Pampering yourself, au naturel

Dolce Saponaria promises a natural spa-like experience that is one of a kind.

KARACHI:

From the amazing world of all that’s organic, Dolce Saponaria arrives in K-Town this year. Originally a European brand, and the brain child of Stara Mydlarnia who established it in 1999, the philosophy behind the brand is to distribute the wealth of nature.

Dolce Saponaria was previously accessible only in Europe, but, thanks to beautician Laila Ravera, Karachiites now have an option to go completely natural. Having tested the products herself, Laila is all praise about what the brand has to offer. “I’ve been in the beauty and body care business since 1978. I’ve seen and used products from all over the world, and the one thing that convinced me to champion the use of Dolce Saponaria products is the fact that they are 100% natural. The products are hand-made in Poland and when I first saw and tried them, I was blown away,” she tells The Express Tribune.



The spa business in Karachi, be it products or services, is a competitive one, with small-time salons mushrooming in every nook and corner. When asked why she chose Karachi as her launching pad, Laila said, “I decided to open Dolce Saponaria here because over the years, I have seen people starting to familiarise themselves with various organic products they think they need, but they don’t know the use of each product, and what best suits them and why. I want to educate them as best as I can.”

The franchise is located in Ocean Mall, and stocks everything from handmade cosmetics to body products such as glycerine block soaps, bath balls, salts and gels, salt and sugar peelings, body creams, massage oils and romantic candles. Interestingly, their products also include caviar as a core ingredient. Their star merchandise hails from Morrocco; a derivative of the Argan Tree, which is processed in Europe and labelled as the Argan Line. The products range from Rs800 and can go up to Rs5,000 but Laila is of the opinion that the prices are not steep at all. When questioned on the effectiveness she said, “There are no miracles. However, if you follow the directions to a T, the brand completely delivers on its promise.” So what exactly does Dolce Saponaria promise, we asked. “The idea behind Dolce Saponaria is to live, heal and pamper yourself naturally.”



The shop itself is as pretty as a Hallmark card, with wooden furniture along neutral lines and muted colours, giving the place a wholesome look. “Our interior is exactly the same as any other Dolce Saponaria outlet. We have added a few personal touches, of course, but the idea comes from the original shop, which is simple and completely natural,” says Laila. On entering, one can smell the comforting aromas of coffee and chocolate wafting through the air, a compete treat for the senses. “The oils and essences create a romantic feel, and the furniture is neutral and holistic to be welcoming,” she adds.

The franchise has been visited by a number of different beauticians that Laila says they may be interested in using it in their salons. “The idea behind the shop is to be able to create a spa-like environment at home, but recently I have been visited by many famous beauticians who want to use our products. I don’t want to name any, but our products might be in notable salons very soon.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2014.

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