Ver kneels beside the tub and lines up the bowls. "Okay. Close your eyes. And hold your breath for just a sec."

First thing she does is mist his face with rosewater. Now he knows what makes her smell so good all the time. There's a moment's pause while she makes a paste in her hands, powder with no identifiable scent and more rosewater, which she then massages into the skin on his face and scalp. It's very faintly abrasive, not rough so much as not smooth.

"First, we cleanse and exfoliate. But you don't want anything too harsh. This is a nice gentle daily cleanser, I use it every day on my face. The rosewater helps keep your skin healthy."