Nothing smells better than one of Mom’s home-cooked meals - until the meal is over, that is! Much like the post-college grad living in the basement, lingering food odors like garlic, fish and onion in the air or on the skin wear out their welcome pretty quickly. What’s Mom to do? As far as the free-loading 20-something is concerned, Mom’s on her own. Scaring away food smells is more easily accomplished with the help of the Gourmet Kitchen Water Mint Sake line by Upper Canada. This fresh selection of kitchen cleaning and beauty products, ranging from decadent shea butter moisturizer to counter spray, combines the essences of water mint, orange, sandalwood, vanilla, and sake to cancel out menacing odors while creating a refreshing and uplifting sensory experience she’ll enjoy whether or not she’s been stirring things up in the kitchen. Plus, the crisp, contemporary look of the packaging makes this a much cooler Mother’s Day gift than that ho-hum, overdone brunch and bouquet. So give her something new she’ll really like - you really do owe her after all those years spent haunting her basement.

By Melissa Heichel

This is one of those scents that makes people say “What’s smells so good?” not “What perfume are you wearing?” And isn’t that what we all want? Lancome’s Limited Edition Tresor Sparkling is a fresh floral with a mellow note of pear and the warmth of sandalwood. No one note is overwhelming, which makes it perfect for gifting. Even lighter than the original Tresor, you (or your Mom!) will wear it all summer.

No more cheap soaps! Banish drying bars and get in on the moisture and luxury of SabonNYC’s lavender glycerin soap from UpperCanadaSoap. This decadent bar draws on the classic charm of lavender and uses a glycerin- and palm oil-based formula that’s just as nourishing as mother dearest. Minus the Joan Crawford allusions. Ready for some more? Next, lavish your skin with their shower oil, which is like a shower gel gone terribly, terribly posh with a kick of essentials oils that deliver hydration without being greasy. And to finish off, let’s think of some of the lessons we’ve learned from our moms. Always wear clean underwear. Your face will freeze that way. And… you never know who you’re going to run in to. Maybe my mom just wanted me to meet a nice doctor before I could actually spell ‘collagen’ but it’s an important lesson nonetheless. So, finish off your routine with their butter cream, which is based with butter oil. Sabon products are always fantastic for you, but even better for mom. Remember, she brought you into this world and she can take you out… for nicer dinners than your current budget calls for.

By Eleni Tavantzis

Okay, so if you’re thinking Chanel fragrances and you’re thinking Mother’s Day, your mind might automatically go to No. 5. But, our minds here at Papierdoll are nothing if not open, so why not try something new! Chanel has come out with a spinoff of it’s Chance fragrance, Chance Eau Fraiche, and it’s fabulous for your hip, modern mom, your best friend who’s a mom or that new mom who deserves a lavish treat! Like the original, this new fragrance has floral notes of hyacinth, iris, and pink pepper. But there’s some new additions too: most noticably, they’ve upped the citrus, perfect for summer. Do a drive by smelling at your local Chanel counter or pick up the fragrance for $75 on the Chanel Web site.

Signature scents are hard to come by, and I don’t deign to presume I could know what would be good for yours, but if you’re look for a lovely and unique scent that can go from day to night, http://www.kenzoparfums.com/EN/home/kenzo-perfumes.html is definitely worth a sniff.

It’s a soft, sensual, serene fragrance with a floral, woody scent inspired by the perfumer’s travels through Asia. It is meant to conjur memories of India, Indonesia, Japan, Burma, and Thailand, places filled with vibrant colors and aromas.

Notes include Frangipani blossoms from Bali or Borobudur, Cherry blossoms from Japan, Thanaka wood used decoratively in Burma by women and children, incense, Thai rice steam, vanilla of la Réunion, white tea from China.

I’m no perfume expert, I just know that this smells great, gets lots of compliments, and isn’t something everyone else has. It’s a great everyday perfume.

Available at Nordstrom and Sephora for $48-$85.