame in part from its dictorial vogue for decadence. The long, relaxing sigh from your revived senses will surely beg for nothing but more. This is poetry in motion.

A new breed of superb, artisanally produced hair oils – mostly organic in ingredients – are redefining how you’ll treat hair. While you’ve been busy swathing your skin and soul with some of the finer oils we’ve uncovered, a handful of your favourite niche brands have quietly been stocking their shelves with hair oils to accompany their mainstay body lines. La Bella Figura, with their understated authority, is one such brand to bridge the demand for treating hair differently than skin.

The hidden gem? Bohemia Verde ($25) is a petite fixer upper for the lightest of locks (read: my fine hair) to the curliest of African American ringlets. It’s a pretty dizzying compilation of oils – Argan, Camellia, Avocado, Olive and Coconut, unified seamlessly to create a fortified structure of moisture to drench dry ends on point. While the usual preconception of hair oils is that they are ‘heavy’ or ‘cloying’ or even ‘weighty’, La Bella's oils are highly refined and purified, giving the treatment an extraordinary medium-bodied texture. The test for a hair oil? The best oils will wash out with one shampoo rinsing. Medium-bodied oils may take about 1-2 rinses depending on how your hair's thickness, while heavier oils may require a full clarifying shampoo rinse.

Camellia oil is high (90%) in olein acids and glycerides, both of which bring shine and conditioning agents to frizzed ends while also treating damage from highlighting and colourants. Research has shown hair cuticles have a noticeably smoother surface under microscopic inspection after treating with Camellia oil. A bit of trivia: Did you know Camellia oil has been used for centuries in Japan as a hair smoothing and conditioning oil and is responsible for keeping the enameled brilliance of the geisha and stiffness of the samurai hairstyle?  Being the overzealous huile aficionado, I warmed about 2 tablespoons and worked this through my entire strands without regret. Despite this happy helping, Bohemia Verde did actually wash out with one fully frothy rinse, leaving hair far more lustrous and enriched than if I had used conditioner alone. Because of its slight viscosity, a few drops can tame flyaways or even separate curls. But, the sensory experience does not end here.

Though the oil is voluptuous at its core, a flurry of wild-crafted essences will make you want to drench your roots for at least 30 minutes before rinsing. With impressive clarity and appeal, the watery fresh composition shows us a muted Jasmine augmented with a leafy richness of Rose Geranium to yield a purportedly palpable scent. Not wildly exotic, but intensely earthy enough to make you sniff twice as you try to sort out a crisp turn in the sparking scent. Those flickers of sharp notes are from certified organic, mineral rich Black Pepper essential oil. What a fragrant way to have an oil speak to you! What may be a seemingly insignificant detail to overlook, it’s this very spicy peppering of the floral facets that makes the oil fetchingly divine and persistent. It’s restrained. It’s understated. It’s instantly likable.

That’s the thing about La Bella Figura – the ladies behind the brand bring their accumulated aromatherapy experience upon which their spirit sets in unconsciously. These women are truly interested in how the essential oils relate to one another, bringing us yet another rippling oil.

There has been much press recently dedicated to wave of oils rising to prominence in the beauty industry. As such, in the beauty world, as fickle as a flighty gloss, let’s not assume to multi-task our body oils with hair. At first, I was prone to use body oils for the same purpose – to treat a dry something – but, after chatting it up with founders of La Bella Figura Beauty, I’ve changed my dispassionate ways. And, that’s because I've learned about why hugely influential hair oils are specially formulated to wash out with ease, unlike body oils, which are meant to be sopped up by parched skin. Victoria from La Bella Figura saved me from the error of my ways:


I can now see why some of my Avocado-based treatments did tend to weigh down my limpy locks. Research shows most carrier oils, like Argan, will work wonders on dry ends and frayed splitting hairs. However to boost shine you need those impressively fattier Omega-3 vitamins to bring more nutrition and feed hair follicles to stimulate growth as well as add much needed shine.

Thus, once again, I succumbed the charms of essential oils in an eternal quest for smooth, slick strands. Yes, tresses need motion and without the added weight of crushing chemical fluffery.

You'll never find unpronounceable lab synthetics in a hair oil. To be sure, I turned to my current obsession - the uncompromising sense of minimalism and simplicity behind Aromatherapy Associates. The brand is the perfectionistic absolutism of aromatherapy everything. What they’ve managed to get right is how to blend well…very well… contrasting groups of essences in profoundly scented oils, which persist well above the norm. Their craftsmanship edges on a form of abstract art, as the Vanilla doesn’t smell quite gourmand, but rather as a brooding dusk; the Ylang Ylang doesn’t smell bright, but rather as sensual incense. Enrich Hair Oil is just a judiciously constructed treatment from their line of sensory delights, but meant for hair.

While Coconut, Jojoba, and Argan oils rejuvenate the deadness of lackluster locks, Murumuru Butter brings even higher amounts of fatty acids (Lauric, Myristic & Oleic acids) to help hair recover to its natural moisture content and tenacity. Lauric, specifically, is a fantastic fatty acid for hair for its ability to penetrate the hair shaft and protect against protein loss. The butter also adds a lightweight viscosity to the treatment, which  in actuality, does wash out with one regular rinse. Hair is left glossier after a few treatments with a cheery bounce. While you cover dry hair with the peridot-coloured oil & wait an hour or overnight, a supportive set of essential oils brings a synergistic effect to the carriers. The genteel freshness of Rosemary gives away to crystallized citrus-y Geranium, imparting a brisk lushness of scent. A nice touch considering most hair oils lack dimension sans naturally derived scents. And, Rosemary is a hard essence to get right, as when too much is blended in, a piney undertone ends up overwhelming the senses. Here, the result smells, as precisely as possible, very much like a wispy fragrance. Expect your mood to evolve in the wake of this well-groomed charmer.

You’d think this kind of approach to huilery would be downright commonplace. But, it’s not. It’s decidedly unique to Aromatherapy Associates.

Eleanor Jane’s quest for the perfect oil may never cease. And, that's a good thing. She enjoys blending extremes, and she never differentiates from classic scents and traditional statements. It's this pursuit of balanced organic scents that has attracted quite a crowd following; her botanical perfumes only employ the finest extracts from sustainable plants and trees. Her brand is a hidden gem of luxury, smartly devoid of kitschy, kitschy cute marketing. With 100% wild crafted essences used in all of her poetic list of products, the brand almost seems to echo a narrative behind each creation. It’s with this type of conscientious attention and declarative precision that she creates her line of body oils: a capsule collection that unites intellectually scintillating essences you crave with the bursting energy you want to feel.

Tallulah Jane’s Tallulah Body Oil ($38) is the niche brand’s signature scented oil. And, for those you accustomed to my Twitter rants about why has Tuberose been that one essence body oil artisans have ignored, you can finally rest easy knowing I’ll never tweet about this again. And, that’s because this puritanical masterpiece celebrates just that. Challenging the paradigms of Jasmine (the preferred Sambac variety is my guess) is an ample bounty of Tuberose, which imparts a tricky mélange of sunny citrus with a cuddly spice from within. The blatant juxtaposition of the two essentials brings a mesmerizing intricacy, turning the traditional Jasmine staple into an exciting one with vitality and pomp. This is Eleanor’s stylistic trademark – taking the ordinary into some heightened form of extraordinary.

And, what profundity in a 100% natural, synthetic free, and totally vegan oil. While the rapidly penetrating Jojoba oil is the backbone of nourishment, Camelina, Meadowfoam Seed, and Pomegranate Seed Oils keep the oil interestingly dewy and rich with line-fighting elements, such as Vitamin E. Pomegranate Seed oil brings those favourite essential fatty acids (65% Pucinic acid), but also loads of antioxidants which work synergistically to revitalize dull skin. Camelina Oil helps to repair damaged cells, increase elasticity in the skin, and protect hair follicles. The oil is a light-bodied one with a nice slick to it. All in all, the scented elements calmly put all the soft textures into perspective: skin is given a requisite sensory lift with a lilting rapturous sense. Through the oils, the creamy Tuberose brings a heartbreaking delicateness, which is what I’ve been seeking out high n’ low.

Guess all good things come to those who wait. Tallulah is sensible, but in a very sophisticated, playful and feminine way. But, then, again, there are four more ways to play...

Keeping the primary composition of the oils consistent throughout the rest of the collection, Eleanor gradually layers a strikingly different fragrance motif to satisfy those who scoff at stereotypical essences with the most deadpan of noses. Yes, she’s a creative purist at heart. Take for instance, Aiyana, which is a versatile flourish of Moroccan & Rock Roses weaved with Vanilla, together incredulously restless and creamy at heart. They evoke spontaneous, gestural abstractions in warm, saturations with a transparent flash of Pear forming an aromatic veil of pure love. Quite seriously, the tenderness is profound here.

In contrast, Halona brings a formal blend of spicy Ginger and effervescent lime, which warms the skin with a plush, excitable scent. Far less heavy, if you think spicy means overpowering. No, the muted sensuality is seizing without being cloying. It’s a lovely bias towards a tamed exoticism, which will stylishly edit preferences for the unique. If greater depth is what you desire, Gotham quenches the longing. Nicely composed Rose and Patchouli cleverly uses Bay of Bengal & Bloomsbury for a thorny-spicy scent which seems to be unusually smoked, but slightly so. It’s a tamed Patchouli, but original and refreshing as it underlies the lush roses lending more of a dimensional bent than full blown accord.

And, for the citrus-lovers, 333 is a holy triumvirate of variegated notes from Citrus Tree, Neroli, Petitgrain and Bitter Orange, all seamlessly weaved throughout diaphanous layers of Chamomile and Lavender. With a succinct linear motif, no one essence is isolated here. It’s a fantastical aromatic elixir, which sparkles upon opening but fades away into a solitary, soft chord. An unostentatious rhapsody in C(itrus) major.

Palpable and fresh in scent, regenerative at the core, bejewel your skin with an ineluctable sense of comfort. Ladies choice.

The Skin Restore ($52) has a specially blended, wildcrafted assortment of essences – quite a set of esoteric ones you probably haven’t seen before. The 100% organic formulation starts with the sound Rice Bran Oil and moves into wavy layers of Sunflower, Avocado, and Sesame carriers to make for one a nutritiously filling, full bodied oil. It’s the type of body oil you’ll want for the upcoming wintery months, as it feels like a second skin when applied. Not heavy, but a duly protective sheath of nature’s goodness.

Bunnie Gulick, founder of ISUN Skincare, carefully handpicks her wildcrafted essentials in an obscure lab located in the San Juan mountains of Colorado and concocts what she aptly labels an “herb oil,” which is added to the above foundation of moisture. Many of these essential herbs are wildcrafted by indigenous people of the Amazon Rain Forest, who show a near religious reverence to their toiling and harvesting. They’ve actually been known to sing in respect to their bounties before plucked. Bunnie says,


And, an intangible sense you get. The synthetic-free formulation contains a roster of unconventional yet gutsy essences to sweetly soften and rejuvenate skin. In the herb mix are essences from: Green Tea, Gotu Kola, Milk Thistle, Lemon Balm, Licorice, Hibiscus, Gingko, Amla, Acai, Goji Berry, Rose Petal, Ginseng, Lotus & Blue Violet seamlessly weaved through ribbons of Jojoba and Grapeseed oil. And, this is beautiful succession of ancillary oils: Hemp Seed, Shea, Rosehip, and Buriti oils. Phew...yes, this oil has scale and a pyramidal composition of spiritual healing and unparalleled energy. Of the colossal lot of moisture, Burití Oil easily penetrates the skin's layers to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a rich and nourishing oil that lubricates, restores elasticity, and harmonizes your skin's balance.

All in all, it’s an ornamental composition of essences that is something arrestingly different yet comforting. It’s for those of you with a furious disdain for Lavender. The oil is lilting with nicely balanced with Vetiver and Sandalwood accords with peeks of Geranium seeping through. A warm, balsamic effect dominates the scent, giving the scent a woodsy richness and illusionary feel. I mean, it actually can get frisky here with the earthiness of Patchouli, which would have added that fierce hippy feel to the scent, had it not been blended in with subtle strokes. Yes, it's an oil for the flower child in you.

There’s something special about the way the oil dovetails its essences of contrary qualities whose symbiosis fascinates at first slather. Its hierarchy of oils lends to the fuller body and adds a weighty feel. A feel which you’ll stroke again and again with unflagging ardor, hoping for and achieving inner peace.

A deceptively easy-seeming urbanity marks the brand, Farmhouse Fresh Goods. From the heart of the Lone Star State, Frisco to be exact, comes a line vegan-happy body care products which areseriously scrumptious enough to eat. And, as the media world agrees, if the big ‘O’ likes it (Oprah), well, then the masses might as well bow down. This time, she was right.

Agave Nectar Body Oil ($16) is a surprisingly fun assortment of 96% all natural essences that you haven’t seen elswhere. Laced within a core of Soybean & Sweet Almond oils are specially blended extracts of Agave, Barley, Sandalwood, and Amurense Bar. Sweet Almond is ideal for all skin types as a protective emollient and is best known for its ability to soften, soothe, and re-condition the skin; Soybean brings you high concentrations of naturally sourced lecitihin, sterolins, and vitamin E to treat fine lining. And, in unison alongside Barley (high in Linoleic acid and plant phytosterols), together they form a non-waxy seal of soothe and moisturize skin, promote replenishment of the skin’s protective barrier and renewal of cell membranes.

For a lightweighted oil that absorbs with ease, the scent manages to pack in that right glimmer of mysticism. It’s a fleeting scent at best – a dense milky, nearly vanillic to start off with. Agave’s tempered sweetness does overshadow the subtle Sandalwood humming from beneath, which yields a buttery warmth, yet barely detectable. Very rushed, if you didn’t know to sniff out any incense strains. It’s precious. It’s hidden. It’s blended with great reckon to assure the star absolute, Agave, is captured in its steely silence. The result is a quiet caramel-esque finish on skin, which isn't at all gourmand, but more like honeyed lashings interspersed throughout the oils.

Which is a surprise coming from land of brash, ballsy rowdies from yore. No, this is a civilized oil crafted for the genteel Southerners with a suitable sentiment. And...us.

There’s a new hallmark of cool. While most body oils have moved towards synthetic-free, paraben-free, and even fragrance-free formulations, one brand has taken their line of body oils to a whole new level of organic luxury. Trillium Organics can laud the merits of earning the USDA stamp of approval (the strictest of organic approvals) by creating a body oil that is 97% pure & organic. The oil is good enough to eat, as to earn the use of the coveted logo, the manufacturing must forgo any chemical processing and be free from the usual offenders - sulfates, petrochemicals, plastics, phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde donors, heavy metals, silicone, mineral oil, & petroleum. Awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the seal is for use on products with contents that are 100% certified organic or 95% certified organic with the remaining 5% of ingredients posing no known risk to health or environment.

But, you don’t need to sacrifice your aromatherapeutic experience here. The Sweet Orange Organic Body Oil ($12.98) interlaces vitamin-rich Sunflower, Safflower, Olive & Jojoba oils to surround the well-placed Orange oil, which springs forth with an unbashed, giddy glee. Sunflower is the star for its ability to retain moisture in those thirsty skins. Delectably pure, the light-bodied oil maintains a slippery sense of ease, so well it could very well be a dry oil. If you’ve got a spare spritz bottle, it’s worth the effort to transfer, as the diffusive droplets of Orange will give you a skin-but-better feel. The scent is so striking because of its transparency. There’s a delicate sweetness here in full amplitude for those of you who’ve tired of the classic Rose or gotten bored with gourmand Vanilla. With its linear composition, the Orange oil doesn’t have a shred of citrus zing, but rather dewy riffs of ripe lusciousness with a verdant touch. Uncomplicated beauty for a break from the ornamental oils. And, with a thrift.

Orange you glad you can afford to try purity at this price?

Japanese beauty rituals afford exhausting encounters with radical beauty. Whether it be dead skin-munching fish or soft skin sweltering baths, they are always subtly evocative of both utilitarian and sensual entities. And, always mystical yet friendly. As strange as the names, ingredients, and even in-process experience may be, anything Asian-inspired is usually going to make you like twice with a curious sense. Never hard to preserve your surprise quotient with Red Flower, the Kinmoxei Wild Lime Silk Oil ($44) will make you think twice about deferring any staunch authority to the French when it comes to oils. Ever again.

Intimate as whispers, as delicate weavings of essences through the antioxidant rich Rice Bran and purely refined Monoi oils represent an artful celebration of Zen-like simplicity, without compromising splendor and enchantment of its tenets. So, effervescent is this buttery-yellow, light-bodied oil, that seems to be more a trove of water-drenched florals than organic, rare absolutes extracted and bottles. Feathery light, so it promises to leave no shine behind. Yuzu Oil brings the right degree of provocation and humility with its floral tang, swelling in profusion. It's easy on the senses, but with the perfect amount of edge to balance the citrus-y limbo of Kinmoxel, Wild Lime, Pink Grapefruit and Mimosa oils. If they had stopped here, I’d have been thrilled as just these harmonic essentials lend an indescribable vibrancy on their own merit.

But, no, Red Flower knows just how to tease ‘til the end. Hibiscus, Jasmine (the exotic Jasminum Sambac, how Jasmine would smell in your dreams), and Vetiver essential oils rationally abandon their demure stances to concordantly embrace both the rush of a floral hearts and the dewy lushness of greenery. Overpowering minimalists they are not. With an abstract sense of spiritually sound juicy pinnings that reach a cheery end, you’ll try to lull the senses towards one favourite essence. Don’t bother, as the huile with its multilateral composition is meant to overwhelm and then calm.

And, that it does.

It may have been endearing to slick on some glittered Chapstick when you were 12 and stuck in clunky braces. Since those awkward years, you’ve grown into a full beauty maven, but still face chappy lips. And, balms without colour can bore during the day.

With its generous sweeps of Jojoba, Castor and Argan oils, Bite Beauty’s SPF 15 Sheer Balm ($19) should the choice of moisture du jour. Revamp your lip care with these fatty acid rich oils, which deliver deep, deep lip plumping action powered up by the energy of the antioxidant of the decade - Resveratrol. Each tube holds enough Resveratrol from about 5 glasses of red wine. Research shows it wards off signs of aging from UV damage. And, too often lips are left unprotected during the day, prone to seasonal weathering and lippy lines before your middle age crisis sets upon you.

Of the petroleum-free lot, Castor oil has generous amounts – nearly 90 percent - of fatty acid content, mostly Ricinoleic acid, which nourishes deftly and is only found in Castor bean. Propping up the composition are Shea Butter and Carnauba Wax, adding a binded seal of moisture. And the pigmentation? Sheer, shmeer. No way, as this offers the depth of a medium coverage lipstick created from all-natural, fruit based dyes. Claret, pictured here, is a stunning shade of sueded red, which is on trend for bold lips this fall. Not so striking as to detract during the day, but tonal enough to create a natural drench of colour.

By juxtaposing two radically opposed scent experiences – an organic Mint atop a zesty Blood Orange - the balm is full of bombastic oils gleaming with multi-vitamins-and-common sense. Intelligence and imagination to superb effect, here. And, isn’t that what coming of age brings?

Fascinating. Mysterious. Passionate.

Yes, a body oil shouldn't be limited to the dainty formalities of white flowers. Sometimes a lady needs a fitful thrashing of livelier essences onto her skin to stoke some inner fires that shouldn’t be quieted. Geraldine & Sue get this. See, both were trained under Micheline Arcier, protege under aromatherapy scientists Marguerite Maury (Austrian biochemist/ skincare pioneer) and Jean Valnet M.D. (expert in essential oils).

Co-founders of Aromatherapy Associates - Geraldine Howard and Sue Beechey - have been sharing the therapeutic benefits of essential oils for over 30 years. Starting out as therapists in the early 70s, the ladies were first to serve the emerging  preferences of aromatherapy. It is useful to keep this authoritative background of sensory stimulation in mind while reviewing any product from their brand. Quality. Artisanship. Elegance. Utter simplicity is what you’ll find with them.

Mono-aroma-mania occasionally rouses my impatience for a huile with greater depth. And, a treatment with a piquant touch is what dulls the lasting shock brought on by Enrich Massage & Body Oil’s ($56) exotic audacity. Yes, it’s true. While most others err on the floral side, a few on the citrus balance, this is truly one sharply contrasting treatment that walks the calculated edge with its near-impeccable spicy curve blended with an impressionistic fashion yet urban approach. But, first the oils.

Cleverly constructing a medium-bodied backbone of moisture are Coconut, Sweet Almond, Olive, Jojoba, Evening Primrose and Macadamia Seed oils. You’re probably used to seeing these voluptuaries on their own, but, from the sparse elegance of a frosted bottle emerges a cornucopia of richly mellifluous oils, all brimming with essentials fatty acids and all comforting, but luscious nonetheless. The resulting texture isn’t as full-bodied as you’d expect; the oil sinks in straight away. Jojoba & Evening Primrose oils are what kick start the regenerative process on skin, as both have a naturally high affinity for the essentials used, which help these essences work to their best potential. Oils with outsized passions that work extraordinarily well in unison. And, they’re not alone.

And, what is left behind to scent the skin is a scintillating Ylang Ylang accord that cradles the darkness of Geranium with the beguiling warmth of Vanilla, making this oil quite uncharacteristically tender with an animalic facet of sorts. Not in any disconcertingly crass manner, mind you. No, this is a clean, albeit sexy finish to what starts off as a purely aesthetic adventure for the body – harmonious and complex. Sniff long, as you’ll appreciate this uninterrupted olfactory idiom that becomes instantaneously recognizable with savoury Vanilla underpinnings. And, long you will sniff, as it's superb persistence has been the longest I've experienced in a oil - over 12 hours later, you'll still make out the earthy overtures. Surreal.

That’s the thing about Aromatherapy Associates. The ladies know just how to square rigorous aesthetic innovation with hazy incarnations of essences. This is part of their poetry – creating an experience with good 'ole, joyful sensuality.

A gal pal in New York loves the hearty Olive. A client in San Francisco adores Tree Tea oil. A fellow colleague in Australia handcrafts hard-to-distill oils to appease any floral whim. Whatever your preference for a scent or sensuality, you can always count on Jo Malone to create some variation of both & yield an unpredictable yet energetic treatment. The Lime Basil & Mandarin Dry Body Oil ($65) is one such oil.

Here the most precious ingredients open the composition of non-classical essences. Skin is enriched with Olive, Kukui Grapeseed, & Macadamia seed oils entwined with the delicate lacings of a crispy lime & herbaceous base notes of basil. Given how weighty these moisturizing oils are, the oil is exceptionally light bodied. Did you know Macadamia nuts are native to Australia, though Hawaii stakes its marketing claim on them? News to me, too.

Macadamia seed oil is widely touted for its highly nourishing and emollient attributes making it the choice for dry, maturing skin. With a smaller molecular structure, it quickly penetrates skin, bringing a inordinate fatty acid composition (high in palmitoleic acid), which very similar to human sebum. The oil actually blends with water to form an aqueous lipid film & protect against those hideously damaging environmental aggressors. And, because the oil contains more palmitoleic acid than its vegetable counterparts, it earns is cult status for having a resistance to rancidity.

Like most dry oils, a gauzy layer is all you need to coat your skin. It's less stylized than some of the more exotic variations, but brings about a sensual deepness with its rare combination of herbaceous essences. A classic pairing of lime spouts upon opening, through the leafy basil is what's left when massaged into skin. A clean and chic scent, not all clashing in composition. There's an abstractness about the feel of this oil - barely a whisper of citrus, but underlined with some warmed mint.

How we wish Jo Malone's domain of body care extended to include more playful oils... this oil is as easily wearable as it is enjoyable.

It finally happened. Diptyque’s Satin Body Oil ($58) called upon me. It’s a hard brand to resist – exquisite in its packaging, refined in its compositions, and intelligent in its marketing. Three very things that espouse pure luxury. And, yet again, the oil does not disappoint.

This evanescent huile is very much like an endless melody, floral chords of longing that never resolve. Yes, it sings to skin like no other. Perhaps, it’s Diptyque’s extensive fragrance portfolio, which gives their body treatments that colorful vanguard of excellence or perhaps it’s just our obsession with how feminine structures and French extravaganza meet. Period. Whatever the reason, the addiction continues.

Urucum Oil (an emollient with its high content in carotenoids - six times more than carrot oil) form the beautiful base structure of the treatment with ribbons Sweet Almond, Olive Fruit, Avocado, and Sesame Seed oils running wildly without orchestration. Just one spritz of this seemingly dry oil, and you’ll experience a firsthand love unbridled, immense, chaotic, raised to the level of mania within the confines of its bulbous bottle. So lightweight, you’ll look twice to see where the scattering droplets glisten with glee. Squalane is second to the classic roster of oils, bringing its intense nurturing to parched skins needed a moisture boost.

From deep within the stunning congruence of the carriers is the omnipresent Jasmine, slightly tempered by Ylang Ylang and Saffron oils. Impeccably added, the result is a freshness characterized by clarity of the rounded florals. Saffron gives a deliciously honeyed finish to the silkened oil – part sweet, part flowery, but fully sensual. Not at all leathery as usually seen, but softened by the tenderlings of Ylang Ylang.

It’s an astounding moment to feel the surging rhythm in this oil. The Satin Body Oil is an elaborate synthesis of absolutes and accords. So much so, slather is too dirty of a word for this treatment. No, this oil dances majestically without whim, hitting a high noted crescendo of Jasmine atop.