Luxury Spa in Casa da Companhia, Vignette Collection Launches New L’Occitane Rituals (and They Help You Sleep Better)

Source: New in Porto

Before reaching Rua das Flores, in the heart of Porto, the story of this spa begins many miles farther south, in Provence. It was there, among lavender fields and stone villages, that L’Occitane was born — the French brand that became synonymous with natural, sensory beauty care. First came the artisanal soaps, followed by essential oils and face and body creams, always made with plant-based ingredients and a strong connection to the land. A commitment to sustainability, support for women’s cooperatives in countries like Burkina Faso, and thoughtful details such as braille on packaging helped shape a global brand with a deeply human touch.

Decades later, that philosophy of well-being reached Porto. In October of last year, Casa da Companhia, the five-star Vignette Collection hotel, inaugurated the Spa by L’Occitane — the first and, so far, only official L’Occitane-branded spa in northern Portugal. Set inside an 18th-century building, this boutique spa blends historic walls with rituals designed to slow time and quiet the mind.

“We like to think people don’t just come in for a treatment; they come for a complete experience,” explains Juliana, a trained physiotherapist and head of the spa. “The main goal is to work the body, but also energy and emotions.” Perhaps for that reason, many guests describe it as a small sanctuary hidden in downtown Porto.

Recently, the spa refreshed its menu and introduced new signature treatments built around four pillars of well-being: longevity, regeneration, balance, and vitality. Each ritual combines specific L’Occitane products — oils, serums, balms — with massage techniques developed by the brand and tested in laboratory settings to evaluate their impact on sleep quality and overall well-being.

Under the longevity pillar comes the “Divine Secret of the Immortal Flower” facial (200€). Over 90 minutes, the skin is treated with Immortelle Super Extract, derived from Corsica’s “immortal flower,” known for its resilience and anti-aging properties. With lifting maneuvers and muscle-stimulating techniques, the goal is to redefine facial contours and restore luminosity to the skin.

Regeneration is delivered through the new “Sleep & Reset” ritual (200€), the star of the menu. The 90-minute massage, accredited by the European Sleep Center, was designed for those living in a state of chronic fatigue. It combines slow, enveloping movements, specific aromatherapy oils, and a long cranial massage created to quiet the mind. “We live in a time when almost everyone sleeps poorly,” Juliana notes. “This ritual was created precisely to help regulate sleep and allow the body to find its natural rhythm again.”

For guests seeking emotional harmony above all, the recommendation is the “Relaxing Aromachology” massage, available in 60-minute (180€) or 90-minute (200€) sessions. Here, the touch is gentle and fluid, aimed at soothing the nervous system. The chosen essential oils support deep relaxation and, according to brand studies, help improve well-being and emotional stability in the days following the treatment. As Juliana puts it: “It’s the ideal massage for anyone who needs to pause, breathe, and simply feel cared for for an hour.”

Vitality, meanwhile, is at the heart of the “Almond Detox” (180€). This massage uses L’Occitane’s iconic almond oil in draining movements that stimulate circulation, aid toxin elimination, and combat fluid retention. The result is an immediate sense of lightness, with firmer, more hydrated skin — a perfect ritual before celebrations or after a period of excess.

In addition to these signature treatments, the spa maintains its “Tailor-Made” menu, where guests simply choose the duration — 30, 60, or 90 minutes — and then, in the treatment room, define with the therapist what the body needs that day: muscle tension relief, lighter legs, facial focus, or complete relaxation. “We always ask: what do you need today?” Juliana says. “Sometimes someone arrives with one idea, but after talking a bit, they realize their body is asking for something else. Our role is to guide and adapt.”

There is also a selection of 15-minute add-ons (25€) that can be added to any ritual: instant eye-lift, scalp massage, neck and décolleté massage, or a Gua Sha facial treatment to soften expression lines and reactivate circulation.

The space itself helps extend the sense of calm. Anyone booking a treatment gains access to the hotel’s wellness circuit, which includes a heated indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and gym. For those who prefer not to book a massage, it is also possible to enjoy a morning or afternoon in this circuit for 35€, even without staying at Casa da Companhia — a simple way to turn an ordinary day into a mini city retreat.

Despite the luxurious environment, the goal is not to create distance. “We want everyone to feel embraced when they walk in,” says Juliana. “Working in well-being means exactly that: welcoming someone one way and seeing them leave different — lighter, calmer.” Between the scent of lavender, the warm glow of the pool, and rituals that blend science with poetry, the Spa by L’Occitane succeeds in delivering exactly that: restoring to body and mind the rare sensation of pause — as if Provence had made a brief stop on Rua das Flores.