BORED with the selection of offerings on department store perfume counters?

Dive into the sweet-smelling world of indie fragrances, produced by small perfume houses that reek of high quality.

It is no surprise that Tom Daxon immersed himself in the world of fragrance after growing up with a mother who was a chemist with more than 30 years' experience and a fragrance lab in Grasse, the perfume capital of the world on the French Riviera.

He follows his nose, rather than the latest trends, taking inspiration from anything from a blooming flower to a piece of wood.

The perfumers he works with, who have been connected with Chanel and Guerlain, are a talented father and daughter team. Together they create sparkling, contemporary fragrances that are beautifully presented in packaging that makes the ideal gift.

Fragrance oils are blended in Grasse and matured in England before being bottled to allow a greater depth of aroma.

Spritz on Tom Daxon Crushing Bloom, £105 from www.tomdaxon.com, a beautiful rose with green spicy top notes of lily of the valley and cardamom and fine musks.

Born in the USA, Malin+Goetz, available from Space NK, is the brainchild of Matthew Malin, who worked at Kiehl's and later the Helmut Lang perfume division at Prada, and Andrew Goetz, formerly a marketing director for Swiss-based design manufactuer Vitra.

Their apothecary in New York's Chelsea neighbourhood expanded to include a perfumery and now their blends are sold around the world.

Eau de toilettes, candles and hand-poured perfume oils complement the range of plant-based, naturally scented skincare treatments.

A favourite is the recently relaunched Malin+Geotz Dark Rum EDT, £115, for men and women. Warm and seductive, it has sweet and spicy extracts of bergamot, plum, amber and patchouli with a rich mix of rum, leather and cream.

Set up in 2012, Shay & Blue is a boutique perfumery in London's Marleybone that is now available at Marks & Spencer.

Set up by Dom De Vetta, formerly of Jo Malone London, and perfumer Julie Masse, it firmly focuses on the age-old traditional craft of creating fine perfumes. Ingredients are all harvested, weighed and distilled by hand.

A bestseller is Shay & Blue Amber Rose Natural Spray Fragrance, £30, an elegant scent that features rare May rose from Grasse as well as sweet milk and white amber.