There seems to be a rising trend for all things pomegranate – am I right, there, or is it just me? I have asked more than a few people recently about their fragrance and they have all been wearing Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir. Crabtree & Evelyn have launched a whole range of pomegranate-y things and every time I have a peruse in a beauty hall there are more and more face creams, body oils and candles with pomegranate scent.

I like pomegranates, but I don’t love pomegranates. If some seeds are placed in front of me – atop a lamb dish or in an M&S fruit salad, I won’t pick them out or push them away, but equally, I wouldn’t be terribly upset if they were absent. So I am, I suppose, indifferent to pomegranates. I wouldn’t take a bullet for one, put it that way.

All that was a rather long-winded way of starting my little pondering session entitled: Pomegranates – Why all the Fuss? Apparently, it provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection – but in a body lotion? After it has undergone all of those beauty-product-making processes? I think not, somehow. I’m guessing – and this is just a guess! – that the appeal of the pomegranate, when included in a beauty product, is purely a fragrant one. I can’t imagine that there would ever be enough actual fruit to have any real benefit – you may as well just eat it! (The fruit, not the beauty product. Please don’t eat the body lotion – step away from the body lotion.)

So. If you like the smell of pomegranates (and the fragrances around do seem to be a gorgeous deep and spicy version of the fruit, not at all sweet or sickly) then here are some suggestions!

1) The classic, Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir. The range is available from Jo Malone and from Selfridges (link is to the pomegranate page!)

2) Crabtree’s Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed Oil Body Cream. Subtle, fruitier than the Noir, beautiful texture. £19.20 from Escentual.com here.

3) Brenda Anvari’s Pomegranate, Raspberry and Patchoulli. It’s a pretty intense fragrance – almost masculine, I think – but I really like it. My Mum hates it though – it’s just one of those things, isn’t it, with fragrance? Brenda has a whole range in this scent – I like the bath oil and the candle. Prices start at £9.95: Brenda Anvari

4) Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Oil. It’s useful to have a good body oil when the winter months start cracking on – apply immediately after a bath and spend a while massaging it in. It’s much more effective at keeping the skin hydrated than a basic body lotion. This oil is £19.95 with free delivery from FeelUnique