The next day, Chloe sent over the original bath formula used at her beauty salon to Sophia.
Sophia looked through it quickly; from her perspective, it barely cost anything to make. But at Chloe Beauty Salon, a high-end establishment catering to affluent clients, the price for a single session was set at a hefty 999 dollars—and that was the discounted rate.
The original formula was pretty basic, intended to improve women’s health and circulation, producing a pleasant warming effect in the abdomen as clients soaked and perspired. These days, people seemed to believe that sweating alone indicated something “working,” so they accepted it eagerly.
This herbal bath had become quite popular at Chloe’s salon, with nearly every visitor choosing to try it.
“I’ve prepared the new formula,” Sophia texted Chloe. “I had enough herbs on hand for around thirty bath sachets. I’ll bring them over tomorrow.”
“Perfect timing! Lately, we’ve had more requests for herbal baths, so I’ll introduce your formula to our clients!”
The following day, Sophia packed up the herbal sachets along with some acne cream samples and took a cab to Chloe Beauty Salon.
Since it was nearing noon, the salon wasn’t very crowded. Taking advantage of the downtime, the three friends decided to soak in the herbal baths themselves, each relaxing in a wooden tub.
Nancy, who rarely indulged in hot baths, wrinkled her nose. “Are we really soaking in hot water? It’s scorching out! You guys have lost it.”
Sophia chuckled. “Summer is actually the best time for hot baths. Trust me, as a sinusitis sufferer, you’ll find that staying warm is better than staying cold. Try to avoid air conditioning as much as you can.”
Nancy huffed, begrudgingly convinced. After all, Sophia was the doctor. And she couldn’t deny that her sinuses had improved recently—no more sore throats from the A/C, no more sneezing fits. It was practically miraculous!
Sophia wasn’t wrong either; according to traditional medicine principles, winter illnesses are often best treated in summer. The warm months provided the optimal conditions for using herbal treatments, which was why Chloe’s salon had been in high demand for herbal baths lately. However, Chloe had noticed that the effects of their regular bath sachets were somewhat limited. Clients would feel warm and relaxed, but the benefits didn’t extend as far as they hoped. Chloe wanted a formula that could genuinely provide noticeable health improvements, which was why she’d asked for Sophia’s help.
The salon was decorated to the nines with luxury touches—plush sofas, branded towels, state-of-the-art beds. With such high-end facilities, the prices were correspondingly premium. Members would regularly spend thousands, and on good days, Chloe’s store could see up to eighty thousand dollars in sales.
Chloe once told Sophia about the salon’s most lucrative day, when they’d introduced rose oil. One wealthy young woman had been so eager to try it for its health benefits that she’d bought a small bottle for fifty thousand dollars, setting the record for single-day sales.
Chloe was determined to build the salon’s reputation on good results.
Sophia swirled her herbal product through the warm water, watching as the water turned a rich, earthy brown.
Chloe picked up one of the sachets, which looked about the same size as the ones her salon usually used, but this had a noticeably better aroma.
“What’s this fragrance?”
“All three of us are using lavender-scented baths. I added some aromatics that help mask the strong medicinal scents. This way, it’s more pleasant, and clients will be able to soak for longer.”
Chloe nodded thoughtfully. Soaking could be relaxing, but most people couldn’t sit in a hot bath for more than ten minutes before feeling overheated. A more pleasant aroma might encourage them to stay in longer, enhancing the effect.
After the soak, they wrapped themselves in towels and got out. Chloe initially felt nothing, but then she gasped.
“Hey! This actually works!”
She stared at her reflection, turning from side to side. “I feel like I’ve lost a couple of pounds! Like that comic that went viral a while back—the one about dissolving fat in bathwater!”
“Like a magic beauty elixir?” Nancy laughed. “Honestly, I feel like I slimmed down, too!”
Chloe looked closer, surprised at the results. Her skin was glowing, she felt completely refreshed, and her abdomen was pleasantly warm. She even noticed that her premenstrual cramps had subsided. Chloe had also been dealing with b****t tenderness due to fibrocystic changes, and a self-exam now revealed that the lumps were noticeably reduced.
This was truly something remarkable! She hadn’t been able to find relief at the hospital, and yet this one bath seemed to have done wonders. If this was the result of a single soak, regular use could improve anyone’s health—and it might even aid with weight loss! What more could clients ask for?
Excited, Chloe greeted some regulars as they walked in. “Miss Lane, Miss Drew, we have a special offer today—a new women’s herbal bath. It’s great for wellness and even helps with weight loss! Care to try it?”
“Is it really that good?”
“Absolutely! I just tried it myself. Normally it’s $1,999, but we’re offering it for $999 today. A real deal!”
“Alright, I’ll give it a try!”
In no time, Chloe had sold several baths. She also instructed the estheticians to let clients know about the herbal bath discount, encouraging them to try it while it was available.
Though it was a luxury salon, women’s love for discounts was universal.
Sophia, watching it all unfold, almost said something but held her tongue. She couldn’t help but feel that charging so much for an inexpensive formula seemed a bit steep.
Chloe noticed her hesitation and laughed. “Sophia, you’re just too honest! Sure, the costs may be low, but the formula itself is priceless! It’s your skill that truly has value here.”
Nancy agreed, “Exactly! I’ve told her this before. She’s been treating my sinusitis, and even though I’m nearly cured, she hasn’t charged more than a thousand. Do you know how much treatments like these cost elsewhere? At least ten thousand!”
Sophia chuckled. “I’m a doctor, not a businesswoman. As long as I earn enough, that’s good enough for me.”
Chloe shook her head. She was sure that teaming up with Sophia was the right choice—without her, Sophia would probably give away her expertise for free just to help people.
That night, Chloe shared some feedback: the herbal bath had been a huge hit, and customers were delighted with the results.
