Three Scented Hand Washes for Winter

There was a time when every sink in the country had a bar of soap sitting beside it, usually in a dish that needed cleaning almost as often as your hands. Then along came liquid hand washes and, before we all knew it, the humble soap bar had some serious competition. Both do exactly the same job, but the addition of beautiful fragrances and attractive packaging has really turned handwashing into something a little more indulgent. With winter fast approaching, it's a good opportunity to change the scents around the house and introduce something that brings a little extra pleasure to this everyday routine.

One of the problems with liquid hand washes is the plastic packaging that comes with them. They're practical, certainly, but a brightly coloured plastic bottle isn't always what you want sitting beside a beautifully chosen sink. Thankfully, more companies are embracing refillable glass bottles, allowing us to enjoy our favourite fragrances while reducing unnecessary waste. There's also something satisfying about choosing a hand wash specifically for the room in which it's going to be used. After all, we fragrance our homes with candles and diffusers, so why not the sink? I've chosen three scented treats for the kitchen, bathroom and cloakroom.

The kitchen is probably where we wash our hands most, especially when preparing meals, so a good fragrance needs to be fresh and practical. William Morris At Home Rosemary & Sage fits the bill perfectly. The combination of rosemary and sage has a wonderful herbal character, with thyme adding another dimension that feels at home alongside the everyday cooking ingredients. It also features odour-neutralising technology, particularly useful if you've been chopping onions. Add the distinctive William Morris-inspired packaging and you have a hand wash that deserves to be left on display. It’s £15 for 300ml - Click Here.

For the bathroom, I've chosen Geranium No.4 from C.Atherley, a brand founded by Cath Kidston and inspired by her love of scented geraniums. It demonstrates how a familiar garden plant can produce a fragrance that's both floral and wonderfully fresh. The rosy character of the geranium is complemented by aromatic and woody touches, while corn mint adds a fresh, green quality that particularly suits the bathroom. The hand wash creates a generous lather and contains betaine to help keep hands feeling soft. It's presented in a beautiful glass bottle, which makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. It’s £26 for 300ml - Click Here.

It might be the smallest room in the house, but the cloakroom is often where guests get their first impression of your taste in fragrance. My choice is English Fern from Bronnley, a classic British fragrance with a history stretching back to the 1930s. It's a wonderfully fresh combination of lavender and green notes, with a hint of oakmoss adding an earthy, woodland character. There's something reassuringly familiar about this style of fragrance, making it ideal for a room used by family and visitors. The glass bottle looks particularly elegant, while the fragrance adds an uplifting finishing touch. It’s £25 for 300ml - Click Here.

I think we sometimes forget how much enjoyment a good hand wash can bring. I've always liked matching fragrances to different rooms, and it's such an easy way to introduce a favourite scent without adding another candle or diffuser. With so many wonderful fragrances and beautiful bottles to choose from, why not treat yourself to something special the next time you're shopping for hand wash?

[All samples provided by the companies]