Inhale the fragrance deeply and relax...

Herborist and Body Lover are both brands that manufacture fragrant products. Both have shops in Hong Kong Shopping Centre located on the metro station level below People's Square.

Fragrance is extracted from natural sources, mostly herbs. Many of the herbs are also used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Different fragrances can have different effects. For example, the fragrance of lavender and frankincense soothe your nerves and relieve pain Mint and rosemary refresh and concentrate your mind, while the scent of salvia and sandalwood relax your muscles and helps sleep.

Several ways of applying the oil: put a few drops on a tissue and take deep breaths to inhale the fragrance; mix a few drops of the oil in a basin of hot water, cover your head over the basin with a bath towel and take in the fragrance from the vapour. You can also buy a special pot with a little plate on it, drop a little oil on the plate, add water and light a special candle beneath. The fragrance will come up with the heat and you can have the aromatic air surrounding you.

Pots are sold at the shops too. These Chinese-made little pots are in beautiful colours and shapes. They make good ornaments for the house too.

The shop assistant in Herborist also recommends that a few drops of fragrant oil can be put in the bathtub, so that your whole body can be immersed in the fragrance.

But she also warned that the oil should not be applied to the skin directly without being diluted because it's highly concentrated and may irritate the skin.

Major department stores have areas for such fragrant products too. Often located on the first floor, on display together with dried flowers and other little decoration articles.

Fragrant oils are priced from 30 yuan ($3.60) to 100 yuan ($12.10). The pot and candle will cost another 30 to 40 yuan ($3.60-$4.80)

Other fragrant products that can be found in these shops include personal care articles such as shampoo, bath fluid, bath salts and body lotion.

Shanghai Star