Noel de Chanel

Perfume season has hit

Perfume season is upon us and try as you might, there really is no better gift than that of a twinkling new fragrance.

But rather than trawling the counters with a cluster of blotters in hand, forgetting which you've already tried, this year, there's an altogether chicer approach.

This morning I got ahead of the festive crowds and took a sneak peak of the Chanel pop-up store in London's Covent Garden. The beauty savvy amongst you will have already descended on this store when it launched in August with a full array of beauty offerings, but now it's been transformed to the ultimate fragrance emporium.

Step inside this little haven of a boutique and all festive anxiety is forgotten. Expert noses guide you through every single Chanel scent there is in every size, along with the options of lotions and potions galore. Then when you've chosen your gift, not only can you have it wrapped to within an inch of its life in all things Chanel, but on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays they have a calligrapher who can write a personal message to your loved one, so you don't have to taint it with your scrawl. All part of the service don't you know?!

And if you still can't decide? Well, for the first time in existence they're offering gift vouchers so you can treat someone to the experience of selecting a scent for themselves.

Quite honestly, avoiding the hoards of irate Christmas shoppers is the best gift you can give me this year. Merci!