Eau de humanity: our guide to the best in Christmas perfume gift ideas
Perfume can be the most thoughtful and personal of gifts rather than a last resort, as the Guardian’s resident enthusiast explains
David Shariatmadari
The Osmothèque: France’s library of smells is a breath of fresh air
The collection in Versailles has the formula of every new fragrance and also stocks sniffing samples of classic perfumes to conjure up your most cherished memories. Original-formula Old Spice, anyone?
Stop flogging statues, and give museums a slice of the art market pie
An Egyptian statue from Northampton museum has been sold for £16m. There has to be a better solution to the funding crisis
Is language like fashion, or the weather?
Some argue that changes in the way we speak are like changes in the way we dress or do our hair. If only it were that simple