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Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

By Jean Grant| Photography by Gabby Frank
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The French beauty house Guerlain has been making perfumes since the mid-1800s, when founder Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain created a scent for Empress Eugenie to celebrate her marriage to Napoleon III. Their now-iconic bottle, covered in 69 gilded bees to represent the number of battles won by the emperor, can still be spotted in well-to-do bathrooms around the globe. These days, the brand also sells sumptuous lipsticks, extravagant skincare (its high-end line Orchidée Impériale makes a $1,700 cream) and many olfactory delights. They also have 43 spas around the world, and the first in Canada just opened inside of Hotel X earlier this month. Here’s a peek inside.

The reception has a floating marble desk, gold ceiling and herringbone stone pillars. Strategically placed LED lights give the space a warm glow. Upon arrival, guests immediately receive a hot towel spritzed in Guerlain’s signature scent:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

The perfume lines are displayed at the entrance. All are made in France from raw and natural ingredients. Scents range from light and citrusy linen spritzes to more potent colognes meant to evoke gasoline or tobacco:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

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Here’s their original bottle, bees and all. The company partners with UNESCO to help preserve bee populations:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

The lounge has lake views:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

The lounge also sells the brand’s skincare and makeup lines, including pretty mirrored lipstick cases. Orchidée Impériale, the most expensive line, has its own research centre devoted to exploring the orchid’s beautifying potential. Most creams in the line will run you about $500:

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Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

There are 10 treatment rooms:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

Many of them come with lake views, and can accommodate couples’ treatments.  The 80 massage, a signature treatment, works on 80 muscles in the body and face, using 80 techniques applied to 80 pressure points:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

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At the beginning of each treatment, guests sit back and inhale four massage elixirs infused into tiny bells. They then choose which “scent journey” they’d like to take:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

They can also choose what kind of music they want to listen to (punk rock is not an option):

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

Other treatment rooms have showers for post-wrap rinses:

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Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

The waiting area has remote-controlled massage chairs:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

And teas and baked goods:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

 

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Here’s the changing area, which has a steam room:

Inside the swanky new Guerlain spa at Hotel X, with expansive lake views, remote-control massage chairs and $1,700 skin creams

111 Princes’ Blvd., 647-943-9300, hotelxtoronto.com.

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