KEY POINTS:
Be your own Valentine or leave an early hint for your loved one of how to make a floral offering with more staying power than the annual bouquet of over-priced and soon-to-wilt red roses. You can preserve romance, or at least its aromatic essence, with a gentle waft
of rose.
* Next week we'll feature a selection of ways to say it with scent on Valentine's Day.
1 Ilsci Rose Petal Body Lotion $133
This salon-only lotion is ideal for rehydrating mature skin and a little goes a long way. It may not look the flashest around, but as the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. The contents are distilled from rose petals grown in organic gardens and are rich in pectins for skin nourishing.
Available from The Beauty Connection, Newmarket and www.spauniverse.co.nz.
2 Jo Malone Red Rose Bath Oil and Body Lotion $185 and $115
An annual limited edition treat, the Red Rose Collection is composed of seven different roses, and features a cologne (from $98). Perfect for giving, thanks to the stylish square-sided bottles that you'll want to display in your bathroom. The items can be bought separately or beautifully boxed as sets. The perfume is red roses in a bottle, but with interesting violet and citrus notes.
From Jo Malone, Chancery, or Ph 0800 JOMSHOP.
3 The Body Shop Roseflower Blush $24
Imprinted with a rose that makes more than a nod to the beautiful design work of Scot Charles Rennie Mackintosh a century ago, this blush smells as good as it looks. Gives a fresh, girlish pink flush with subtle shimmer to the cheeks.
4 The Body Shop Moroccan Rose Body Butter $38
For normal to dry skin, which at this time of year means for pretty much everyone. Don't let the body butter title put you off, this is really a rich pale pink cream in a rather nice pottle. The stylised rose design is on other products in this special seasonal Body Shop range, including shower gel, body milk, an eau de toilette, a room diffuser and even cosmetics.
From The Body Shop.
5 Chloe eau de parfum $165 for 50ml
A 2008 launch, this is a modern-day rose classic, with subtlety and warmth. The bottle, with its beautiful hand-tied ribbon is also a gorgeous keepsake. Will appeal to many women.
From department stores and leading pharmacies.