Triona's Trends: Scent of a woman

Triona McCarthy

Every woman loves fragrance, none more so than our sweet-smelling glamour girl Triona McCarthy, who has the lowdown on the best scents out there for the festive season

Perfume is the one of best Christmas presents to give, because every woman loves to smell good. I think of scent as the final accessory to any outfit: a quick spray of a sexy scent and I’m ready for the world. I also love the way the perfume bottles in my bathroom look like a work of art!

I’m all about Agent Provocateur’s Maitresse, €59, from www.littlewoods.ie, see my photo, above.

The good thing about buying fragrance at Christmas is that most companies do gift sets or coffrets, which are always great value.

Roger & Gallet’s Toile de Jouy Gift Pouch is only €19.90. This eye-catching pouch features a 30ml fragrance plus a complimentary 50ml body lotion or a 50ml shower gel. It’s available in three fragrances, including my personal fave, Fleur d’Osmanthus.

For the man in your life, check out Lidl, of all places. After the success of female fragrance Madame Glamour, now available in a gift pack for €5.99, it has launched a new male fragrance — G.Bellini X-Bolt, left, €3.99 for 50ml. In a blind test of 108 people, X-Bolt beat some leading designer brands that were up to 10 times the price.

Or go to Boots and get Paco Rabanne 1 Million, €51. It has the fresh and spicy fragrance in eau de toilette 50ml and shower gel 100ml.

You could also blow the budget on Trussardi My Land, €54, the new men’s fragrance exclusive to Harvey Nichols, Dundrum Town Centre. I’m also McLovin these cute Jo Malone Christmas Crackers, below, €34.50, at Brown Thomas.