A Guide to the Best of Southern California : SHOPTALK : A Spiritual Experience

At Palmetto, a bath is . . . well, it’s anything but a bath. Take the line of ayurvedic bath and body oils produced by the San Francisco company Gajee Herbal. With names such as Love, Compassion, Harmony, Prosperity and Transformation, these oils cleanse the spirit as they cleanse the skin.

“Ayurveda is a science of life that basically has to do with the body-mind-soul-spirit combination,” says store owner Jane Kennedy. The oils range in price from $10 for 2 ounces to $56 for 12 ounces in an antique bottle.

“These oils are scented with herbs that were grown on sacred ground in northern India and were harvested by monks who don’t speak,” an employee explains. “I guess it all depends on where you want to get involved. These are atars, which are like perfume oils, but they deal with your chakras.”

Palmetto, 1034 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; (310) 395-6687.