Essence extrait

'Extrait' is the working title of the first fragrance I have made for myself. I wanted to make the scent of incense, or resins, burnt in an Ancient Greek temple. It is austere - a surprise, as I thought the element of sacrifice in the use of incense would be redolent of devastation. It is far from that and intellectual rather than emotional.

I can't quite remember when the ancient world began to intrigue me but I do remember browsing the old wooden shelves of Caversham Library's children's library for stories of Greece and Rome. Later at university I took classics in my first year, but not a classical language which I have since regretted. I should have studied Greek and I could lost myself more thoroughly in the world that fascinates me so much.

I have a longterm fascination with lotions and potions as well and dreamed of my own personal scents, but the ancient world began to creep back into my ideas after a dream my husband had in which he said my name was Sibylline. Now this is name to give me a lot to think about ...

My Essentials: Shampoo and Conditioner

I have tried many shampoos and conditioners and my all-time favourites remain Aveda's Shampure shampoo and conditioner, in litre bottles with pumps they are at their most cost effective. They leave hair tangle-free, shiny and gloriously scented and I've found nothing else as lovely to use. The fragrance comes as a scented candle as well, and can be added to Aveda's custom blends.

I defect regularly: to try other products recommended in magazines, or to try something cheaper. So I've spent more and I've spent less but I'm always disappointed and tell myself never to stray again. Most recently I've tried Natural Locks and I won't be buying these products again because they did not properly cleanse my hair and the conditioner has not been very effective at detangling. Recently,snowed-in in Hampshire I've bought Boots Botanics locally and have yet to form a conclusion.

My Essentials: Bath Oil

Bath oil is perfect for mornings when I lie in the bath coming round - the ultimate transistion from bed to waking. I'm not a morning person and I've not time for soap and body cream on a working morning, so bath oil gives me time to wallow and keep my skin moisturised. I used to use baby oil but now my preference is for aromatherapeutic dispersable oils and I'm planning to start making my own when I run out of purchased ones. I do like big imposing bottles lined up by the bath and I dream of a colossal glass flacons containing my own personal, perfect ones.

My Essentials: Pears Soap

I love the dodgy etch-a-sketch images drawn on paint and here's my homage to the classic Pears soap. Pears soap was formulated in 1789 by Andrew Pears as an alternative to the existing harsh soaps and cosmetics. The resulting natural glycerine soap scented with rosemary and thyme, invoking an English country garden, has proved enduringly popular.

As a teenager I used it as facial cleanser and it cleared up the spots that medicated products aggravated. Now there's always a couple of bars on the go in my bathroom, although I've strayed and indulged in expensive varieties of soap, but as a chic recession buster Pears soap cannot be beaten.

It was reformulated in 2009 and the new formula has a heavier resinous fragrance, so I'm out to the shops today to read the ingredients on packets of Pears for rosemary and thyme and buying them up! This will last me until I've perfected a natural fragrance for making my own glycerine soap.

All I Want For Christmas

For me this is a thing of beauty and I hope Alec Lawless www.essentially-me.co.uk doesn't mind me picturing it. I have a cardboard box that is filling up with my supplies of essential oils, scent smelling strips, fuller's earth and mixing bottles, as I inhale centuries of fragrances and record my impressions. This lab kit demands space, a desk of my own at least, and gives me the same sense of excitement I got in a chemistry class at fifteen. The thrill of adding essences drop by drop, blending and testing, is all consuming at the moment. I have dropped hints and emailed links but so far nothing under the tree with my name on it looks the right shape or size.

Christmas Special: Mince Pies

The seasonal deliciousness of crumbly rich pastry and the sweet, spicy - cinnamon, cloves, plump raisins, sherry and brandy with a strong brew of assam tea is unbeatable. It was today's replacement for a balanced lunch!

Childhood Smells: Oranges at Christmas

I still feel Christmas stockings should have an orange in the toe, eaten while the grown-ups still sleep. The guiltiness of creeping downstairs to unwrap presents, to be surprised by sleepy parents and found with orange peel and chocolate wrappers strewn around us. The smell of oranges is a Christmas smell for me, laden with the past preciousness of this fruit now taken so much for granted. The occasion of the season remains for me with clementines at their best in the winter. Nigella's clementine cake is the cake I make myself for Christmas and the smell of the simmering clementines, and the baking cake,create a thick, sweet tangerine fugginess that signals the festive season.

My kids have rebelled against clementines in their stockings as their place in the fruit bowl is taken for granted, so in the spirit of spherical deliciousness they get a Lush bath bomb in the toe of their stockings. This year's is orange-scented and pleases me much.