GIVE THE GIFT OF FRAGRANCE THIS FESTIVE SEASON

Ah, the last-minute dash to buy.... anything? It’s okay, we’ve all been there. With Christmas just around the corner and gifting season in full swing, you may (or may not) have found the perfect present for your nearest and dearest – don’t worry, there’s still time! Our advice? Elevate their fragrance wardrobe with one of these timeless olfactory offerings.

And by that, we mean a signature scent that perfectly capture the character of that special someone – while yes, perfume can be quite personal, isn’t that what makes it extra magical? It shows just how much you know your loved ones, but we can’t deny it can be a bit difficult to shop for fragrance online. With that in mind, why not look to our personas? A collection of carefully curated guides designed to take the guesswork out of gifting by thrilling the spectrum of personas on your check list.

With scents to tempt everyone – from the Skintellectual to the Social Butterfly in your life - this selection of luxury perfumes is here to stir the senses and strike the right note with your chosen recipient.

IN THIS ARTICLE:

• The Mini Magpie
• The Aesthete
• The Skintellectual
• The Minimalist
• The Social Butterfly
• The Spa Gazer
• The Luxury Lover

THE MINI MAGPIE

Know a fragrance fanatic who is devoted to discovering the scents that stay? Do they flit between perfumes and tirelessly try things on for size? Look no further… Acqua di Parma’s Blu Mediterraneo Discovery Set is the gift that keeps on giving as it boasts not one, but three must-have minis of its most addictive (and wanderlust-inducing) scents.

Beautifully packaged in a crafted blue box, this giftable trio reveals three location-inspired fragrances all evoking the sunny shores of the Mediterranean Isles: Arancia di Capri, Fico di Amalfi and Mirto di Panarea. From sensual, fruity aromas to fresh, earthy accords, each decadent scent can be mixed, matched and popped in your bag for an on-the-go spritz. Plus, the azure-blue bottles alone are enough to make us obsessed, let alone the mini magpie in your life…

THE AESTHETE

Whether it’s the immaculately styled bathroom or the specially selected display of fragrances, this gift is for the one who can never resist a touch of opulence (read: aesthetically pleasing bottles only, thanks...). Cool, unique and esoteric, we can only be talking about Byredo’s Mojave Ghost Absolu de Parfum – a rich fragrance that will elevate any beauty lovers’ collection from classic to curated.

An intensified riff on the classic eau de parfum, the Mojave Ghost Absolu de Parfum brings additional depth and character to its namesake Californian desert. It opens with enveloping, musky ambrette and fresh Jamaican nesberry before melting into a blend of dry sandalwood and unexpected floral notes of magnolia. Housed in the brands signature flacon with an exclusive textural cap, this decadent aroma is sure to sit pride of place on your giftees vanity.

THE SKINTELLECTUAL

Struggling to surprise the one who is renowned as a fount of beauty knowledge? An expert for the ins-and-outs of all the formulas you’ve read about, this nearest and dearest is your go-to for answering all your skin care FAQs. So, how do you delight a friend who simply loves 'the science bit’? Cue the wellness wonder that is Vyrao’s Mamajuju Eau De Parfum.

Backed by neuroscientific research to determine which accords have the greatest impact on the brain's perceptions of scent, this revitalising fragrance has bottled up all those good feelings associated with comforting memories. Think: smooth sandalwood dancing with an energetic blend of saffron, cumin and pink pepper. What’s more, it’s presented in a luxurious brown metallic bottle containing an energetically charged Herkimer diamond crystal for balance. We predict a deep dive.

THE MINIMALIST

We all have that loved one who serves a less-is-more approach to looking good and feeling better. They’re known for finding delight in honing their routine to get the most from fewer steps, which means finding a present that's worthy of space in their streamlined regime can be tricky (understatement). So why not curate their own olfactory journey with the gentle warmth of Commodity’s Paper- Personal Eau de Parfum?

At first glance, this invigorating scent shouldn’t be as seductive as it is – it’s based around a single note (Iso E Super), a deceptively, delicate accord that melds with the wearer’s natural pheromones to enhance allure. Unique to each person that applies it, the beguiling concoction is subtle and there is a chance the wearer may not be able to smell this on themselves (we know that sounds curious) but, trust us, anybody that crosses their path will be enchanted…

THE MAXIMALIST

Known for flaunting a new look for every mood – from brat to ingénue and everything between – this friend is never one to resist standing out from the crowd… and why should that stop when it comes to their signature scent? Go big or go home with Fugazzi’s Vanilla Haze, an enveloping aroma that oozes attitude and confidence in a single spritz.

The power suit of any fragrance wardrobe, this crème brûlée blend makes an entrance... and leaves an impression. It opens with hits of mandarin at the top, spiked by coconut milk, almond and hazelnut, before giving way to spiced vanilla pod and tonka bean. The grand finale? An indulgent fusion of sticky crème brûlée, powdery white amber and woody musk. To summarise, this is a scent that is unforgettable, unique and chameleonic… wait, I think we just described the maximalist in your life, no?

THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

What do you gift someone who is streets ahead of the trends and always in the know? The friend who is thrilled by the new, the obscure and the innovative? A must for those with fingers on-the-pulse(points), it’s time to treat your favourite socialite to a fragrance that’s soon to be on everyone’s scent shelf – Kayali’s Yum Boujee Marshmallow 81 Eau de Parfum Intense.

Boasting sweet, moreish notes of strawberry and whipped cream, this rich aroma is a sumptuous invitation to savour life’s most delightful pleasures. Unfolding like a decadent dessert, it features a mouthwatering medley of fluffy pink marshmallow, delicate freesia and pink musk, only to fall onto a bed of orange blossom water and coconut flakes. A brand forever on social feeds (and for all the right reasons), this scent is a sure fire hit for the beauty lover in your life who never misses a viral moment.

THE SPA GAZER

If you have a homebody in your life who has made ‘self care’ their entire personality, you’ve come to the right place. They delight in pamper nights, plan their week around their hair wash and love a cancelled plan (hello, bed rotting). What to gift? It’s easy – Maison Margiela’s The Replica Lazy Sunday Morning Candle. Side note: as someone who wears this as their signature scent… I’ve never felt more seen.

A snapshot in time, this comforting candle is a memory of ‘soft skin and bed linen’. It encapsulates the scene of lying in bed, relaxed in pure comfort and inhaling as your freshly washed, crumpled duvet envelops every limb. Opening with delicate top notes of pear accord and ambrette seeds, it’s then brought down to earth with middle notes of iris accord, rose petals and orange flower. Like a soft breeze after the rain, this light aroma transports you straight back to that lazy Sunday morning in bed…

THE LUXURY LOVER

Know a special someone who loves to indulge in all of life’s finer things? Referred to as the embodiment of ‘quiet luxury’, they are often difficult to spoil when they already know the brand’s worth the investment. The connoisseur's choice? The House of Creed's Centaurus Eau de Parfum, of course - an opulently timeless blend of cardamom and smoky tobacco.

Created by a luxury house dedicated to fragrances made from finest ingredients, this perfume is a warm and timeless olfactory offering. Opening with fiery top notes, it blends spicy cardamom and cinnamon with black pepper, only to then reveal its resinous base of benzoin and ambroxan. Housed in a specially-designed decadent bottle, this indulgent scent is here to add a touch of luxe to your lucky loved one’s bathroom cabinet.

With perfumes for every recipient (and their persona) it’s time to spoil someone special (and spoil yourself later)… ‘tis the season after all.