Learn The VANITY LINGO

When travelling, learning the local lingo is all a part of the fun! Have you ever been curious about how hoteliers and amenity suppliers communicate with each other? We're not just talking about complimentary breakfast and an in-room cocktail station (even if they are scrumptious offerings), this is a deep dive into the language of luxury hotels, designer amenities and in-room beer taps (just kidding).

Our hotel amenity dictionary has been crafted to help everyone out (from honeymooners to holidayers and highflyers) and give everyone a taste of what it's like to be in one of the sweetest suites. We want to widen your senses to the scents, fragrances, skincare, and haircare vocabulary that will help you find what you like in a hotel stay.

Just as the hotel and designer amenities industry thrives with new experiences, we too will continue to add more and more hotel amenity terminology. So, it's time to take your trip and become a hotel amenity pro!

A

Accommodation: a room, group of rooms, or building in which someone may live or stay for any period of time.

Aluminium Tubes: a 100% plastic-free tube amenity solution that combats the use of single-use plastic globally all while looking absolutely fabulous.

Amenity: The classic term describes a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place. Our definition hones in on a cacophony of fragrance journeys that make a stay, holiday or trip one to remember through the bottles or tubes that line the bathroom vanity. The bathroom is where vanity starts, right? Why not end it there knowing you'll always look fabulous and walk out feeling gorgeous?

B

Base Note: the final scent note that appears as the middle note evaporates. This note creates a lasting impression of the fragrance as it stays on the skin for hours and creates the full body of the perfume with the top and middle notes (see Note). Base notes usually have woody and musky aromas like sandalwood, vanilla, amber and cedarwood.

Bath Soaks: a deep cleanse that draw out toxins and boosts circulation with essential oils and mind-harmonising aromas to help bring a boost to your day.

Bathroom Vanity: where the magic begins, a bathroom vanity is a combination of the bathroom basin and the fabulous amenities atop it with a mirror showcasing the beauty in front of it.

Beauty Parade: VANITY GROUP's very own beauty parade is a showcase of spectacular luxury amenities in all shapes and sizes for the sweetest of suites. So, why not join our beauty parade where sensorial sensations await?

Bespoke Solutions: at VANITY GROUP, we collaborate with our brand partners every step of the way to ensure that our bespoke hotel collections include unique amenities and luxury experiences for hotel guests.

Body Buff: an exfoliating applicator that deeply moisturises skin, leaving it feeling, soft, silky, and visibly radiant. At VANITY GROUP, we are all Body Buffs, working towards giving your skin the best care on your travels.

Body Lotion: a delight to the skin and senses, these liquids are smooth to the touch and wrap around the body (after a sudsy wash, see Body Wash) providing a long-lasting, aromatic, and hydrating experience when lathered.

Body Oil: an absolutely decadent way to nourish your skin with hydrating and anti-ageing properties to promote dewy skin with a fresh glow.

Body Scrub: this is more than just a regular scrub in the tub with your favourite rubber duck, it buffs away any dryness on your skin, leaving behind smooth, supple skin that is akin to a baby's bum!

Body Wash: a pure, cleansing liquid used to wash away the day and envelop you in a world of scents as you bathe before slipping into bed.

Bottles: ranging in sizes, amenity bottles can come in bite-sized packages of 30ml and go all the way up to 500ml depending on what suits our partners, to infinity and beyond!

Bracket: a supporting structure that projects from a wall to hold items or a shelf, perfect for refillable bottle solutions popped on a tiled bathroom wall.

Branded Amenities: are unique hotel collections inspired by global brands championing skincare, haircare, lifestyle and fine fragrance as they sink into the world of hotels and guest experience.

Branded Hotel Collection: is made up of shampoo, conditioner, hand & body wash, hand & body lotion and a bar of triple-milled soap. However, unique Branded Hotel Collections can be made upon request with more offerings available.

C

Complimentary Breakfast: simply, a delicious breakfast provided for free for guests, usually at hotels and resorts, Bon Appétit!

Conditioner: a nourishing, conditioning and moisturising sensation that can provide definition, an extra bounce or support to your hair. There's nothing better than getting a rush of fragrance as you flick your silkily styled hair one way, look behind you (in a completely nonchalant way) and keep walking like you're on a fashion runway anywhere in the world.

Convenient Stay: a convenient stay is unique to the guests’ expectations for their stay. A convenient stay for one could mean a free breakfast and fitness center to utilise or it could mean cooking classes with free parking, the world is your oyster with this one!

Cornstarch: is used in packaging materials as a sustainable alternative as it is biodegradable while maintaining the highest quality standards.

Clean Collection: a collection made of aluminium tubes and biodegradable wood chip caps to ensure no microplastics are left behind after use, in an effort to help combat the world’s growing plastics problem.

D

Designer Hotel Amenities: are some of the best hotel amenities on bathroom vanities across the globe. These amenities are made for the best of the best in guest rooms that scream opulence and luxury, are not mean to just accommodate guests but encourage guests to experience scent profiles of their stay within their own bathroom.

Dry Amenities: are accessories such as combs, shaving kits, dental kits, emery boards, sanitary bags, sewing kits, shoeshine, vanity kits and shower caps that are popped on top of the vanity so that guests feel right at home.

E

Eco-Conscious Stays: are hotels or resorts that are operated in such a way to minimise the carbon footprint of business operations, those who work there and those who stay there.

Eco-Luxury Accessories: are gorgeously crafted accessories that are biodegradable without losing any of the high-quality use.

Everything you need (we got you!): bridging the gap in the supply chain between product ideation, manufacturing, distribution and sales, VANITY GROUP does everything, everywhere all at once (bagels included at our Bravo Bar).

Eye Cream: is a moisturiser for the delicate skin around the eyes that hydrates the skin, promotes anti-aging, and reduces dark circles and puffiness with ingredients like Vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid.

F

Face Cream: is a delightful way to moisturise your face and achieve a gorgeous complexion.

Face Mist: want to give yourself a spritz of hydration without all the creamy fuss? Face mist delivers an instant hit of hydration with extracts, essential oils, and vitamins to keep your face fresh.

Face Moisturiser: hydrates the surface layers of the skin, sealing and locking in the moisture and nutrients while protecting from all the nasties that you may find in your day-to-day escapades.

First Night Effect: is the restless tossing and turning that you have on your first night arriving at a new home or stay. If you want to ensure your beauty sleep, try bringing some familiar scents with you, sleep enhancers or maintain your nightly routine.

Floating Wall Mount: a wall mount with a bracket attached to an amenity bottle that is invisible to the naked eye, amenity leviosa! A wall mount floating is absolute magic when you see it on a wall.

Formulation: any type of amenity has a unique formulation of ingredients, fragrances and colours that are made in specifications to region, brand, and hotel collection.

Fragrance: is a stimulant of our sense of smell and playfully opens our minds to invoke memories from the past. Fragrance is more than just a smell, it is a powerful tool, opening a pathway to enchant and charm.

Fragrance House: is a creative company that independently designs and produces perfumes for brands globally.

Fragrance Oil: also known as aroma oils, aromatic oils, and flavour oils, they are blended synthetic aroma compounds or natural essential oils that are diluted to create unique scent profiles and flavour journeys.

FSC: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) promotes environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically sustainable management of forests.

Foot Scrub: is a treatment that is just as soothing as it sounds, the feet are exfoliated with soap and rocks to remove dead skin cells, reduce calluses, improve circulation, and soothe tired muscles. The perfect ending? Sliding into slippers, putting your feet up and calling it a day.

G

Guests Amenities: while many guests flock to see what is on the room service menu, guest amenities cover a wide variety of factors including in-room amenities that should be of the highest quality.

Guest Experience: all interactions that a guest has with a stay at all touchpoints, this ranges from what guests expect to in-room entertainment with all senses being a part of the guest’s journey from beginning to end.

H

Haircare: you should take care of your gorgeous locks of hair, if you don't, who's going to? While on a holiday or staycation, you need to ensure you're using quality haircare for silky smooth hair on the go, a good shampoo and conditioner go a long way.

Hand Cream: a moisturiser for the hands that leaves them feeling clean and smelling divinely decadent, choose wisely or you might get a craving for a snack!

Heart Note: the middle scent note that emerges once the top note evaporates, scents in the heart of a fragrance can last around 20 minutes to one hour. These notes tend to be pleasant and well-rounded inspired by floral or herbal aromas like rose, lemongrass, lavender, and jasmine.

Hotel: a luxurious escape to an otherworldly plane full of experiences to be had, places to explore and senses to be stimulated. A hotel is a type of accommodation but is just as important as the journey as you end up taking, it is your home away from home.

Hotel Amenities: are more than just essential items but are a part of a luxurious travel experience that rival even the sweetest of suites. The images of tiny bottles and single-use shower caps that adorned the laminate bathroom benchtops are over in favour of premium, designer amenities that reflect their luxurious surroundings and selective tastes.

House of Beauty: VANITY GROUP creates luxurious, designer amenities from beginning to end.

I

ISO 9001:2015: Quality management systems

ISO 14001:2015: Environmental management systems

ISO 45001:2018: Occupational health and safety management systems

L

Lather: is a frothy white mass of bubbles that looks like fairy floss and feels like a cloud.

Licensed Retail: is the process of a company brand granting another company written permission to use brand trademarks, logos, characters, or other imagery on products for sale.

Lip Balm/Gloss: is used to moisturise, plumpen and give lips a glossy luster that will make heads turn and eyes widen with subtle colours to add a fresh pop.

Little Luxuries: refers to our luxury collection of childrens hotel amenities with formulations that are made for soft skin to soothe and lull bubs and babies. Bath time has never been so fun with our amenities!

Loofah: a type of sponge that exfoliates the skin to make way for fresh, smooth skin.

Luxury (Boutique) Hotel: are small inventory, design-driven, unique hotels with their own character, personality and storytelling at the heart of their concept.

Luxury Accessories: include a range of accessories that leave guests feeling like royalty during their stay with immaculate packaging designed to complement the most luxe suites.

Luxury Amenities: are amenities that are designer, unique, bespoke, magnificent, splendid and beyond grand for hoteliers that want to give a little extra something to their guests.

Luxury Hotel Collection: an indulgent collection of sumptuous amenities that leave a guest feeling an absolute sense of pleasure and lavishness that they would not normally receive.

M

Make-Up Remover Towelette: a small tissue-like fabric that gently and effectively dissolves all traces of dirt, oil and makeup that leaves you with a fresh, clean face in seconds.

Memorable Scents: have you ever been to a hotel or destination and are instantly reminded of an old memory? It's not a coincidence, it's science! Well, not exactly. Some destinations use ventilation to spread scents across their premises so that they become synonymous with a guest’s stay or the hotel! So that's why Bergamot reminds me of Barcelona...

Mindful Beauty: a shared commitment to balancing wellness, beauty, and sustainability. For a deep dive into mindful beauty, click here.

Minis: are smaller versions of our gorgeous bottle collections that come in bite-sized treats for guests. Don't be fooled though, nothing is left out of these minis as they are packed and filled with all the same goodness as our fuller collections, good things do come in small packages!

N

Notes: while the hills may be alive with musical notes, they would also hold the scent of grass and fresh air. Much like musical notes having to make up a song and shades of colours being crafted into a painting when fragrance notes are blended, they create a perfume’s fragrant accord! Fragrance notes make up a whole fragrance but each of them (Top, Heart, Base) has its own unique purpose.

O

OBM: OceanBound Material (OBM), refers to plastic waste that is at risk of ending up in oceans and can potentially pollute our oceans. These materials are then collected and transformed into a recyclable resource that is used to manufacture sustainable packaging (all plastics made in HDPE, PP or PET can be made from OceanBound Material).

P

Parfum (Perfume): a version of a perfume that has the highest concentration of fragrance.

PCR: Post-consumer recycled plastic, is manufactured from used, recycled, and repurposed plastic that is collected from beaches, oceans, land, and recycling plants.

PETA Approved: is an official approval declaring that products are vegan so that ethical consumers can shop with confidence, with the knowledge that they're not supporting animal exploitation.

Pillow Mist: wanting to be lulled to sleep by your favourite smell? Try an essential-oil based pillow spray for an aromatherapeutic experience right before bed.

Proprietary Brands: a brand of product that is privately owned and controlled.

R

Refillable Bottle: a style of sustainable bottle that has a fill line to note when it is empty so the bottle does not need to be replaced. You can have the best of both worlds, sustainability and a gorgeous bottle for your bathroom!

Refill Line: a line on the side of our gorgeous bottles to indicate to housekeeping when a bottle needs a bit of a top-up!

RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil): a global, not-for-profit organisation with voluntary members focused on bringing together stakeholders from across the palm oil supply chain to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil.

S

Skincare: is not a choice, it's a way of life! Taking care of your skin with moisturisers, cleansers, serums, toners and all the bits and bobs in between will let you feel your most beautiful and authentic self naturally!

Spa Collection: A collection of amenities that are offered to give guests a spa-like experience. Brands like TEMPLESPA & LaGaia UNEDITED will transport you to an absolute haven of soothing fragrances and luxurious amenity textures.

Shampoo: is a cleanser for your hair but also much more than that. Think about the feeling of running your fingers through clean hair, the suds quickly forming on your head and the enrapturing scent of your shampoo filling the bathroom. Yeah, it can't get much better than that!

Small Luxury Hotels of The World (SLH): is the most desirable community of independently minded travellers and independently spirited hotels in the world. With 520 hotels in more than 90 countries that have been personally vetted and visited, each one is anti-chain and anti-same.

Soap Bar: that little thing that sits on a bathroom vanity or shower ledge that is just itching to be used to scrub down your body and sud up your skin with a bloom of fragrance.

Sprinkles of Scents (S.O.S): just like Rhianna, we want to make you feel like the only one in the world with unique scent profiles throughout hotel amenity collections.

Suds: bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles! But not the alcoholic kind, unless sought after, shower champagne anyone!?

Scent Profile: categorises a fragrance into a group with various combinations, these combinations are divided into four main olfactory families – oriental, woody, fresh and floral and then subfamilies within them.

Slippers: think about it, you've walked around visiting local restaurants and get back to your hotel room, kick off your shoes and slide into some absolutely funky slippers! What's better is that these slippers can be customised for hotels to match their style!

Scented Bath Salts: imagine the nourishing effects of bath salts mixed with an exuberant aroma to match the relaxing feeling of soaking in the bath. Did you imagine it? That's a scented bath salt.

Staycation: is wanting a getaway from home while staying at home with day trips to local attractions. Why leave your local area when you have everything you need to explore?

T

Toiletries: the standard definition - articles used in washing and taking care of one's body, such as soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. Our definition - a sensorial delight of amenities that take you on a journey all within the confines of your hotel bathroom.

Tubes: a bite-sized version of our larger collections, a tube is made for a bathroom vanity or shower ledge so that guests can experience a taste of what one of our amenities can bring to their stay.

Top Note: is generally the lightest of all the notes and is immediately recognised upon application as it represents the first impression. The fragrance of top notes commonly includes citrus (like lemon, orange, and bergamot), herbs (like clary sage, and lavender) and light fruits (like grapefruits, and berries).

Triple Milled Soap: is made from a soap mixture that has been passed through stainless steel rollers a minimum of three times to ensure a gorgeous fragrance, texture, and colour.

Take Home and Re-Use/Re-Purpose: The fated question is whether to take hotel amenities from your room or not take. The definitive answer is to take! Taking your in-room amenities allows you to reuse them for longer periods and reduce the wastage and turnover of amenities. You receive designer bathroom amenities, they can be repurposed and reused, and the amount of waste made by amenities is reduced. Win-win

U

Upcycle: see our blog on how to upcycle your hotel amenities to create some truly inspired creations and ideas.

V

Vegan Friendly: VANITY GROUP amenities are vegan friendly, meaning no animal products are used and we only test our deluxe amenities on humans.

Vanitian: an out-of-the-box thinker, ready to try something new, will step up to any challenge and always has an outstretched hand to help.

Vanity Kit: a vanity kit usually includes an emery board, cotton pads and cotton buds for all your beauty-maintaining goodness.

W

Wall Mount: is attached to the wall of a bathroom to hold bottle-style amenities for guests to use at their leisure. These can house refillable or non-refillable bottles that can be unlocked or locked by housekeeping.

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