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Scin, Notting Hill, London - 4 bubbles
Sceptical Spy headed to Scin, Notting Hill and was won over by the firm hands of his therapist. Scin is a bijou spa that's perfect for gossipy pamper sessions upstairs and serious relaxation downstairs.
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Long-term effects
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Any special features?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
The ground-floor entrance space is very white and clinical in feel. Scin has the ambience of a shop, although there is banquette seating in a waiting-area. The atmosphere is very female, with the most prominent range of products on display being Mama Mio. My therapist, Anna, told me that on weekend mornings, the ground-floor is a very girly, gossipy place, with lots of nail treatments going on and a hubbub of chatter in a relaxed, man-free zone.
How did they welcome you?
Very efficiently and amiably. They greeted me as though they were expecting me. (Which they were, but that always inspires confidence!) I was offered something to drink and settled for water (though I could have had a cup of tea), and offered a seat in the reception area.
What happens next?
I filled in a consultation form, which asked what results I wanted from my visit, and also to indicate what level of pressure I would like (light, moderate or heavy) which is a nice touch when you're having a massage.
Anna then led me downstairs, and gave me a little tour of the spa. There are four treatment rooms, which are very small. There is also a Jacuzzi, in an alcove, which is accessed by a very steep, vertical ladder; two of you would feel quite snug in there. Anna then left me to get undressed. I put my clothes in a little basket and laid face down on the table.
Which treatments did you have?
A deep tissue, whole body massage with heavy pressure.
What were the treatments like?
Very good. It's rather easy for guys to be a bit patronising about how likely they are to get a firm-pressure massage from a female therapist, but this massage dispelled all such doubts. Anna is obviously an experienced and highly skilled masseuse, and there was no lack of thoroughness about the treatment.
She began the massage on my legs, working through my calf muscles, thighs and glutes, and then proceeded to my back. I'd advised where my problem areas were (lower back, shoulders), and she duly paid particular attention to those. There's always a moment or two in a massage where both you and the therapist know that she's hit a crunch point (now's your chance to yell out in pain, or grit your teeth at least!), and in that respect, this was a very thorough treatment.
Anna used her elbows along either side of my spine, and ironed out the knottiness in my rhomboids in particular, with all the severity one hopes for. The movements up the back towards the base of my neck produced that exhilarating rush of blood-flow that is one of the joys of deep-tissue treatment.
When I turned over on to my back, Anna carried on with the same level of intense massage on the front of my legs and my arms. With some gentle piano music playing, and the mingled herbal scents of the oil (peppermint, lemon, rosemary), I went into a wonderful head-space, not exactly drowsy, just immensely relaxed. Anna had asked me which oil she should use, depending on whether I wanted a relaxed or invigorated feeling; while I had asked for the latter, the massage left me feeling distinctly more like lying there for another hour or so. But I wasn't complaining.
How did you feel afterwards?
Fabulous. Immensely chilled out, but at the same time gently high and somehow ready for anything -- even the 10-minute trudge through pouring rain back to Notting Hill Gate tube station.
What happens afterwards?
Anna asked me whether I would like a hot drink: green, peppermint or camomile tea. I went for green, and she brought me another glass of water, too. After I had sat on the table for a while still glistening with oil, drinking my tea and feeling great, I (somewhat reluctantly) put my clothes back on and went back up to reception.
Long-term effects
I definitely feltl a lot better as far as overall muscle stiffness goes, although I have to say it didn't absolutely all go in my shoulders. Perhaps they needed a little more work?
Was it worth it?
Yes. Scin offers a very sensual massage approach, combining the varied effects of relaxation and hard pounding, which is largely what boys want. The whole thing lasted about ten minutes above the official hour, so good value.
What else could you have?
Facials, manicures and pedicures, exfoliations, spray-tanning, strip-waxing and hot-waxing.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
That I'd feel like having a quick snooze after my treatment, but there was nowhere to go and have 40 winks!
Any special features?
The oils used are a brand called Be Genkai, which were new to me, evidently based on some Chinese (though it sounds more Japanese to me) herbal recipe. Nice aromatic range, not at all flowery.
Who do you think would like it?
As far as guys are concerned, anybody who doesn't mind the predominantly girly atmosphere. If the thought of waiting around in a room of giggly girls does your head in, you could go and get a massage downstairs while they all gossip about you (just kidding, girls). Or else go on a quieter weekday, like I did.
The last time we visited, Shy Spy said: "Anna, the co-owner, who is also a therapist at Scin, has designed the treatment menu to offer straightforward but effective treatments, cutting out fussy therapies such as wraps in favour of facials and body massages. Scin does have limited space -- it is more salon than spa -- so this is really a place to drop in for that essential massage or pick-me-up facial rather than a full day of indulgence."
While there are some special packages, the spa menu is mainly individual treatments, and there aren't any lunch facilities, so you'd be more likely to visit for a weekly massage than a full pampering day. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants nearby, though, and with the shops just around the corner, you could quite easily arrange a girls' day out in Notting Hill….
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Scin 4 bubbles for the professionalism and the proficiency of the treatment, more than for the gorgeousness of the facilities. The rooms are very small, with the tables placed diagonally; if I'm being honest, I'd have to report that if you're six foot tall or more, your feet will be scrunched against the walls.
Is it coincidence that the consultation form asks you to state whether you suffer from claustrophobia? On my visit, the hydrotherapy pool was out of action, as the heating element was on the blink, though I wasn't expecting a pre-massage dip anyway.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
If I lived within a reasonable distance of Scin, I'd be a regular customer for manicures and massages!
We visited Scin in Notting Hill in February 2010.
See also:
* Contact Details for Scin Notting Hill
* Massage
* Treatments for men
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