Harvest time at L’Occitane

In Provence, there are two things a traveler would want to do first.

Run to the beautiful, sun-kissed fields blooming with colorful flowers and have your photo taken a la Sound of Music, while singing "The hills are alive…"

And smell the flowers, grab them in your hands. Yes, it’s been years since you stopped and smelled the flowers. Because there are no flower farms in Manila.

I did both, like a child eager to embrace the wonders of nature which I never get to see in our polluted metropolis. July was the best month to stop and smell the flowers in France, when the fertile hills of Haute Provence were covered with blue, yellow, pink and white blooms amid green foliage. The plantations seemed endless, they filled the landscape as far as the eye could see. They looked like postcards and evoked visions of Van Gogh.

Olivier Baussan, the handsome and dedicated founder of L’Occitane, took our group of lifestyle journalists on a tour of lavender fields at Plateau de Valensole where lavenders so fragrant and lovely were ready for picking. "The lavender harvest is a true tradition in Provence, handed down from father to son and from mother to daughter," we were told. "All year long, the villagers await those first summer days when they will gaze enraptured at the deep color of flowering lavender." We felt like singing lavender fields forever…" a la John Lennon.

Lavender is so precious, it is called the Blue Gold of Provence.And L’Occitane transforms such blue gold into colognes, soaps, candles and a whole line of body care products.

Aside from lavender, L’Occitane also harvests verbena, olive, immortelle, cade, almond, lemon, grapefruit, mint, mimosa, cinnamon, fir branches and vetiver roots for its products which are sold in more than 500 L’Occitane shops all over the world. In the Philippines, L’Occitane is exclusively distributed by Rustan’s Essenses which has L’Occitane shops in Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La Tower, Alabang Town Center, Gateway at Araneta Center Cubao, Robinsons Place Manila and Ayala Center Cebu.

Enter a L’Occitane shop and you will have a whiff of fragrant Provence and its blooms.

Lavender: Harvested at an altitude of over 800 meters in the hills of Provence, lavender (lavandula angustifolia ) produces the very best essential oil that L’Occitane uses for producing Clarifying Shampoo, Lavender Candle, Foaming Bath, Eau de Toilette, Matte Face Lotion, Hand Cream,Lavender Vinegar, Face Cleaning Gel, Moisturizing Hand Lotion/ Cleansing Handwash , Bath Salts, Velvet Body Scrub, Body Milk/Shower Gel, Detangling Conditioner and Soap.We tried the Clarifying Shampoo and it kept our hair feeling fresh all day. The Foaming Bath leaves the skin delicately perfumed, while the Matte Face Lotion moisturizes while absorbing excess sebum.

Verbena: Those green leaves with a hint of lemon give a distinct character to L’Occitane’s Ice Hand Cream Gel, Soap with Verbena Leaves, Verbena Candle, Ice Gel, Eau de Toilette, Body Salt Scrub, Cool Stick, Foaming Bath, Body Lotion/Shower Gel, Cleansing handwash, Home Perfume Spray, Linen Water and Perfumed Sachet. I must say the Verbena Candle creates a soothing atmosphere, perfect if you want to relax. The Ice Gel fills the body with a feeling of intense freshness while softening the skin.

Olive: This fleshy fruit is not just for eating. The olive tree symbolizes strength, peace, fertility and longevity. The olive, with its precious oil, is also perfect for protecting and beautifying. L’Occitane has a line of products enriched by olive oil. This incliudes Olive Paste for Hair, Radiance Moisturizing Cream, Extra Gentle Shampoo, Shower Cream, Body Milk, Daily Face Cream, Daily Face Cleanser, Face Scrub Mud/Express Radiance Mask, Olive Water Face Toner, Daily Hand Lotion/Hand Wash, Bath and Massage Oil, Exfoliating Shower Cream, Hair Care Oil and Soap with Olive Oil. Tip: Try the stimulating powers of the Hair Care Oil.

Immortelle: This may well be the yellow version of our very own everlasting flower, except that immortelle has essential oil that stimulates circulation, improves cellular nourishment and oxygenation, and boosts cell renewal. It is a regenerating and anti-free radical that is the essential ingredient in L’Occitane’s Precious Fluid, Vitality Serum, Eye Balm, Precious Cream, Foaming Milk/Essential Water Body/Elixir Body, Dermatological Soap, Cream Mask, Elixir/Protective Lotion/Brightening Serum and Lip Lift. Contained in deep blue bottles, L’Occitane’s Immortelle line is quite unique. The Vitality Serum is an amazing anti-aging cream that leaves the skin incredibly smooth and invigorated.

Cade: Olivier Baussan is especially proud of his L’Occitane scents and skincare line for men which uses the awesome powers of cade oil. "Shepherds have always used cade oil to protect themselves against the sun and wind . It has also been the wonder cure for cuts and bruises for French men toiling in the fields." Cade essential oil controls sebum production, strengthens the epidermis and protects against harsh external elements. L’Occitane uses the amazing powers of cade oil for its L’Occitane Eau de Toilette, Reinvigorating Shampoo, After Shave Balm, Energy Face Gel, Cade Shaving Cream, Eau des Bergers Cade After-Shave, Shower Gel and Natural Hold Hair Gel. Does French President Jacques Chirac use this line ? I say oui! Tip for men: try L’Occitane’s 3-in-1 Travel Oil. Also the Shaving Soap in a sleek bowl with brush for a rich lather and a gentle shave.

Almond: In Provence, I discovered that almonds are harvested from trees that are quite a sight when in bloom! Almond oil is important for its softening effect.Enjoy almond oil’s soothing magic in L’Occitane’s Blossom Dew ( invigorates with its light fragrant gel with almond proteins), Shower Oil (softens the skin), Milk Concentrate (fights sagging skin), Delicious Soap ( exfoliates the skin and removes roughness), and Deliciouss Paste ( boosts skin circulation).

Lemon, grapefruit and mint: L’Occitane’s Aromachologie line using these ingredients is created for relaxing, revitalizing and purifying. This includes Relaxing Bath and Massage Oil (combats fatigue, stress and tension), Relaxing Body Balm (makes skin soft and supple), Revitalizing Leg Gel ( relieves fatigue and improves circulation in the legs), Angelica Shampoo (restores radiance for dry, damaged or color-treated hair), Purifying Candle (mixes lemon with cardamon and eucalyptus for a fresh scent), and Revitalizing Sugar Cubes (combats fatigue and energizes both body and mind) .

Mimosa, white rose and bourbon vanilla pods: Traveling merchants left Grasse with vials of perfume scented by these ingredients. No wonder L’Occitane called its Fragrance Merchant line as such. For body care, there is Mimosa Perfume and Bath Shower, Orange Body Lotion, Rose Eau de Perfume, Vanilla Eau de Toilette, and Magnolia Bath Soap.For the home, L’Occitane has Room Spray , Candle, Incense and Home Perfume in scents like orange, rose, vanilla and mimosa.

Cinnamon sticks, fir branches and vetiver roots: These ingredients define L’Occitane’s Home Spray, Scented Candle, Home Perfume and Incense which come with oil burners, incense holders and light bulb rings.

* * *

For inquiries on L’Occitane products, call 844-2451 local 229 or visit L’Occitane at Rustan’s Essenses. For flights to Provence, call KLM-Air France which fly daily to France, at 887-1202. E-mail the author at milletmm_philstar@ pldtdsl.net.