Every year, as soon as the clocks go back, I take my favourite perfume out of its box, spray a little over my wrists and neck and breathe in the familiar scent of winter. It’s woody, warm and slightly spicy, designed by Maison Margiela to smell just like a fireplace, with notes of cloves, chestnut and vanilla.

There’s something about fireplaces. Like on a crisp, cold day when you finish a country walk by a pub, and sit in front of the open fire with a glass of red wine or a drop of whiskey. When you leave, you carry the scent of woodsmoke with you on your coat, which still lingers the following day.

If you’ve ever felt hypnotised by a fire, there’s a good reason. The crackle of logs, the glow on your face, and the conversations that seem to flow more easily in front of a naked flame. Gathering around a fire is one of the oldest human rituals. It feels primal, and that warm feeling can carry you away into a hypnotic state.

Scent too has a way of connecting you instantly to a memory. Your sense of smell is plugged directly into your amygdala and hippocampus, the emotional core and memory centre, which act as an instant portal to the subconscious mind, triggering that hit of nostalgia.

Maison Margiela first introduced the Replica range in 2012, as a nod towards history, craftsmanship and a way to bottle up cherished memories like olfactory art. ‘By the Fireplace’ for me, certainly hits the spot. My first spray of the year is like a small ritual that marks the season and signals cosy cashmere, long nights and fairy lights.

Whether it’s a spritz of your favourite perfume or a glass of wine by the fire, these little rituals of care work wonders on your wellbeing. Moments when you allow yourself to slow down and let your senses take over for a while.