Forget the basic black nylon, as well as the briefcase-like look of most laptop cases. Talene Reilly’s Laptop Tote is just as stylish as any designer handbag, but is practically designed, so it will securely carry a laptop anywhere you need to go. In deep plum (as well as black and white houndstooth), the leather and flannel bag has a Teflon-coated, foam padded laptop pocket that can protect a computer completely from falls up to 3 feet. There are six other pockets on the bag and it has a zip top closure. The rolled leather …

In spite of the name, this Bon-Bon Box has no chocolaty treats. Made by Bond No. 9, the box contains a collection of 18 scents, each of which is specific to a certain neighborhood in (or associated with) New York City. Not going overboard with the theme, the creators wisely left out some of the less savory scents, like the east river, for example. The collection includes: Eau de New York, Central Park, Park Avenue, So New York, West Broadway, Chelsea Flowers, Fashion Avenue, Nuits de Noho, Chez Bond, Little Italy, Riverside …

Christmas is over as far as online retailers are concerned and the post-holiday clearances are already beginning. Browsing through the selection at eLuxury, I spotted this gorgeous Etro Leather Hobo. Basic black on the outside with a bright teal satin lining, the bag is one that you can wear with anything, from jeans to a suit. It is large, measuring 17″ x 9.25″ x 7.5″, and is accented with two teardrop-shaped links on the wide, flat shoulder strap. Price: $659 (orig. $995).

When I lived in a small town outside of Boston I used to go to an small Greek grocer where I would buy thick green bars of olive oil soap., The smell of the soap, richly herbal, made showering a treat. The French Soaps website offers a chance to buy not just olive oil soaps from Greece but from Turkey, Spain, Lebanon and France. A set of six soaps sells for $52.65. As the name of the website suggests, they also specialize in French soaps, candles and …

A really great design can overshadow a practical one quite easily when it comes to handbags, but it is hard to overlook practicality all the time. The Furla Virginie Grande Hobo has the advantage of having both a short, decorative chain strap and an adjustable shoulder strap, so it can easily be adjusted to suit your preferences. The bag is made of leather and comes in Cognac, Onxy or Sand (pictured), accented with gold hardware. It has a zip closure top and a small zip pocket, sized to fit cellphones or keys, at each end. …