A comment in an article in The Telegraph got me thinking about scent. Perfume to be exact. There are now so many zillions of fragrances launched every week that’s it’s actually difficult to know where to start. Gone are the days when you recognised  immediately the in-vogue aromas of Poison, Opium, CK One, Rive Gauche or Chanel No 5 and who was wearing what. I like the idea of a signature fragrance but even with the choices on offer, you still seem to come across someone else who loves your favourite and wears it often.

Since I gave up smoking a few years ago, the fragrance industry has held less appeal for me. I think I used to use it to mask the smoke battling under the illusion no-one would know I had a filthy habit – in reality I probably gassed everyone within a large radius of my presence ! My husband, also a reformed smoker, rarely touches aftershave now for the same reason. So I decided to do a little research of my own to see if the perfume industry is still as vital and active as I once thought.

Yesterday I attended the Beer Festival at my local pub. I checked everyone I met, which I admit was quite a number throughout the proceedings, to see if they were wearing perfume. The result: only one older man who wore a slightly overpowering cologne. Wonder who’s buying it then?

I must admit I do have a favourite but I sometimes forget to apply it. It’s Sa Majeste La Rose by Serge Lutens. Heavenly, if you love the smell of fresh roses. But please don’t go and buy it. Find your own!