Living360’s Evelyn Richards tries Lush’s signature spa treatment to discover if it’s worth the hype.
Lush has long been synonymous with sensory indulgence, but its Synaesthesia treatment takes that philosophy to an entirely new level. As the brand’s original spa experience, it remains one of its most immersive — a multi-sensory journey designed to blur the lines between scent, sound and touch.
Before the treatment begins, there’s a moment of quiet introspection. No guiding hands, no scent samples, just a simple question — what do you need?
The answer lies in a selection of intentions: courage, belonging, simplicity, energy, resilience, inspiration, mischief, empowerment, hope, nourished and peace. It’s a small but significant act of self-reflection. As a writer, ‘inspiration’ felt like the obvious choice.
The second decision is more abstract — a feeling. Words such as brave, harmony and tranquillity are on offer, but with the weekend ahead, I opted for ‘free’. Only after these choices are made does the treatment reveal its secrets.
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An immersive atmosphere
Inspiration, it turns out, is a fresh and powdery bath bomb, which is gently dissolved in water beneath the massage table while a theatrical swirl of dry ice releases fragrance into the room. Free, on the other hand, is a sherbet-scented oil. As the mist curls around me, the room is transformed into something dreamlike — a space unmoored from time.
From the four corners of the room, a carefully curated soundscape begins to play. It’s no ordinary spa playlist. Composed by The Nightjar Orchestra, the soundtrack mimics the passing of a full day, beginning with the gentle chirping of birds at dawn.
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The massage
Choreographed to this shifting sonic landscape, the massage is like nothing I’ve experienced before. As I settle onto the treatment bed, I’m offered a choice: a stomach massage or hot stones. I opt for the latter and a series of heated stones are placed along my body from my stomach to my chest, with smaller ones resting in my palms and on my forehead.
Then, the real work begins.
Over the course of 80 minutes, my therapist, Sonya, moves methodically from my scalp to my feet, tracing slow, deliberate strokes that mirror the undulating rhythms of the music. At times, the massage bar (a solid moisturiser containing essential oils and butters) glides over my skin in long, sweeping movements, punctuated by bursts of more focused pressure.
Alternating between warmed and cooled oils, Sonya employs a technique designed to both soothe and restore — heat to increase circulation, cold to reduce inflammation.
By the end, I’m completely untethered from reality. Time has lost its grip; London, with all its noise and urgency, feels impossibly far away. It takes a cup of herbal tea to ease me back into the present.
As I leave, I’m handed a small token of my experience — an Inspiration bath bomb to take home, a reminder of the rare, weightless tranquillity I’ve just experienced.
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My thoughts
In a world of conveyor-belt spa treatments, Synaesthesia stands apart. It’s not merely a massage, it’s an immersion — a seamless fusion of fusion of scent, sound and sensation that lingers long after the treatment ends.
It’s certainly one of the best spa treatments I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing, and one that will stay with me for some time.
I highly recommend it for those who need both a physical and mental pick-me-up. You can also book in a couples session, inviting perhaps your partner, parent or friend to join you on the journey.
The treatment is available at the following Lush Spas: London Oxford Street, London Covent Garden, Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and Poole.
Book Lush’s Synaesthesia spa treatment for £160.
