For all the toil, back-patting and lovingly packed lunch boxes, gifts that pamper Mom are the best way to tell her what a hot mama she really is. We’ve scoured the aisles of department stores and beauty Web sites to help you in your search for the perfect present. Here, a lineup of some of our favorite offerings for Mother’s Day:
Kneipp
This is German ingenuity at its best. These little bottles hold high-quality essential oils, infused bath salts
and body cleansers that pack a punch of goodness for mind, body and spirit. Each ingredient has a specific benefit, and these collections give you a great range to choose from. The Herbal Bath Collection (11 bottles, 0.5 oz. each) costs $25. Check out the full line at www.kneipp.com. Awake
The Travel Essentials Case has everything you need, including cleansing cloths, cleanser, moisturizer, eye 
gel, nail-color-remover packets and two super, flat lip-palettes. The brown satin case has a zip-out pouch for your purse, and at $65 we’d buy one for 
Mom and one for ourselves. It’s available at www.beauty.com. Clinique
We love the bag (purple is so now). This skin care basics special includes your choice of Clinique products, so personalizing it for Mom is a snap. An added benefit: The kit comes with pumps for the large-size products. And did we mention how cute the little travel soap is? This special ($29.50), as well as lots of other great gifts, is available at www.clinique.com. Bath & Body Works
B&BW; has another great spring bag: a yummy selection of bath products in seven delicious scents (we’re fond of the Tangerine Spice). The set includes an 8 oz. Cream Body Wash, 8 oz. Body Cream, 8 oz. Relaxing Bath Bubbles, 4 oz. Body Splash and (our favorite) 2 oz. Anti-Bacterial Quick Dry Spray ($25 at Bath & Body Works stores).
From the classic French fragrance house Cacharel, NOA is modern and gorgeous with notes of peony and white musk (yum). We’re also particularly fond of the packaging: a transparent sphere with a floating pearl inside. Be sure not to miss the Perfumed Stardust Body Lotion ($27.50), a sinfully soft moisturizer that leaves skin glowing. Available at department and specialty stores.
J’adore
And who wouldn’t want a Dior original? This fragrance — a sultry floral bouquet — is the newest of the new and says (literally) how much you adore your mom. A sultry floral bouquet J’adore’s special Mother’s Day gift set includes a perfumed body lotion, .17 oz. perfume and 1.7 oz. Eau de Parfum all for $55. Available at department and specialty stores. Check out www.sephora.com for other J’adore items.
Baby Doll
It’s pink, it’s sweet, and it’s as much fun as a fragrance can be to wear. Baby Doll is couturier Yves Saint Laurent’s latest creation and the perfect way to give your mom a youthful burst of energy. The 3.3-oz. Eau de Toilette Natural Spray goes for $69. We’re particularly fond of the Perfumed Shower Gel ($23). This baby is available at department and specialty stores.