BUSINESSWOMAN Jane Luhur-Soon does not believe in having to rush around when it comes to beauty and wellness.

'I like having everything I need and love all within the vicinity of each other,' she explains. 'To have to rush between places to get all your beauty fixes met only makes one's life unnecessarily stressful.'

As a result, when she opened LS Philosophy last July, she made sure that her little enclave could cater to all of one's beauty needs under one roof. It thus houses a spa, hair salon helmed by Japanese stylist Yohei Sugakawa, and a cosy cafe/bar for clients to have a drink while being pampered, all within the same space on Scotts Road.

'I've always enjoyed the thrilling experience of multi-concept spaces like Fred Segal in LA and Corso Como 10 in Milan. However, while the core of most multi-concept stores is fashion, at LS Philosophy, it's beauty and well-being. Basically, my aim is for people to walk out of LS Philosophy feeling and looking better than when they entered!' adds Ms Luhur-Soon.

The cafe/bar also doubles as a retail space selling products from Officina de' Tornabuoni, a health and beauty brand from Florence favoured by Italian royalty and the family of the late fashion designer Emilio Pucci. The products from the range are also used exclusively at the inhouse spa during treatments. Ms Luhur-Soon also imports a range of food and drink products directly from Italy to beef up the variety.

For example, the shop is the only one in Singapore to carry wines from the famed cult Tuscan winery, Petrolo, including the critically acclaimed Galatrona ($350 a bottle due to its small production numbers). There is also a range of Italian organic wines (from $25 to $65), fresh cold-pressed Italian olive oil from Petrolo ($75) and Bonci's Panbriacone ($90).

And as much as LS Philosophy is an extension of her personal habits, Ms Luhur-Soon also believes that the space has consumer appeal and goes on to cite the success of multi-concept stores like Colette in Paris and Luisa Via Roma in Florence as proof that the idea can be a lucrative one.

'What's not to like about being offered several options under one roof, and in an intimate and comfortable environment? People want choice, and the key is getting the right mix of ideas and items and of course, convenience,' she says.

'The only disadvantage is that clients can get overwhelmed when they face too many choices. Which is why our boutique doesn't carry a zillion items and our spa doesn't offer every spa treatment under the sun. What we do offer is a refined selection of the very best, so that the client can never go wrong, whatever he or she chooses. Think of it as a curated spa and shopping experience.'

And as LS Philosophy nears its one-year anniversary, Ms Luhur-Soon reveals that in due time she would like to add a restaurant into the mix.

'I would love to add a restaurant that offers high quality, simple food in a comfortable and sensual setting. Food and well-being are so intrinsically linked. There are so many parallels between a fine spa experience and a fine dining experience. In both cases it is about the small details,' she muses.

'Furthermore, I personally love great food, and, better yet, sharing great food with friends. But this is just a dream. I am happy with things the way they are right now.'

This article was first published in The Business Times