For most people, this frantic, fast-paced world we live in seems to offer few opportunities to relax and regroup. The Australian natural skincare and wellness brand Subtle Energies is well aware of this, which prompted them to create a range of Ayurveda Aromatherapy products focused on improving the mind and body and allowing one to re-centre and, perhaps more importantly, de-stress.
Over the past 100+ years, the world has seen an enormous amount of innovation, and many of the things people have relied on and lived by have taken a back seat or been replaced, all in the name of progress. However, there are some things that have stood the ‘test of time’, one of which is Ayurveda, which translates to “Knowledge of Life”. It is a form of medicine that originated in India and has been used for more than three millennia.
The wellness company Subtle Energies is a market leader in bringing this ancient medicinal knowledge to the mainstream market, and in this feature, we’ll be looking at their story and trying some of their products.
Necessary changes
Over the past couple of years, my wife Natasha and I have made a commitment to improving our overall health.
One of us had a distinct advantage from the start, namely my wife, who has a physique akin to an Olympic-level athlete, whilst I don’t, which meant some drastic changes were required on my side.
To bring me up to her level, we’ve completely changed our eating habits in addition to exercising regularly and engaging in daily meditation. We both fast each day, and our diets now contain almost zero sugar and are heavily biased towards plant and organic produce. In addition, we consume fermented foods and natural biotic drinks, and we make kefir with unpasteurised milk and homemade toothpaste to reduce our consumption of chemicals.
Making our own toothpaste has proven to be a revelation, and only one month ago, we decided that we wanted to ‘up the ante’ by trying our hands at making our own natural deodorant.
A few weeks later, we were still to embark on this new fragrant health adventure, however as luck would have it, a representative on behalf of Subtle Energies, an Australian wellness brand, reached out to us, asking if we would like to try some of its Ayurveda Aromatherapy products.
By pure coincidence, one of the products suggested was an aluminium-free Deodorant made with natural essential oils. As you can imagine, we didn’t need to be asked twice!
Before we get into our experience with the products, let’s look into the company behind the range.
The Subtle Energies Story
The brand was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1993 by Farida Irani, a holistic health practitioner, Bowen therapy instructor, Ayurveda practitioner and clinical aromatherapist.
It began as a clinic of natural therapies, which aimed to address a complex range of health concerns and continues to do this today, with Farida still at the helm, assisted by her daughter Khursheed.
In the early part of the 1990s, Farida would make frequent trips to India, and it was here that she came across essential oils she had yet to come across in Western Aromatherapy.
These unique oils and her exploration of the country’s artisan distilleries caused her to research what is now commonly known as Ayurveda Aromatherapy.
In the 1990s, Subtle Energies became one of the first in the world to work with these rare aromatic oils on a clinical level, which led Farida Irani to produce a range of products in Australia that meets European standards.
Her Ayurveda Aromatherapy products have been certified by Cruelty-Free International, and, equally as important, they do not contain parabens, mineral oils, silicones or artificial fragrances.
The Subtle Energies products we experienced came as part of a set called the Gym Buddy Bundle; however, each product in the set is also available to purchase individually.
Inside the box were:
A 250ml bottle of Subtle Energies Rayasana Body Wash, which is a sulphate-free, foaming body and hand wash with an aroma produced by its Limbu, Wild Tumeric, Kewda and Tulasi (Holy Basil) oils.
In Ayurveda, the word Raysana is the Sanskrit term for rejuvenation, and after trying it, I can understand why Subtle Energies chose that name.
In the main, I am a natural soap bar user, and I have never found the need to deviate from this as soap seems to do the job. However, after using the Rayasana Body Wash, things will be changing.
After using the body wash, I ‘felt’ much cleaner, and its effects, particularly its aroma, seemed to last much longer than the natural soap. As a result of using it, I felt more natural and, dare I say it, purer.
The next product I tried was the natural deodorant/sanitiser. Both Natasha and I used it, and we both adored it. It may be my age, but nowadays, I no longer feel I should restrict myself to products with the words ‘For Men’ on them. I believe that a neutral, natural and pleasant aroma tells more about a person than an overpoweringly strong scent designed to hide the worst odours imaginable.
The natural deodorant’s array of purifying anti-bacterial essential oils include Tulasi, Kashmir Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Tea tree. As someone who meditates daily, the plant-based blend was ‘right up my street’, as it made me feel relaxed and unique; plus, it can also be used in a room to help create the right mood before meditation.
The other thing we liked about the Subtle Energies deodorant is it is much more serene to put on when compared to violent expulsion from a pressurised can, thanks to its pump action. This caused me to think, would anyone use a pressurised can on a face? I think not, so why use one directly on the skin on other body parts?
Another item in the Gym Buddy Bundle is the Muscle Ease Blend, which we found to have a subtle, almost medicinal fragrance. For this product, Subtle Energies has used strengthening and rejuvenating essential oils combined with fortifying base oils, making it ideal for deep tissue massage.
Its fragrance is born from Kunzea, Clove and Ashwagandha, and according to the brand, it is also perfect for detoxifying massages and can help to alleviate stresses and aches in feet and legs.
Last, and by no means least, are the Rasayana Inhalation Patches. The Gym Buddy Bundle contains five patches, which are designed to promote energy, refresh and uplift and support the body’s response to adrenal fatigue.
The patches can either be worn directly on the skin or attached to clothing, and they will slowly release the aromatic actives over time. According to Subtle Energies, the patches are designed as a ‘pick me up’ and can also help reduce nausea and lethargy.
Final thoughts
There seems to be a growing global movement of people actively seeking products that are more natural and holistic, us included, which was why we were keen to try some of the things Subtle Energies had to offer. And, as you have no doubt gathered, we were very pleased with what we tried.
There is a special, hard-to-describe feeling you get when using products that are born directly from nature, along with the comfort that you’re not imparting your body with a huge list of unpronounceable chemicals that might or might not be good for you.
Peace of mind is somewhat of a rarity in today’s world; in my opinion, the Subtle Energies Ayurveda products give you that.
For more information on all the products Subtle Energies offers, visit their website www.subtleenergies.com.au.
Read more lifestyle reviews, guides and news here.