Good brushes aren't cheap, so how do you judge if they are worth the expense?

Softened butter to grease an oven tray, ¼ cup water, 1 cup white sugar, ½ cup light corn syrup, 1½ cups raw peanuts, ½ cup pecan nuts, ½ tsp salt, 2 Tbs butter, 1 tsp baking soda

Makes approximately 20. 20 fresh cherries, 50ml brandy, 100g butter, ½ tin condensed milk, ½ cup white chocolate, chopped, 375g crushed wine biscuits

This recipe needs to be made a day ahead. 400g dark chocolate - at least 60 per cent cocoa solids, 200ml cream, Zest of one orange, plus a little extra to garnish, 2½ Tbs crystallised ginger, finely chopped

Isaac Sinclair, Ecoya's New Zealand-raised, French-trained, Brazilian-resident perfumer, answers Viva's questions about home fragrance.

The interplay between fragrance and memory prompts powerful emotions. Every season leaves a scent trail, but perhaps none more so than at Christmas.

Ponsonby Rd favourite Wallace Rose reopened its doors last month following a year's break for owner Sandra Harden.

Go on admit it, we all do it - check out what is on display in the bedrooms and bathrooms when we stay at or visit other people's homes.

Book in - or look in with Viva - to find out what it's like to play Park Avenue princess for a day.

Vincent Chen brews up a brilliant idea in the form of the world's most pure tea, grown here in Waikato.

Sponges need a gentle touch but the results are worthwhile.

Industrial design student Ben de la Roche shares his inspirations.

This ancient wine territory is starting to reassert itself.

Makeup mistress Bobbi Brown opens her first flagship store in Australasia this weekend.

The experts reveal the beauty routines that go in to creating the magical looks for the cast of the The Hobbit.