Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/108113
Set Up a Space Designate countertop space that is easy to access. The sign provided on page 20 can be framed or laminated to guide clients, or used as a starting point to create your own sign. Purchase attractive glass jars or bottles with lids, one for each herb, and label them with the herbs' names. You may want to add a descriptive word for how each aroma makes you feel. The look of the jars is what makes your aroma bar appealing to clients. If you can't find interesting containers locally, I recommend Sunburst Bottle (www.sunburstbottle.com/glass-bottles/decorative) or General Bottle Supply (www.bottlesetc.com). You can also search online for "wholesale jars" or "decorative jars" to find more sources. Remember that whatever containers you choose must have a wide mouth so clients can easily scoop out the herbs. Purchase 4" x 3" drawstring organza bags in a range of colors and display them in a small basket or decorative dish. These bags are inexpensive and can be found in many colors and patterns at craft, fabric, and party supply stores, or purchase them online at Pouch Depot (www.pouchdepotinc.com). The more varied and colorful, the better; this makes the aroma bar more personal for your clients because choosing the bag they like best is part of the experience. Finally, provide spoons or wooden scoops to take the herbs out of the jars. Promote Your Aroma Bar Direct your clients to the aroma bar when they arrive. Invite them to make an aroma sachet as a personalized addition to their treatment, to take home later as a gift from you. Breathing in the herbal aromas prior to a treatment is a grounding and relaxing experience. Your Herbal Aroma Bar may also be used to make delicious and healthy beverages. Use stevia leaf as a natural sweetener. Brew your tea in a French press or purchase large "press-n-brew" tea bags to create your own tea combinations. A 37⁄8" x 53⁄16" bag will hold enough herbs to make an entire pot of tea for your clients. Fill the bag two-thirds full and seal the open side with a clean iron. Try these recipes: • Chamomile/Sage Tea: 3 parts chamomile, 1 part sage. • Jasmine/Red Clover Tea: 1 part jasmine, 3 parts red clover. • Lavender/Lemon Balm Tea: 1 part lavender, 3 parts lemon balm. • Peppermint/Rosemary Tea: 3 parts peppermint, 1 part rosemary. • Rose Petal Tea: 2 parts red clover, 1 part rose hips, 1 part rose petals. Optionally, add 1 tablespoon rose water, available at Middle Eastern groceries or natural food stores. See "Winter Holiday Hideout" (Skin Deep, November/December 2012, page 12) for more ideas on teas and natural treats for your waiting area. This spring, get energized and become one with nature. The plant world awaits you, offering its fragrant spirit. Your new aroma bar will give the gift of nature to your clients, healing and delighting their senses. After you get to know your aroma bar, you will understand which scents are the most popular with your clients. Linda Bertaut is an author, esthetician, Reiki Master, and award-winning inner and outer beauty expert who specializes in bringing inner beauty to the surface, and inspiring others to do the same. She founded Bertaut Beauty and Chakralicious to help professionals add wellness therapies to their menu of services. Contact her at linda@bertautbeauty.com or visit her blog, www.chakralicious.com, for more ways to feed your inner rainbow. Get connected to your peers @ www.skincareprofessionals.com 21