There is (or should be) a specific sub-category of First World Problems, called Bloggers’ Problems. I, for example, spent hours yesterday trying to locate some mimosa branches that I could photograph for my long-planned mimosa post. I did not succeed, but at least I spent some time in the fresh air, walking very fast, trying to reach places before they closed on Sunday. So that was a result, of a kind.

Some eagle-eyed readers have no doubt already noticed that there are in fact mimosa branches on the photos. These are, however, the branches I bought a week ago and failed to photograph when they were still in their prime. On these pictures, they are entirely dried out. Totally crispy. Considering that, I think they look pretty good.

That’s the thing about mimosa (or acacia, as it’s properly called) – it’s very aesthetically pleasing. I don’t think I had ever seen the flowers live before I moved to Brussels, but here I fell immediately for their golden charm. Look at all these yellow pompoms! Isn’t it amazing? They are just so joyful and cheering. It must be wonderful to have entire bushes of them around, although I’m sure in the Southern Hemisphere everyone is bored with them as they are everywhere. Spoiled brats.

The other great thing about mimosa is that it’s “in season” (read “sold in flower shops”) in winter, when some cheering-up is badly needed. There are other ways of making November or February more bearable, but a huge bunch of mimosa never hurts.

Then there’s the scent, of course: sweet, honeyed, powdery and sometimes quite intense. I like it in real life, but didn’t think I liked it in perfume – with the exception of the Guerlain classic Apres L’Ondee that I adore and that includes a mimosa note. But then I fell for Frederic Malle’s Une Fleur de Cassie, one of the most intelligent perfumes I know. It’s a totally unexpected take on the flower, as “smart” is not the first concept I associate with mimosa.

Jo Malone’s Mimosa & Cardamom cinched the deal: I wrote about it here and have been wearing it a lot this autumn. I also bought the candle that I’ve possibly enjoyed even more: the happy and gently spicy scent works perfectly in any room. If the above-mentioned products are outside your budget or you simply refuse to pay such prices, & Other Stories has a nice mimosa line, too. I own the body mist, hand cream and body scrub: these aren’t exactly nuanced masterpieces of perfumery, but they will provide a little mimosa hit for a reasonable price.

In conclusion, mimosa and mimosa-inspired products are an important weapon in the fight against winter sadness. I just cannot believe I missed the opportunity to include the cocktail…