Just for Mums.

WORDS ANNE LOH

THE BODY BEAUTIFUL
Mum will surely love Madiggan’s special edition range of lifestyle products in pretty glass bottles, which comes in four fragrances: Romance, Pleasure, Satin Glow and Velvet Glow. Prices start from AU$19.95 for Bath Caviar to AU$29.95 for Aroma Diffusers (stockists, tel: 1300 650 981). Bloom also has two heavenly handcare kits for you to spoil mum with, scented with Green Tea & Bergamot and Vanilla Bean (AU$29.95 at Myer and David Jones).

FIT FOR A QUEEN
If the mum of the house has always admired Collette Dinnigan’s designs from afar, now she too can own one of her exquisite garments. Dinnigan is the latest designer to collaborate with Target to create an affordable range. Her stunning new lingerie collection named Wild Hearts, features pretty lace, intricate embroidery, cute bows and even luxurious silk. Prices start from just AU$16.99 for a g-string. The range will be in selected Target stores from mid-April. We say run, don’t walk!

HOME SWEET HOME
Let mum put her feet up with the Quilted Massager with Heat from Sunbeam, which targets the neck, shoulders, back, calves and thighs with a heat setting for the lower back (AU$99.95, stockists, tel: 1300 881 861). And don’t forget to turn on the Perfect Potion Ultrasonic Vaporiser (AU$149.95, Perfect Potion, Lower Ground 1, Shop 62, Queen Victoria Building, 455 George St, Sydney, tel: +61 (2) 9286 3384) for complete relaxation with wafting essential oils.

BLING IT ON
A dazzling piece of beautiful jewellery is sure to set mum’s eyes sparkling. Lucky for you the diamond simulants from Secrets Shhh… are so real even the pros can’t tell the difference – yet they cost a fraction of the real thing. Prices start at AU$140 for a pair of earrings and there’s a wide range to choose from, so go ahead and make her Mother’s Day. Find your nearest store on www.secrets-shhh.com.

WANDERLUST
Surprise mum with a holiday flying Jetstar, then get her a stylish Samsonite Aero Upright Spinner (from AU$399, stockists, tel: 1800 331 690), available in red, black and silver, manufactured from polycarbonate, with lined interior and TSA key lock. Or consider a Canon Digital IXUS 80IS (AU$379), which comes in five stand-out colours with face detection and movie recording. Then teach mum how to upload her holiday photos to www.onepennypost. com. The phrase “send me a postcard” takes on new meaning when she discovers how easy it is to send digi pics as a physical postcard.

KITCHEN GODDESS
Does your mum consider herself a Nigella? Then make her day with the latest kitchen equipment. Breville’s spruced-up line of kitchen classics will add a touch of the pro, especially the handheld mixer BHM500 Wizz Mix Digital (AU$79.95) and the processor-blender BFP500 Wizz Overhead Drive (AU$249.95). Sometimes though, all you need is the cool new-look potato masher from Chefs Toolbox (AU$20, stockists, tel: 1300 135 816).

Scent of a Woman

Perfumer Renée Griffith’s fragrance journey began when she custom-blended a scent for her wedding and gave it as a memento to her guests. Now, Griffith sells a range of perfumes and other scented lifestyle products. We ask for her perfume tips.

Is perfume the perfect gift for Mother’s Day?
Definitely. Fragrance is highly personal, so is particularly suitable when you want to give a gift that says “I’m thinking of you”. Surprising your mum with a boutique fragrance is even more special – it shows you’ve thought outside the square and not just taken the easy option of grabbing any last-minute purchase as you dash through the duty-free hall.

What are the points to note when buying perfume for mum?
Observe what fragrances she currently wears. Is she faithful to one scent or does she enjoy a range of perfumes? Once you’ve established this, discuss with the fragrance consultant who should be able to steer you in the direction of similar styles.

Most women love florals, so anything with gardenia, jasmine or rose is usually foolproof. Tuberose is loved by many but can be a bold choice as it’s quite heady and intoxicating. Oriental (rich, spicy, exotic) scents are regarded as luxurious and regal and of course, almost everyone loves the idea of a Chanel fragrance on their dresser.

When in doubt go with something that appeals to you, it will mean a lot to her that you’ve taken the time to consider how you feel about the fragrance you’ve chosen for her.

How do you develop the perfumes under your label?
It usually starts with an inspired thought about what l’m trying to capture in a particular scent. This could be a special place l’ve encountered, a memory of an experience or sometimes even a fantasy. I can literally smell the scent in my mind before l start to physically create it. It’s about matching the right ingredients with the thoughts in my mind to create a scent that tells my story.

How do you get the most out of perfume?
Keep bottles away from heat and direct sunlight and always stand them upright. When travelling, decant a small amount or buy a mini version rather than lugging around the full-sized bottle. This way you can take a wardrobe of scents for variety.

Eau de parfum is more concentrated than eau de toilette, but if you want real intensity and lasting power, try perfume oils as they have even greater staying power and tenacity on the skin.

Seven Renée scents: Amber, l’Eau, Mediterranean Lily, Snowpeach, Tuberose, Jasmine, Musk. 30ml parfum AU$59. 6 Inkerman St, St. Kilda, Melbourne. Stockists, tel: +61 (3) 9880 7646.