COULD the days of the perfume bottle be numbered?

Plans are afoot for a 'swallowable perfume' that turns skin into an atomiser.

But picture your dressing table devoid of your favourite perfume. Surely part of the pleasure is the drama of spritzing and those opulent bottles?

A soul-warming scent can really get you into festive mode – and make for a pleasing stocking filler. Get some tips with our fragrance buying guide.

FESTIVE FRAGRANCE

Indulge in some sensual therapy to get you into the festive spirit. And 'spirits' are quite the tonic in fragrances now, with a trend for intoxicating party-inspired ingredients such as tobacco, gin, rum and cognac.

Penhaligon's new Juniper Sling (from £78) includes cinnamon, orange brandy and gin – you can practically drink in the heady scent.

"When it's cold outside, what better feeling than wrapping up warm with an enveloping fragrance," says Georgina Blake, fragrance trainer for KGA.

"Powdery musky or chypre scents create this effect. Something with soft, comforting ingredients like iris, or a dry, mossy, yet radiant chypre family, would be great on wintery days."

Think seduction, warmth and gourmand notes like liquorice, brown sugar and black cherry for a Christmas party spritz.

Blake recommends a rich sensual jasmine fragrance, such as Bvlgari's Jasmin Noir EDP (from £59), for the perfect winter evening scent.

PERFECT POTION

When you are seeking a stellar perfume for somebody else, the rules change.

"Don't assume your favourite fragrance will automatically be theirs. Remember scents react slightly differently on each skin," Blake advises.

"Think about the personality of the person you are buying for, as that will help you select the character of fragrance that best suits them."

Selecting the right scent for a loved one really shows you know them well, but if you're struggling Blake suggests a popular classic fragrance.

"Choose a scent that will appeal to lots of people; something fresh, floral and woody, like Issey Miyake's L'Eau d'Issey gift set (£50.50), would make a great present for any woman."

SCENT SAVIOURS

Indecision at the perfume counter? You are not alone. More than half of all people buy a new scent before finishing an old bottle.

A box set featuring multiple perfumes is a shortcut to a happy scent recipient. Estee Lauder's Pen Pals gift (£34) includes three fragrance best-sellers in handbag-sized rollerballs.

If in doubt try a sampler box set such as Vivabox (£36.99), which gives a fussy fragrance connoisseur seven minis to spritz and a voucher to exchange for their full-sized favourite.

n SHOPS at The Forge, in Glasgow's East End, are now open until 10pm for Christmas shopping. The centre, which has 70 stores, opens at 8.30am so you can beat the festive rush.

On Christmas Eve the centre will be open from 8am-6pm. It will be open on Boxing Day, as well as December 27 and 28 from 8.30am-8pm.