Table of Contents
The short answer
Choose the one you like the smell of. That is not a flippant answer. In an aromatherapy massage the scent is there for your comfort, and a scent you enjoy helps you settle where one you dislike keeps you alert for an hour. Lavender is soft, floral and herbal, and is the one most often described as calming. Eucalyptus is sharp, cool and clean, closer to a steam room than to a perfume. Chamomile is sweet and mild, with something of apples and dry hay about it.
None of the three is a medicine. An essential oil in a massage blend does not treat poor sleep, a cold, anxiety or anything else, and this guide makes no such claim. What can honestly be said is that many people find a gentle, familiar scent relaxing, and that the choice between these three depends on your taste, on who else is in the home, and on how your skin and your breathing respond to fragrance.
Our aromatherapy massage is a gentle Swedish-style massage with a choice of lavender, eucalyptus or chamomile blends, booked for 60 or 90 minutes at AED 199 or AED 279. IHR Dream Cleaning brings the session to homes across Abu Dhabi. If you are unsure which to pick, read the descriptions below, ask to smell the blend before it goes on your skin, and tell us in advance if you would like a lighter scent or none.
What is in the bottle: essential oil and carrier oil
A massage oil has two parts. Most of it is a carrier oil: a plain, mild vegetable oil such as sweet almond, grapeseed, sunflower, jojoba or coconut. The carrier is what lets the therapist's hands glide over the skin without dragging, and it is what leaves the skin feeling soft afterwards. On its own it has little or no smell.
The scent comes from an essential oil, a concentrated extract taken from a plant, usually by passing steam through the flowers or leaves. A large amount of plant makes a small amount of oil, which is why essential oils are strong and are sold in small bottles. For a massage, a few drops are mixed into the carrier. The result is called a blend.
Essential oils are not put on the skin neat. Undiluted, many of them irritate the skin, and the amount that is pleasant to smell is far smaller than people expect. A well-made blend smells gentle when you bring the bottle to your nose. If you can smell it clearly from arm's length, it is stronger than a massage needs.
Our page describes the session as gentle Swedish technique with plant-extracted essential oils, and it names the three blends. We do not publish the brand of the oils or which carrier oil is used. If that matters to you, for instance because of a nut allergy, ask when you book. What will be used is confirmed before the session.
What a body oil does in a massage, honestly
People look up the benefits of a body oil massage, and the honest list is short and practical. Oil reduces friction, so that long strokes are smooth instead of pulling at the skin and at body hair. It holds a little of the warmth of the therapist's hands. It leaves dry skin feeling softer for the rest of the day, which is welcome in a city where the air conditioning runs all year. In an aromatherapy session it also carries a scent that many people find pleasant and settling.
That is all. The massage does the work on the muscles. The oil makes that work comfortable, and the scent makes the hour more pleasant. Claims that an oil detoxifies, heals or treats a condition are not ones we make, and you should be wary of anyone who does.
The three blends, one by one
The descriptions below are about smell and character. The cautions that apply to all three are gathered in a later section.
Lavender
Lavender oil is distilled from the flowering tops of the plant. The smell is floral without being sugary, with a herbal, slightly woody edge, and most people know it at once from soap, linen sprays and hand cream. That familiarity is part of its appeal. It smells clean and domestic, and many people find it calming, particularly in the evening.
It is the usual choice for a first aromatherapy massage, for a session late in the day, and for anyone with no strong view. The commonest objection is the association itself. To some people lavender smells of soap, or of an elderly relative's wardrobe, and if that is your reaction, its reputation will not make it relaxing.
Lavender is counted among the milder essential oils on the skin, but nothing is free of risk. People do react to it, and anyone with a fragrance allergy should treat it like any other fragrance.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil comes from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree. The smell is sharp, cool and penetrating, like menthol or camphor, and it is the scent many people know from steam rooms, chest rubs and cough sweets. It gives a feeling of coolness on the skin and of freshness in the nose. That is a sensation, not a treatment, and a eucalyptus blend should not be booked to deal with a cold or a blocked nose.
It suits people who dislike floral scents, people who want to get up feeling fresh instead of drowsy, and sessions earlier in the day or after exercise.
It is also the most assertive of the three, and that has consequences. It fills a closed room quickly, and it is the one the rest of the household is most likely to notice. It is the most likely to bother someone with asthma, or someone who gets headaches from strong smells. It should be kept well away from the face, and it is the least suitable of the three in a home with babies, small children or pets. If any of that applies, choose one of the other two.
Chamomile
Chamomile oil is distilled from the small daisy-like flowers that are also dried for tea. Two kinds are used in aromatherapy, usually sold as Roman and German chamomile, and they do not smell quite alike. In general the scent is soft and sweet, with a note of apple and of dry grass or hay. It is the quietest of the three. You notice it when the bottle is opened, and then it settles into the background.
It suits people who find most fragrance too much, people who like the smell of herbal tea or honey, and anyone who wants the massage to be the main event and the scent a small addition.
Chamomile belongs to the daisy family, and people who are allergic to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums or similar plants are sometimes sensitive to it as well. If you have hay fever of that kind, or you react to chamomile tea, choose something else and tell us.
The three side by side, and how to decide
The table gathers the descriptions into one place. 'Often chosen for' describes preference, not effect.
| Blend | Smells like | Often chosen for | Think twice if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavender | Soft, floral, herbal; soap and clean linen | Evening sessions; a first aromatherapy massage | You dislike floral or 'soapy' scents |
| Eucalyptus | Sharp, cool, camphor-like; a steam room | Daytime sessions; people who dislike florals | Asthma, scent headaches, small children or pets at home |
| Chamomile | Sweet and mild; apple and dry hay | People who find most fragrance too strong | Allergy to ragweed, daisies or chamomile tea |
Three questions that settle it
If the table leaves you undecided, these usually do it.
- What do you already like? Think of the scents you choose for yourself: soap, hand cream, tea, the candle or bukhoor you light at home. If you reach for fresh, minty or herbal smells, eucalyptus will probably suit you. If you like soft florals, lavender. If you prefer things barely scented, chamomile.
- What happens after the session? If you are going to bed, most people prefer lavender or chamomile. If you are going back to the day, eucalyptus feels brighter.
- Who else is at home? A scent does not stay in one room. If a baby, a child with asthma, a pregnant family member or a pet shares the home, choose the mildest option or none.
Smell it before it goes on
Our pages say that the therapist confirms the oil blend with you before starting. Use that moment. Smell the bottle, and if your first reaction is to pull back, say so. It is far easier to change before the oil is on your skin than after.
The oils are brought to suit what you have told us, so say before the visit which blend you would like, which you would accept as a second choice, and any scent you dislike. A second choice costs nothing to give and saves the session if the first one does not appeal on the day.
Your skin: sensitivity, allergies and trying a small area first
Fragrance is a common cause of skin reactions, and natural fragrance is no exception. An essential oil comes from a plant, and so do a great many allergens. 'Natural' does not mean that it will suit your skin.
If you have eczema, very dry or reactive skin, a known fragrance allergy, or skin that has reacted to perfumed products before, tell us when you book. The usual answer is an unscented oil, or a blend used very lightly. The same goes for a nut allergy, because some carrier oils are pressed from nuts. Our pages ask you to mention in advance any sensitivity to oils or fragrances, or an oil you prefer.
Skin that has just been shaved or waxed, or that is sunburnt, is more easily irritated than usual. Leave a day or two between hair removal and an aromatherapy massage if you can, and do not book any massage on sunburn.
Trying a small area first
If you have never had essential oils on your skin, ask the therapist to put a little of the blend on the inside of your forearm before the session starts, and leave it there while you talk through the pressure and the areas to work on. This is not an allergy test. Some reactions take a day or more to appear. It does catch the immediate ones, and it tells you whether you can live with the smell at close range.
During the massage, speak up at once if your skin itches, stings, burns or feels hot. Ask for the oil to be wiped off, and ask whether the session can continue with a plain one.
When to ask first: pregnancy, asthma, children and pets
Our pages ask you to tell us about allergies, pregnancy, asthma or scents you dislike before the visit. These are the situations in which the choice of oil is more than a matter of taste.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, ask your doctor or midwife before booking an aromatherapy massage, and tell us when you book. There are two separate questions: whether massage is suitable for you at this stage, and whether scented oil is. Advice on essential oils in pregnancy is cautious. Many women also find that their sense of smell is sharper, and that scents they used to enjoy now turn their stomach.
An unscented oil is the simple answer, and nobody should talk you out of it.
Asthma and headaches from strong smells
Strong scents set off wheezing in some people with asthma, and headaches in some people who are prone to migraine. If that is you, you already know which smells do it. Eucalyptus is the most likely of the three to cause trouble, because it is the sharpest.
Choose chamomile, a very light lavender or no scent, keep your inhaler in the room, and ask your doctor if you are unsure. If your chest tightens during a session, stop it and get into fresh air.
Babies and small children
Essential oils are not for babies and small children, on the skin or close to the face, and eucalyptus is the one most often singled out in that warning. A massage for an adult behind a closed door is a different matter, but think about what follows it. A parent who goes straight from the table to pick up a baby is carrying the oil on skin and clothes.
Wash your hands and forearms and put on a clean top first, and air the room before a small child sleeps in it.
Pets
Cats, birds and small caged animals are much more sensitive to essential oils than people are, and dogs can be affected too. Keep pets out of the room during the session and until it has been aired, keep the bottles out of their reach, and do not let a cat or a dog lick oiled skin. If you keep a bird, choose a room well away from its cage. Your vet is the person to ask about a particular animal.
The cautions that apply to any massage
The scent aside, this is a hands-on session like any other. Speak to your doctor first if you are recovering from an injury or an operation, if you have or have had a blood clot, if you have a skin condition or an infection in the area to be worked on, or if you are being treated for a serious illness. If you have a fever or feel unwell on the day, move the booking. A massage is for comfort, and a therapist does not diagnose or treat.
The room: a scent in a closed, air-conditioned home
Our pages say that aromatherapy needs a room that can be kept calm and closed, with space for the table and a power socket. In Abu Dhabi the home is closed in another sense as well. For most of the year the windows stay shut and the air conditioning moves the same air from room to room. A scent released in one room travels with it.
Choose the room with that in mind. A bedroom with its own door is better than an open-plan living area that shares its air with the kitchen and the hallway. If somebody in the household dislikes the smell, or should not be breathing it, pick the room furthest from theirs.
Do not add to it. Bukhoor, incense, a scented candle or a plug-in freshener in the same room competes with the blend and makes the air heavy. Put them out an hour beforehand, so that the room smells of nothing when the therapist arrives.
Afterwards, air the room. In the cooler months, open a window or the balcony door for ten minutes. In summer, when that lets in heat and humidity, leave the door of the room open and let the air conditioning do the work. Soft furnishings hold a scent longer than hard surfaces do, so a room with heavy curtains and a carpet keeps the smell longer than a tiled one.
Scented oil on your clothes
The therapist brings the linens and towels for the table, so your own bedding is not involved. Your clothes are. Scented oil leaves a mark on fabric and the smell stays in it, so dress afterwards in something old and loose. Wash anything oily soon, following its care label. Oil left in cloth for weeks turns stale, and by then it is much harder to get out.
On the day: from choosing the blend to washing it off
The scent adds a few small steps to an ordinary massage visit.
- Before the visit, tell us which blend you would like, a second choice, and any scent, allergy or health point that rules one out.
- When the therapist arrives, the blend is confirmed with you before the session starts. Ask to smell it.
- Say how strong you want the scent to be, and whether the face, neck and scalp should be left without oil. Many people prefer no scented oil near the eyes and nose, or in their hair.
- During the massage the therapist checks your comfort and the pressure. Mention the scent too, if it becomes too much.
- If your skin stings or itches, or you feel wheezy, headachy or sick, say so at once.
- Afterwards, rest for a few minutes and drink some water.
- Leave the oil on your skin or wash it off, as you prefer. If your skin feels irritated, wash it off with mild soap and warm water.
The massage itself
The technique in this session is gentle Swedish massage: long gliding strokes and light kneading over the whole body. What sets it apart is the scent and the pace, not the strength. If what you want is slow, firm work on tight muscles, a scented oil will not supply it, and a different session is the better booking. Our comparison of the different types of massage explains which is which.
If your skin reacts afterwards
Wash the area with mild soap and plenty of water, and keep perfumed products off it. Mild redness or itching that fades within a few hours needs nothing more. A rash that spreads or blisters, swelling of the face or lips, or any difficulty in breathing needs medical attention straight away.
Make a note of which blend it was, and name it the next time you book anything scented, with us or with anyone else.
If none of the three appeals
Some people simply do not enjoy scented oil, and some find that out halfway through their first session. There is nothing wrong with preferring a massage that smells of nothing.
Tell us when you book that you want an unscented oil, or name an oil you already use and know your skin accepts. Our pages ask for exactly this in advance, and what will be used is confirmed before the session.
The closest session in pace and pressure is the relaxation massage: gentle, full-body and slow. Its page lists an essential oil as part of the session, so if you want no fragrance at all, say so for that booking as well.
If you like a scent in the air but not on your skin, another route is to keep the oil plain and to scent the room lightly yourself, with something you already know you tolerate. That keeps the choice in your own hands.
What it costs and how long to book
The published price of an in-home massage is AED 199 for 60 minutes and AED 279 for 90 minutes, VAT included, and the aromatherapy session is on that price line. Choosing one blend over another does not change the figure, and our pages say that no paid product is added without discussing it with you first. Both figures are on our price list.
Sixty minutes covers the whole body at an unhurried pace. Ninety is for people who want the session to be a long rest. If this is your first time with scented oil, sixty is the sensible start. An hour is long enough to know whether you like it, and not so long that a scent you have tired of becomes a trial.
How the visit runs, the space a massage table needs and how to get a visitor into your building are covered in our guide to how a home massage session works.
Common questions
Can I use my own oil?
Tell us in advance. Our pages ask you to mention a preferred oil before the session, and what will be used is confirmed with you beforehand. If you have an oil that your skin is used to, it is a reasonable thing to ask for, particularly if you have reacted to products in the past. Have it ready at room temperature, in a bottle that pours.
Which brand of oils is used, and what is the carrier?
We do not publish the brand or the carrier oil. Ask when you book. If you need to see a list of ingredients because of an allergy, ask for it before the day and not at the door, so that there is time to arrange something else if the answer does not suit you.
Can two of the blends be mixed?
We do not publish an answer to that, so ask when you book. As a matter of taste, lavender and chamomile sit comfortably together. Eucalyptus tends to dominate anything it is mixed with.
We are booking a session for two. Can we each have a different scent?
You can ask, but think about the room. In a couples massage two tables stand side by side in the same air, and two scents become one mixed smell within minutes. It usually works better to agree on a blend that both of you like, or for the person with the stronger preference to choose and the other to have a plain oil. Tell us if either of you has an allergy or asthma, or is pregnant.
How long will the smell last?
On your skin, until you wash, and faintly for some hours after that. In the room it depends on the furnishings and on how you air it: usually a few hours, and longer in a carpeted bedroom with the door shut. If you need the room to be neutral by a certain time, for a guest or a sleeping child, book the session early in the day and air the room straight afterwards.
Will a lavender massage help me sleep?
Many people find lavender calming, and most people feel sleepy after any unhurried massage in a warm, quiet room. An evening session at home lets you go straight to bed afterwards. That is as much as anyone can honestly promise. An aromatherapy massage is not a treatment for insomnia, and if poor sleep is a lasting problem, speak to a doctor.
I have a cold. Should I book eucalyptus?
No. If you are unwell, and above all if you have a fever, move the booking. Lying face down with a blocked nose is uncomfortable, a massage will not shorten a cold, and you may pass it on to the therapist. Eucalyptus smells clearing, but that is a sensation and not a remedy.
A booking can be moved or cancelled free of charge up to 6 hours before its start time.
How often do people book?
There is no schedule to follow. Some people book every few weeks, and others keep it for an occasional treat at home. If you book regularly, there is no need to keep to the same blend. Trying each of the three over a few sessions is the surest way to find out which you prefer.
How to book
Choose the aromatherapy massage, pick 60 or 90 minutes, and book online or in the IHR Dream app with your address and preferred time. Sessions run every day, 8 AM – 8 PM. The price is shown before you confirm, and payment is by card online once we confirm your booking.
In the notes, write 'aromatherapy', the blend you would like and a second choice, how strong you want the scent, and anything that rules a scent out: an allergy, asthma, pregnancy, a baby or a pet in the home. Add the pressure you prefer and how a visitor reaches your door. The other sessions we offer are on the spa and wellness page.
