Traveling beauty: The world’s best hotel amenities are worth slipping into your bag upon checkout
By Chadner Navarro
One of the best perks of checking into a hotel is rushing to the bathroom to see what kind of products await. Some offer perennial favourites like Kiehl’s or cool niche brands such as Malin + Goetz, but others commission beauty brands to create exclusive items, making them that much more likely to disappear upon checkout. Herewith, our picks for hotels that provide the squeal factor when it comes to travel-size toiletries.
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JUMP TO: AMSTERDAM | ISTANBUL | MEXICO CITY | PARIS
This luxury canal-side property in the heart of Amsterdam features elegant furnishings, original paintings by Dutch masters and peerless service, but the real magic is in your suite’s bathroom. Perfumer Blaise Mautin, who has worked with Japanese brand Visvim and other top hotels such as Le Bristol in Paris, created a light and sophisticated scent that greets patrons in the lobby and hallways of the hotel. The fragrance, inspired by the city’s flower tradition and characterized by the freshness of freesia, is also used in De L’Europe’s entire amenities kit, including a face cream, body scrub, hand cream and foot balm.
For Ian Schrager’s sexy east-meets-west digs, Grasse- and New York-based brand Le Labo crafted a black-tea-based perfume that is sprayed throughout the property and elevates the sumptuous body lotion, soap bar and hair products in all 78 guest rooms. The rich aroma reveals something flowery and citrusy but also smoky, with hints of chocolate and pepper. It’s an unforgettable medley that is as transporting as it is sensual—just the thing in a city as intoxicating as Istanbul.
LAS ALCOBAS
Located in Mexico City’s chi-chi shopping nabe Polanco, this seven-storey home-away-from-home has inspired devotion for its contemporary Mexican restaurants and superbly soundproofed walls. But it’s the property’s collaboration with niche N.Y.C.-based skincare line SCO that really wows. In-room offerings include a body moisturizer that leaves skin supremely soft, plus an exfoliating body polish that should be offered in a family size to take home. The hotel goes above and beyond with the mini portions of hydrating eye cream and—something you can never have too much of—soothing lip balm.
With neighbours like Hermès and Yves Saint Laurent, it’s vital for this hotel to fit in by offering posh, exclusive amenities. The year-old St. Honoré location of Mandarin Oriental does just that by collaborating with Parisian company Diptyque, treating guests to softening hand washes and refreshing shower gels, and fragrant bath oils for those who’ve sprung for a suite—all enhanced with orange blossom. The bergamot shampoo and conditioner can’t be found anywhere else—in fact, the company doesn’t even make hair care products for sale.
