To get your shit together…

My friends and colleagues call me Circus Brain – there is always so much going on in my head that I have difficulty ordering it. I have a creative mind and find boardroom situations stressful. I’m much better equipped to use my hands than my brain in these too-frequent scenarios, so

I have a trick: I spray some Le Labo Santal 33 on to a cotton handkerchief and inhale it. Initially, I carried it to soothe me in times of stress. Some of the most important women in my life wear this absolutely beautiful, warm and enveloping fragrance. I associate it with them and the way they make me feel, which is calmer, less chaotic, safe and protected. Last year, on a trip to New

York, I bought a new bottle – I was going on my honeymoon and wanted to embed the scent memories so I could remember the time whenever I sprayed it. On the plane, all the cabin crew complimented me, and even our New York cab driver did, too – the first time one has ever spoken to me!

The reaction I receive when I’m wearing it, plus the reaction it stirs when I smell it, is incredible. It brings me back to myself, and suddenly I feel better about everything. Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum, £120 for 50ml

AZZI SAYS: Fragrances that are calming yet confident are always best suited for when you want to focus, concentrate and feel in control. Ingredients that are soft yet fulfilling, such as powder, rose, amber, sandalwood and patchouli, are a few that can help you achieve this through your scent. Other perfumers recommend rosemary, which is sometimes cited to improve memory retention and alertness

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TRY: Amber, wood, rose

1. Gucci Bamboo Eau de Parfum, £68 for 50ml 2. Elie Saab Essence No. 10: Amande Tonka Eau de Parfum, £165 for 100ml 3. Helmut Lang Eau De Cologne, £130 for 100ml