Magic number:My bottle of No 5 Eau Première is on the hall table so I can spray before leaving the house, and of course impress callers who cannot miss it.
While the pure parfum is the complete essence of this scent, and must be saved for occasions with a capital ‘O’, I find Eau Première is the perfect fresh daytime option. Chanel has now brought out a handbag-friendly 40ml size (€57.50) for glamour on the go. Again, two words: Mother’s Day.
Afternoon delight
An hour or so enjoying afternoon tea in Dublin’s Merrion Hotel is a lovely bit of posh. The drawing room, paintings and service combine to take you away from the real world outside. For the month of March, enjoy the fusion of fine dining and the fine fragrances of Jo Malone. The Vanilla and Anise collection is the inspiration for a special afternoon tea devised to showcase the fragrance range’s key ingredients.
Sample delicate delights with an emphasis on the dessert trolley (anise chocolate mousse cakes on a vanilla and orange financier anyone?). You can’t take executive head chef Ed Cooney home with you, but you will get a Jo Malone bag with samples of the range, plus an invitation for a complimentary hand and arm massage. Two words: Mother’s Day. Call 01-6030600 for a reservation; €36 throughout the month of March.
Bedtime bliss
A good night’s sleep is as beneficial for skin as the most expensive jar of cream. It’s not called beauty sleep for nothing. To help set the mood for the perfect eight hours, The Body Shop has a nifty little spray – Deep Sleep Dreamy Pillow Mist (€13.95). This soothing mix is full of sleep inducing aromas which are released throughout the night to ensure sweet slumber. Spray on pillow and sheets before retiring.
What’s in a name?
Roja Dove – now there’s a charming moniker if ever I heard one: with a name like that, the sky’s the limit, the world your oyster . . . it’s plain to see a golden career path ahead. And Roja doesn’t disappoint, for he is the world’s only professeur de parfums, an acclaimed fragrance guru with unsurpassed knowledge and expertise. His book, The Essence of Perfume is one of the most beautiful and informative on the subject.
Harvey Nichols will host an evening with this speaker, who is reputed to mesmerise audiences with his individual style. If you’ve even half an interest in fragrance, don’t miss this: Tuesday, March 9th, 7pm. Tickets are €10 (including a glass of bubbly) and are redeemable against a purchase, or push the boat out for a €35 VIP ticket to include a three-course menu in the First Floor Restaurant. Telephone 01-2910423 for bookings.