Basking in citrus county

Sushmita Bose tries out a winsome treatment comprising a mandarin essential oil massage and an Arabesque argan oil-based exfoliation at Mandara Spa, The H Hotel

I was pleased as punch to sip on full-bodied ginger tea before the treatment (usually, these niceties are left for after), as the hospitable spa manager educated me on Mandara. Specially-trained Balinese therapists, and a range of products from such premium brands as Elemis and the like are its calling cards (there were a host of others too, as I was to discover soon enough).
I was about to go in for the Aromatic Mandarin Summer Fresh Ritual - a deep tissue massage with mandarin oil, followed by an Arabian-style deep-cleansing exfoliation using an infusion with an argan oil base.  
The lobby area is functional, not endlessly spacious - but as you enter the innards of the spa, you realise how beautifully planned and well-annointed it is. I checked out the steam room and the sauna after my energising-yet-relaxing treatment, and spent five minutes in each chamber, locking myself in to enjoy a few minutes of hot solitude!
At the end of an exhilarating session, I forgot my watch in the locker, and remained blissfully unaware. In five minutes - while on my way back home - I got a call from Mandara assuring my timekeeper was safe and sound and, yes, I could pick it up the next morning. A great note to end the evening on!

Therapy time
A 90-minute treatment: one-hour massage, followed by a 30-minute scrub/exfoliation. Once enconsced in spa dress code, I was led to a therapy room, where Desak, my Balinese masseuse, proceeded to knead me using, first, her (very capable) hands, then a heated bamboo stick (yes!), and finally a warm herbal kimosa compress. 'Aromatic Mandarin Sensual Oil' was used as the base. Nice smell, subtle and lingering. Scrub-time called for a mix of argan oil, rice powder, mango butter and shea butter (from the Les Sens De Marrakesh range). A quick shower, and it was all, suddenly, done too soon!

What we loved...
Mandara is one of the prettiest spas in town - it's a pleasure to just be walking around the place! The very competent staff pamper you thoroughly. Treatment itself was fantastic. Facilities - the sauna and the steam room, in particular - rocked. Great retail store to take back home spa souvenirs.

What we didn't...
There was absolutely nothing to not like, but if I had to randomly think of something that could have been done better, probably the fact that the massage could have come after the scrub, instead of the other way around. Always nicer to take home remnants of pampering - not shower 'em off!

Aromatic Mandarin Summer Fresh Ritual
Mandara Spa, Level 3, The H Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Reservations: Call 04-5018270 or email: spa@h-hotel.com
Cost: Dh625 (90 mins). Good news! During Ramadan, the same treatment will be available for Dh450!
Our rating: 4.5/5
sushmita@khaleejtimes.com