Beauty | Wellness

There is something inherently noble that courses through Penhaligon's iconic Portraits Collection. Each character in this reimagined aristocracy offers as compelling a story as any, producing scents that do justice to the animals that shape those cheeky bottlecaps. The more one smells the fragrances, the thicker the plot becomes.

When Penhaligon's releases a fragrance, it does so with a certain visual and narrative flare. The 'Portrait's series, for instance, is a humourous reinterpretation of symbols, mostly animals and fictional characters, in the British aristocracy. Designer Kristjana Williams has a hand in it, too, complementing the fragrances with a nature-inspired vintage ornate touch. Couple that with a distinct tongue-in-cheek voice and eclectic charm, and one gets a flourishing Maison of timeless appeal.

If there was ever an ultimate symbol of stealth wealth, it's Loro Piana. Whether its producing chic clothing for winter or fabric for otherworldly interiors, its assemblage of the rarest raw materials in the world is second to none. Sometimes, it makes use of lotus flower fiber. Other times, it's Vicuña from Argentina or Merino wool from Australia and New Zealand. Aways, it's an exercise in tireless refinement.

A pioneer of the medical spa concept, Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland has advocated for science-backed holistic wellness since 1931. Today, it stands as one of – if not the most – exclusive health and wellness groups around the world. The institute relies on providing a multi-sensory experience that integrates medical care with wellness, nutrition, and movement. Hence, it's reputation as an epicenter for balanced restorative health that functions more like a five-star hotel than just a cutting-edge medical spa.

Swiss luxury skincare brand La Prairie is renowned for its high-end, science-driven products. The brand traces its roots to 1931 when Dr Paul Niehans combined pioneering science, rejuvenation, and vitality at the Clinique La Prairie in the Swiss Alps with notable clients such as Charles de Gaulle, Sir Winston Churchill, Marlene Dietrich, and Marilyn Monroe. 

The epitome of timeless elegance, Ralph Lauren seamlessly blends preppy aesthetics with a touch of rugged refinement. His signature polo shirts, meticulously tailored blazers, and iconic equestrian-inspired motifs have become synonymous with a lifestyle that exudes casual charm and refined grace. 

Heritage brands don't come much more storied than the legendary French candlemaker-cum-perfumer, Trudon. The ancient house is currently celebrating its 380th year, and over the centuries has graced many of the great palaces and cathedrals of Europe. (We’re told that Versailles’ quintessential Hall of Mirrors consumed no fewer than 50,000 Trudon candles – each week.)

A lasting statement in beauty demands help from the most distinguished names in the game. Luxury brand Clé de Peau Beauté was established in Japan in 1982 with the mission to forge new frontiers in skin-cell science. Its name originates from the French definition of 'the key to skin’s beauty'.

Far from the sensationalism of stem cells and gene editing, ice baths and transfusions, the cutting edge of longevity is increasingly a question of data: your personal biological clock – and how to wind it back. Gerontologist and total medicine specialist Professor Andrea Maier has opened a new clinic, Chi Longevity, to discover who you really are, and how to antagonise your ageing process.