Essential Oils for Massage: How to Choose Yours

For an aromatherapy massage at our shop you choose one of three scents: lemongrass, jasmine or eucalyptus. Lemongrass feels fresh and lively, jasmine is soft and floral, and eucalyptus is clean and cooling. If warmth matters more to you than scent, our hot oil massage uses warm massage oil instead. The best choice is simply the smell you enjoy most, unless you have sensitive skin or allergies, which we cover below.

This article replaces an older post of ours that listed oils we no longer offer. Here is what we actually use, and how we help guests choose.

The oils on our menu

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is part of everyday Thai cooking, so for many guests it smells like Thailand itself. The scent is bright, green and citrusy. It is a good pick if you want to feel refreshed rather than sleepy, for example after a long, hot day.

Jasmine

Jasmine is sweet, warm and floral. It suits people who like a calm, soft atmosphere and want to switch off completely.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is sharp, clean and cooling. It suits people who like a "clear head" feeling, and some enjoy it after a hike or a sports session.

Warm massage oil

Our hot oil massage uses warm massage oil. The warmth is the main event, and many guests find it helps them relax quickly. It suits people who care less about the scent and simply love the feeling of warm oil.

Aromatherapy or hot oil?

Both are oil massages on a bed, with long gliding strokes rather than the pressing and stretching of a traditional Thai massage. The main difference is the focus.

Aromatherapy (600 / 900 / 1,100 THB for 1h / 1.5h / 2h) is about the scent. You choose lemongrass, jasmine or eucalyptus.
Hot oil (750 / 950 / 1,200 THB) is about warmth. It is a good choice if your muscles feel cold and stiff, or if you want a deeper, slower oil massage.

If you are not sure, tell us how you want to feel afterwards, relaxed, refreshed or sleepy, and we will help you pick. You can see both on our oil massage page.

How to choose a scent

A few simple questions help:

Do you want to feel calm or awake? Jasmine for calm, lemongrass for awake, eucalyptus somewhere in between with a cool, clear feeling.
Do you like the smell? This matters more than anything else. If you do not enjoy a scent, it will not relax you.
How sensitive is your skin? If you react easily to perfumes or skincare, tell us first so we can talk through the options.
What are you doing afterwards? Oil stays on the skin for a while. If you are going straight to dinner, a lighter scent may suit you better.

Allergies and sensitive skin

Natural does not always mean gentle. Essential oils are strong plant extracts, and some people react to them.

Lemongrass contains citral, which is a known skin sensitiser in some people. If you have reacted to lemon-scented products before, mention it.
Eucalyptus should not be used on or near the face of young children. Aromatherapy references advise caution with cineole-rich oils like eucalyptus for children.
Any oil can cause redness or itching in people with sensitive skin, eczema or broken skin.

Please tell us before your massage if you have allergies, sensitive skin, or a reaction you remember to any perfume or plant. We can help you choose a milder option, or recommend a dry traditional Thai massage instead, which uses no oil at all. If you feel any itching or burning during the massage, tell your therapist straight away.

If you are pregnant, have a skin condition, recent surgery or blood-pressure problems, please check with your doctor before booking an oil or aromatherapy massage.

What to expect on the day

Oil massage is done with long, smooth strokes, and your therapist will check the pressure with you as they work. Afterwards we bring you water.

Like every treatment at our shop, the sheets and pillowcases are changed after every guest, and the prices on the menu are the prices you pay. Jordi C. summed it up in a Google review: "Clean and comfortable place, excellent skills by the masseuse, deep relaxation!"

When you have chosen your scent, you can book your aromatherapy or hot oil massage here.