Is there a bond more ingrained in our genetic make-up than the one between mother and child? And isn’t there a sense more closely tied to this bond that smell is? Like we choose a mate that their natural odor pleases us, so our offspring bear in their genetic makeup the scented fingerprint which ties them to us, making us able to differentiate our own among many. Mothers often linger over their sleeping child inhaling deeply the yummy smell with eyes closed…And I can imagine that an adoptive mother grows to learn _{and eventually love} their children’s smell, just like they learn to recognize their tastes and their idiosyncrasies. Because that personal scent is a constant reminder and a symbol for nurture and love. But babies very quickly show off how they are able to smell their mother out as well! It’s enough to breastfeed once to see how the baby turns its small nose and mouth to the sweet scent of milk like a hungry little puppy; that nectar of nature meant to help it grow, to help it become the man or the woman who will be in later life is naturally scented with a vanillic aroma which is perpetuated through baby food later on for a reason. Reminiscences of those tender moments are never far off, read like a language of smiles and smells.

Presenting our dear mothers with a fragrant gift is therefore a subtle re-affirmation of this special bond. But putting some thought into it is what clinches the deal really. Of course the simplest way would be to refuel her with her tried-and-true favorite. But even though this is a gesture guaranteed to meet with success in what regards tastes, it somehow lacks romanticism, demoting fragrance gifting into a recharging the fridge with milk. No, in order for one’s gift to be more special a little intrigue has to be there. One easy way that reconciles both worlds would be to opt for the bath and body collection products that accompany her favorite fragrance: This is an indulgence that surprisingly not many women opt for themselves and moms deserve the pampering for sure. Lots of classic perfume lines have exquisite ancillary products such as body lotions or creams, scented deodorants and soaps, body powders or shower gels: Shalimar from Guerlain, Beautiful from Estee Lauder, Oscar by Oscar de la Renta, Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, Tresor by Lancome and the beat goes on…Lots of the more recent launches also have products to die for: The body lotion of Yves Saint Laurent’s Cinema is shot with the subtlest mother-of-pearl for a sheen effect that happens to smell and feel delicious. The shower gel of Light Blue by Dolce & Gabanna is a shot of fresh vitamin-juice for the morning run!

Another idea is to take a peek into her favorite rotation and choose something in a similar vein. That usually means you have to click into Perfume.com, find her favorite perfume and see in which family it belongs to. Choices among the same family (automatically generated) have higher chances to succeed! For instance, if she likes Burberry’s Brit (a floral oriental), try the majestic Boucheron pour femme, Versace’s ambery gardenia Crystal Noir or the plush comfort of powdery Contradiction by Calvin Klein. Is she a fan of diaphanous woody fragrances like Soir de Lune by Sisley? Try the modern Rumeur by Lanvin, Pure Turquoise by Ralph Lauren, Kelly Caleche by Hermes or Enjoy by Jean Patou. The delicate floral lover of L’Air du Temps by Nina Ricci could be seduced by the siren song of the eponymous Marc Jacobs fragrance, the subtly spicy Pleasures by Lauder or honeysuckle-rich Burberry London in the cute plaid-covered bottle. And lovers of fresh, zingy or even aquatic fragrances such as Cool Water Woman by Davidoff would definitely give a whirl to the citrusy unisex goodness of Eau d’Hadrien by Annick Goutal, the soapy-fresh Thierry Mugler Cologne and the elegant Eau de Sisley 2.
But tucking in a scented card with heartfelt wishes is probably the best accessory of them all: She will be sure to have a loving memory of the gift for a long time to come…