An 80-minute Synaesthesia treatment at Lush Spa on London's Oxford Street combines music, birdsong, scents and hot stones in a fully curated multi-sensory experience. The treatment, which costs £160, invites guests to set a personal intention, choose a scent by label alone, and select between a stomach massage or hot stones on the chakras.
A Personalised Start to the Session
The session began with therapist Hema asking the reviewer to choose one of 12 words from a board of intentions, ranging from "peace" to "hope" and "inspiration". The word "empowerment" was selected, reflecting a difficult week and the need to feel empowered.
Next came the scent selection, with a caveat: guests are encouraged not to smell the fragrances and instead be guided by the labels on the bottles. Options included words like "hug", "free", "acceptance" and "focus". The reviewer chose "rising", which came with a tag reading "like a phoenix".
The chosen word determines which scented massage bar the therapist uses and which bath bomb bubbles into steam around the floor as the massage begins.
The Multi-Sensory Experience
Inside the treatment room, bathed in dark blue light, the reviewer chose hot stones placed on the chakras over a stomach massage. The treatment is centred on synaesthesia, a neurological condition where stimulation of one sense causes an involuntary experience in a second sense, such as hearing music and seeing a colour.
The musical soundtrack, composed by Simon Emmerson, features folk-inspired tracks filled with birdsong. Tracks by The Nightjar Orchestra include The Star Studded Plough and Peace, Love & Harmonium, before a folksy rendition of Scarborough Fair performed by The Imagined Village brings the guest slowly back to the room. Vinyl copies of the record and each spa treatment soundtrack are available for purchase online.
The dual sense of scent came from a grapefruit-infused oil and a floral-inspired bath bomb bubbling under the table. The pressure applied by Hema was described as perfect, easing a residual ache in the shoulders. She massaged the scalp, arms, hands, feet and legs, before going over the back and neck.
Hot Stones and a Relaxing Finish
The hot stones were a highlight, with the heat on the back of the neck feeling incredible, combined with the coolness of the massage bar. The reviewer noted the treatment gave space to think and empty the mind, away from screens and responsibilities.
Afterwards, Hema led the reviewer back to the real world with a cup of black tea and settled her on a couch, telling her to take as long as she needed. She also gifted the empowerment bath bomb as a reminder of the session.
Lush Spa's Synaesthesia treatment is available in London, Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and Poole, and costs £160.
