New! Aesop introduces Reverence Hand Care and sets up their signature flagship store in Malaysia

Just when I openly declare love for a hand cream, suddenly I get inundated with hand creams from different brands proclaiming that they will quite easily convince me to love them too LOL! Its funny isn’t it? Maybe I should start declaring my love for the Chanel Classic Flap. Wonder if anyone will start inundating me with bags too… hmm… wishful thinking huh? 😉

Bags aside, Aesop will be retailing a new hand care range in stores (including their new Flagship store pictured below) from October 2012 onwards. This is the Reverence Hand Care range and comes in a Hand Balm and Hand Wash.

I tried the Resurrection Hand Balm a while back (got a sample sachet of it) and I quite liked how not sticky it was. The new Reverence Aromatique Hand Balm is a little more intense in its formula, in that it contains Lactic Acid for gentle exfoliation and hydration of skin. The texture is a little thicker than the Resurrection Hand Balm but once it absorbs, hands feel lovely and soft. The smell is, quite typical of Aesop, soothing and botanical.

The Reverence Hand Wash is an exfoliating hand wash that contains pumice so you scrub your hands as you wash it. It feels quite gentle and non abrasive. Both these products are new on the shelves and will be available at all Aesop counters, as well as their Flagship store at Pavilion KL. I have a few photos of the store here for your viewing pleasure 🙂

The first signature Aesop store is at Fashion Avenue, Pavilion KL (3rd Floor). If you are familiar with the mall, this is where Tang’s used to be. The area has been converted to house more fashion stores, and a few beauty stores too.

I learned that the Aesop Malaysia signature store drew its inspiration from the traditional kampung (village) houses with its abundant use of locally sourced nyatoh hardwood for the shelves and the layout where the bottom give the impression of a house on stilts. The design is very open so you can, at one glance, see what it is that you are looking for.

Products are well within reach, and easy to get a hold of. I did find the interior a little narrow so if there are a lot of people milling about in the store, it can feel a bit cramped. But fortunately, they kept the ceiling high and kept the whole store airy with soothing lighting and colours so it doesn’t get claustrophobic. You can always gravitate to the back of the store, where there is a sink and tester products, so you can try the Reverence Hand Wash and Hand Balm to see if its something you may like.

Another interesting thing I learnt is that Aesop stores worldwide do not look homogenous. So, each country is allowed to set up their store according to how they perceive it, and to draw on local inspiration, so no two stores look a like. Interesting wot? I’m used to global brands adopting a global design strategy so this was quite refreshing news to me 🙂 2 more stores are planned in Bangsar Village and Penang so watch out for those.

Have you tried any Aesop Hand Balm? Do you have a favourite Aesop product?

Paris B

Aesop Reverence Hand Wash Price: 135/500ml ; Reverence Hand Balm Price: RM81/75ml, RM133/500ml; Reverence Duet Price: RM395 (both 500ml) Availability: Aesop counters and Aesop store at Level 3 Fashion Avenue, Pavilion KL