Ultimate Pampering at the Lavender Sense Relaxation Retreat

Jen Flohr, founder of Lavender Sense Relaxation Retreat in Alton Bay.

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

Life today is stressful and fast-paced. Taking care of ourselves is something we can put aside as we work, care for family, and live on a fast track, reasoning we will get to our personal health and well-being when we have time.

The good news is there is a new place where individuals can unwind in a variety of ways tailored to their preferences. The Lavender Sense Relaxation Retreat offers personalized relaxation options in a peaceful area off Alton Mountain Road at 315 Avery Hill Road in Alton Bay.

The spa offers a lot, including massage, reflexology, a deep-soaking tub, and foot-soaking tubs. There are traditional saunas, a steam room, a frost locker, vibroacoustic therapy, and salt cave therapy, among other relaxation choices at Lavender Sense.

“We opened in April,” explains founder Jen Flohr. Lavender Sense has been in the planning and construction stages for over a year, and it is now complete and ready to serve those seeking a relaxing experience. “I am originally from Florida and fell in love with the Lakes Region. I love the lakes and mountains and wanted to bring my idea for a spa here.”

Flohr was a health care consultant in Florida and had an idea for a different kind of spa. “I have been to many resort spas and decided I wanted to offer a one-stop shop sort of spa where it was all in one space and guests could choose what they wanted.”

Lavender Sense is housed in a beautiful new building designed specifically to meet the needs of the state-of-the-art retreat. “This is a day-of retreat,” Flohr says. “We offer a half-day or full-day of services. Our guests can choose what they wish to do while here. I guide them, but they are allowed to choose what they want for their relaxation.”

There are three massage rooms, each themed for relaxation: the Desert Room, the Beach Room, and the Rain Forest Room. Highly qualified massage therapists are on staff and can provide wonderful massages.

A section of the Soaking Suite.

Another room, called the Soaking Suite, offers foot soaking designed to provide ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation. The soaks use organic spa products, including aromatic salts, essential oils, and mineral-rich formulations, carefully selected to soothe tired feet and calm the mind. (Flohr says each client can choose the scent they want, which adds to the relaxation experience.) Warm water, combined with therapeutic ingredients, relieves tension, improves circulation, and also softens skin. A foot soak offers many health benefits, including improved circulation, stress relief, better foot and skin health, and relief from pain and tension.

Also offered is a luxurious deep soak tub designed to rejuvenate both body and mind. The tub can be infused with the client’s choice of locally made organic salts and minerals, providing a soothing, therapeutic experience. The warm water and healing properties of the salts create an atmosphere that encourages deep relaxation.

Guests will love the 5-Crystal Bio-Stimulation Lounger, and according to Flohr, there is gentle red and infrared light therapy to promote relaxation and balance. Those who try it enjoy the lounger’s peaceful, spa-quality treatment, which helps the body relax, recharge, and rebalance. Whether after a massage or simply to unwind, the gentle warmth and crystal energy provide a comforting experience that leaves visitors feeling refreshed and centered.

Flohr explains that those who use the lounger often experience such a relaxing session that they fall asleep; many want to schedule a longer time than they originally planned.

Perhaps the most popular of all the things at Lavender Sense is the Salt Cave. The benefits of the darkened, relaxing space are many, such as respiratory support, improved skin health, stress reduction, and better sleep. Clients can feel their bodies relax, promoting skin health by reducing inflammation and irritation.

In the Salt Cave, natural salt walls and a calming atmosphere surround guests. Breathe deeply as fine salt particles help clear respiratory passages, making it ideal for allergies, asthma, or sinus issues. The environment supports skin health and soothes inflammation, while deep relaxation lowers stress. At Lavender Sense, the Salt Cave is a refreshing retreat for body and mind.

Not every spa has a Chromotherapy Rainfall Shower, but you will find it at Lavender Sense. Just what is a rainfall shower? Flohr explains, “The shower combines warm rainfall style water with calming color therapy, for a multisensory experience designed to wash away stress and restore balance. The shower is a tranquil escape that helps you feel renewed. The water pressure helps ease tension in muscles and joints, while the therapeutic colors are believed to support mood balance, energy flow, and mental clarity.”

The enticing Salt Cave beckons.

More services are available, including a traditional sauna, a steam room, and an infrared sauna. Additionally, there is the Frost Locker, an innovative approach to cold therapy that more than rivals a traditional cold plunge or ice bath experience. The cutting-edge treatment provides all the benefits of cold therapy—such as reduced inflammation, improved recovery, and boosted circulation—without the discomfort of submersion in freezing water. The Frost Locker uses controlled cold-air technology, allowing guests to enjoy the rejuvenating effects of low temperatures in a more comfortable, accessible way. (No more jumping into the lake on a cold day!)

Choose from whole-body, Swedish, deep tissue, aromatherapy, or hot stone massages. Each room features dedicated sound and scent, with the choice of organic oil or lotion.

The energy and quiet of the spa can be felt the minute a guest walks through the door. Everything about the spa is soothing and relaxing, from the warm greeting by Flohr to the choice of each specially designed room. Lavender Sense stands out in the region as a true one-stop shop, offering the latest spa amenities all in one location.

With its doors now open to the public, there is so much to choose from for rest, relaxation, and health benefits. Flohr says some guests find a solitary day or half day at Lavender Sense is just what they need to melt away the stresses of everyday life.

Others bring a group of family or friends to experience the spa’s offerings, and it is also a great day-of retreat for a wedding party or bachelorette party.

Those who wish to visit Lavender Sense can go to www.lavendersenseretreat.com and choose from the many offerings. It is a simple matter of signing up and scheduling an all-inclusive half or full day. (The benefit is that guests do not have to choose but rather can do it all.)

Added to everything that is offered at Lavender Sense, there will soon be in-person classes once a month on various practices (such as yoga, breathwork, sound baths, and meditation.)

A visit to Lavender Sense would make a unique and wonderful gift for a special someone, whether for a birthday, anniversary, Mother's or Father’s Day, or a holiday.

Flohr is planning ahead and says, “The summer of 2027, we will expand our outdoor space with a walking path, as well as hammocks and a gazebo.”

With the cares of everyday life sometimes creating stress, we all need a getaway to rejuvenate. Lavender Sense Relaxation Retreat awaits.

Call 603-453-4186 for more information.