Hi, I use the Thai Products. They are great! They smell so nice and like another poster said, the smell does linger on the hands which is great. With regards to using the soak... I brought two wooden round bowls, which I use one for the hand soak and one for the hand scrub. On the hand soak, I add fairly warm water, and rose petals. It just makes it a bit nicer. One of my regular ladies always had heated mitts or paraffin wax treatments, but since she decided to have a Thai Manicure, she wont go back! I really like the idea of the marbles in the bottom, or perhaps some stones would be good as well. I definately recommend these products, as like you, I never was a fan od Salon System. But Thai is the only products I buy from them x