Scent with love (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Scent with love

7:00am Saturday 10th December 2011 in Lifestyle

Give the gift of good scent this Christmas. Lisa Haynes reveals how to find your fragrant favourite and choose perfume presents.

Could the days of the perfume bottle be numbered? Plans are afoot for a 'swallowable perfume' that turns skin into an atomiser, and Estee Lauder recently launched scent-infused tattoo transfers for a different spin on their Sensuous Nude fragrance.

But picture your dressing table devoid of your favourite perfume. Surely part of the pleasure is the drama of spritzing and those opulent bottles?

In the winter especially, your fragrance is as important as your sparkly party frock. A soul-warming scent can really get you into festive mode - and make for a pleasing stocking filler.

Antonia Bellanca, the perfumer behind Antonia's Flowers fragrance, sets the mood: "Imagine a really fabulous winter's night - you wear your favourite fragrance to go to dinner and then on to a party. Throughout the evening your fragrance mingles with the different smells - the wine, flowers on the table, tobacco smoke and people closest to you.

"That's the scent I love most - fragrance after you've had it on for hours."

Whether you're scent shopping for yourself or a special someone, hit the high notes with our fragrance buying guide.

:: Festive fragrance Indulge in some sensual therapy to get you into the festive spirit. And 'spirits' are quite the tonic in fragrances right now, with a trend for intoxicating party-inspired ingredients such as tobacco, gin, rum and cognac.

Penhaligon's new Juniper Sling (from £78) includes cinnamon, orange brandy and gin - you can practically drink in the heady scent.

"When it's cold outside, what better feeling than wrapping up warm with an enveloping fragrance," says Georgina Blake, fragrance trainer for KGA.

"Powdery musky or chypre scents create this effect. Something with soft, comforting ingredients like iris, or a dry, mossy, yet radiant chypre family would be great on wintery days."

Think seduction, warmth and gourmand notes like liquorice, brown sugar and black cherry for a Christmas party spritz. Blake recommends a rich sensual jasmine fragrance like Bvlgari's Jasmin Noir EDP (from £59) for the perfect winter evening scent.

:: Perfect potion When you're seeking a stellar perfume for somebody else, the rules change.

"Don't assume that your favourite fragrance will automatically be theirs. Remember scents react slightly differently on each skin," Blake advises.

"Think about the personality of the person you're buying for, as that will help you select the character of fragrance that best suits them."

Many women gravitate towards a single signature fragrance rather than a scent wardrobe, so try and pin down a perfume that ticks all the boxes. What fragrance bottle would look at home in their bedroom? What kind of brand would they be excited by?

Perfume is one of the most personal gifts you can give as our sense of smell is so intrinsically linked to our emotions and memories.

Selecting the right scent for a loved one really shows you know them well, but if you're struggling Blake suggests a popular classic fragrance. "Choose a scent that will appeal to lots of people; something fresh, floral and woody like Issey Miyake's L'Eau d'Issey gift set (£50.50) would make a great present for any woman."

:: Scent saviours Indecision at the perfume counter? You're not alone. More than half of all people buy a new scent before finishing an old bottle, so it's no surprise 58% use different fragrances for different occasions, according to a recent poll by The Perfume Shop.

When you're buying for another, if in doubt try a sampler box set like Vivabox (£36.99) which gives a fussy fragrance connoisseur seven minis to spritz and a voucher to exchange for their full-sized favourite.

A box set featuring multiple perfumes is another short cut to a happy scent recipient. Estee Lauder's Pen Pals gift (£34) includes three fragrance best-sellers in handbag-sized rollerballs.

Fragrance combining is the ultimate create-your-own nirvana for those that want a unique lingering scent as they walk down the street.

Blow the budget on Jo Malone's Customised Fragrance Combining Collection (£230) or encourage experimentation with five favourites from their Christmas Cologne Collection (£62). It's a sure-fire ticket to seventh scent heaven.

:: Perfume pointers Don't be overwhelmed by the mingling aromas at the perfume counters. Get a nose for the perfect fragrance gift with these tips: :: Never decide on a fragrance by the first spray and intensity of the top notes. Let the scent develop on skin to give you a more accurate idea.

:: Ask the perfumery assistant to tell you about the concept behind the fragrance or ingredients used so you can bring the perfume to life when you present it.

:: Request a sample to give alongside your chosen fragrance and keep the receipt if you're uncertain. Your recipient can try the sample on their skin first before opening the fragrance packaging.

:: If you already know which scent you want to buy, impress on Christmas morning with a gift set or coffret, saving money on individual prices and allowing your loved one to layer their favourite fragrance.

:: Don't assume the smallest size of fragrance is the best value. It may be cheaper initially to purchase 30ml instead of 100ml, but the largest size is often better value.

:: Stockists Bvlgari: 0844 800 3752/www.houseoffraser.co.uk Estee Lauder: 0800 054 2444/www.esteelauder.co.uk Issey Miyake: 0844 800 3752/www.houseoffraser.co.uk Jo Malone: 0870 034 2411/www.jomalone.co.uk Penhaligon's: 0800 716108/www.penhaligons.com Vivabox: 0800 9888 660/www.theperfumeshop.com Tried & tested :: Browhaus Lash Curl Up, £48, Covent Garden, London (www.browhaus.com/uk). Similar treatments available nationwide - ask for a 'lash lift'.

During the party season, big lashes are everyone's favourite beauty accessory. Bored of wasted hours sticking on false eyelashes for nights out, I wanted a more permanent solution to get enviable eyes. Step forward Browhaus's Lash Curl Up, a lash lift 'perm' available at many salons nationwide. Browhaus offer two options, 'the Barbie' (doll-like exaggerated lashes) or 'natural look'. Being a first timer, I opted for a natural-looking curl. The therapist informed me my lashes were dark, long but straight making me an ideal candidate (for maximum effect, a lash tint may be advisable for those with lighter lashes). First, my lower lashes were taped down, then the therapist used a small rod and applied a whiffy formula to my top lashes to curl them, essentially a perming solution. I was left to relax in a cosy reclined chair for around 20 minutes with pads taped to my eyes, which were painlessly removed. I'm warned not to wear mascara or cleanse my eyes for at least 24 hours to let my lashes set. The effects were instantly eye-opening - even make-up free - with the curl making my lashes look much longer and more visible. You can pile on the mascara for a more dramatic look. Despite the strong chemicals used to lift my lashes, I didn't feel I lost any more than usual and the effects lasted almost two months. Goodbye eyelash curlers, falsies and glue, you're surplus to lash requirements.

Buy it now Forget Botox, the bee-sting effect is the new buzz in anti-ageing. The latest product to hit the shelves brings high-tech, purified bee venom skincare to the masses. The Manuka Doctor Bee Venom range is available at Holland & Barrett nationwide, priced from £14.99 but the hero product to make a beeline for is the Rejuvenating Face Mask, £49.99 (www.hollandandbarrett.com).

Beauty bulletin :: Lip sorcery You don't need to spend a fortune to get an A-lister look. Harry Potter star Emma Watson recently named ChapStick as her make-up bag must-have. In an interview for US website Style.com, she said: "I love ChapStick. I am like a purist. 100% drugstore, that does it for me." The Original lip balm, £1.22, has recently been joined by limited edition Lip Kits in Cherry, Apple and Strawberry, £3.99, available nationwide and online at www.chapstick.co.uk :: Recessionista alert If you're on a scent mission, make a stop at Boots. The store is offering up to half price off selected fine fragrance until December 27, including DKNY, Versace, Burberry and Calvin Klein. Christmas gifts in the beauty aisles are also three for two.