Our ultra-luxury Maldives spa incorporates the finest products in all the indulgent and restorative treatments on offer; each is designed to pamper, soothe and reinvigorate your body and mind as you switch off from the worries of the world. One of our partners in this effort hails from the French countryside: the renowned Maison Caulières, one of the most exclusive skincare houses in the world and loved by the likes of Marion Cotillard, Mélanie Laurent and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Nautilus is privileged to be the only private island resort in the Maldives that offers treatments and products by this luxurious brand, and this October, we’re thrilled to be hosting the owner of the company – the pioneering Xavier Desforges de Caulières – at our special Art of Bohemia sessions that take place every sunset hour at Naiboli’s poolside lounge.
Here’s what guests can look forward to from the Maison Caulières Experience from 23–30 October.
From field to skin – a fascinating history of a family-owned endeavour
The Maison Caulières Experience begins with a fascinating family story told by the man himself. Xavier’s family has been cultivating their 200-hectare chateaux estate in the Loire Valley for 250 years, growing sunflower, rapeseed and linseed crops; harvesting and extracting their natural oils; and cold pressing them on location with a 17th-century artisanal technique to ensure the purest form of oils and their exceptional health benefits.
Xavier’s father, Eric, works with these oils in the gourmet foods sector, and while developing select handmade products such as virgin sunflower oil and honey, he noticed the incredible effect that the oils had on his hands’ skin. This inspired Xavier to add a cosmetic line to the family business, based on the home-grown oils and honey from the land and handmade traditions he loved, and inspired by the four seasons and the sensuous fragrances each evoked.
Touching and tasting
It is impossible to tell the Maison Caulières story without engaging all the senses. Touch, for example, is so crucial to the discovery of the oils’ skincare benefits, and it is also such an underrated way of learning and discovering. As such, during each Art of Bohemia session, guests are invited to explore the tactile properties of the pure raw ingredients involved in these premium products – the seeds, dried plants and flowers, and oils.
Then comes taste, where guests will enjoy samples of the estate’s exquisite produce. The virgin sunflower oil, beyond boasting natural health benefits of vitamin E, omega 6 and oleic acid, has a wonderful hazelnut fragrance and delicate almond taste, while the unique canola honey and sunflower honey are both hand-harvested from the beehives on the family’s estate.
Blending and creating
The workshop also includes a wonderfully immersive experience for guests, as they’re guided through two creative processes. Using 100% natural, authentic ingredients sourced directly from the family estate, you’ll be treated to an interactive class making a body scrub – a product perfect for gentle exfoliation and skin renewal. Then there’s the opportunity to blend and brew your own bespoke herbal tea infusion. Choosing from ingredients like rose, verbena, sweet mint and sage – among many others – you’ll experience each herb’s healing properties while breathing in evocative, exquisite aromas that uplift and enhance your mood.
A finishing touch
In a final flourish, guests will be treated to a 10-minute hand massage using Maison Caulières’s signature French oils – a range that includes the refreshing and renewing antioxidant-rich Vitamined Oil; the Protective Oil that is a blend of eight oils and comforting scents of rose, bergamot and jasmine; the Relaxing Oil that nourishes the skin with sesame and shea butter; and the Toning Oil, rich in vitamin E and stimulating scents of broom flower and honey.
As a thank you, you’ll walk away with a special gift, and of course, you’ll have the freedom to purchase your favourite products from the wonderful Maison Caulières range at our Solasta Spa.
Immerse yourself in pure luxury this October, and join us and Maison Caulières for a truly unique experience. Get in touch with us at [email protected] to start planning your journey.