The Ultimate Fragrance Gift Guide

At Christmas time, perfume (along with jewellery) tends to be that gift you buy when you have absolutely no idea what else to get for a person.

But before you make use of the mega perfume sales that Priceline will inevitably have this season, make sure you ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does the person even enjoy perfume? If not, they probably won’t start now.
2. Do you know which perfume/s your giftee currently wears? If not, proceed with EXTREME caution.
3. Do you know the person well? If not, perfume is probably not the wisest choice.

If you’re confident in your choice to gift a fragrance, you are now faced with the extremely difficult task of picking one out… but does it really have to be that hard?

I have a (pretty much) foolproof method of picking out a fragrance that your giftee is (pretty) sure to love- it just takes research, patience, and a whole lot of trial and error.

NOTE: even though this method has (pretty much) always worked wonders, I DO NOT recommend purchasing fragrances online without smelling them in store first.

 

Terminology Breakdown

The fragrance world is full of crazy terms, and unless you’re a perfume junkie, you probably have absolutely no idea what they mean.

Before we continue, here’s a very simplified fragrance glossary:

Parfum: The strongest (and generally most expensive) form of perfume

Eau de Parfum (EDP): The second strongest (and most common) form of perfume

Eau de Toilette (EDT): The lightest form of perfume (with generally less longevity)

Fragrance Oil: Perfume suspended in oil

Notes: The individual scents that make up a fragrance

Top Notes: The lightest notes in the fragrance- generally immediately detectable and the first to fade away.

Middle Notes: The notes that appear once the top notes fade away- known as the ‘heart’ of the fragrance.

Base Notes: The richer/heavier notes that carry the fragrance- or the final detectable notes.

Longevity: How long the fragrance is detectable on the skin

Sillage: The scent trail left by the fragrance (or how far it’s scent spreads from the wearer)

 

Fragrance Gifting

Before you begin, you’ll need to find out which fragrances your giftee currently wears. Two options will be sufficient, but the more the better.

Next, head over to Fragrantica (aka, the BEST perfume encyclopedia on the internet), and search each perfume.

You’ll then write down all of the notes in each perfume, and see if there are any common themes.

If so, simply compile a list of new fragrances that contain all of these common notes, take it to your perfume store of choice, and choose the one that you think will be the best fit.

If not, I recommend reading through the reviews to see what other fragrance lovers are suggesting, as well as checking out fragrantica’s own recommendations as they tend to be pretty helpful.

However, it’s important to stress that while this method will give you a good headstart, you should keep in mind that each note will be in different concentrations in all fragrances, and may appear completely differently in each one- which is exactly why you also need to use your intuition and ACTUALLY go and smell them.

 

If you’re buying your giftee their first perfume or you can’t find out what they currently wear, things can be a little tricky. But, I do have a list of eight recommendations which are pretty universally loved and will make great starting points in your research.

I currently own 20+ fragrances, and in my eyes, these are truly the best of the best.

NOTE: In saying that, I do have a very particular taste in fragrances, and tend to gravitate towards warm, sweet notes such as jasmine, honey, vanilla, amber and musk. If your giftee is younger or likes lighter, crisper scents, proceed with caution.

 

For the Natural Beauty

Kuumba Made Persian Garden Fragrance Oil 14.7ml ($25.20)

Notes: Exotic Floral Notes

Longevity: 10-14 hours

Sillage: Moderate

Fragrance oils are your best bet for the natural beauties out there, as they’re generally much lighter and less harsh for sensitive skin.

I’ve been wearing this every now and then for around a year, and every time I do, I get complimented.

It’s a neutral-sweet scent with a unique, exotic undertone- but it’s still very subtle and not obnoxious.

Unfortunately, it isn’t available in store in Australia- but take my word for it… it’s absolutely brilliant.

 

The ‘First Perfume’

One Direction ‘Our Moment’ EDP 50mL ($27.50)

Top: Pink Grapefruit, Forest Fruits, Red Currant

Middle: Freesia, Jasmine, Frangipani

Base: Woodsy Notes, Patchouli, Musk

Longevity: 4-8 hours

Sillage: Light

Now, before you call out my fangirl ways, I am not recommending this just because I happen to (still) love One Direction- this is genuinely a very well made fragrance.

It’s soft, fruity and light, but it still has a nice warm undertone that lasts a decent amount of time. I don’t wear it very much anymore, but from the age of 15-18, this was my go-to.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for adults as its tone is very youthful (unless your giftee is into this sort of scent), but it would make the perfect first fragrance for any younger teen.

 

For the Romantic

Vera Wang ‘Princess’ EDT 100ml ($49)

Top: Apricot, Mandarin Orange, Apple, Water Lily

Middle: Tuberose, Guava, Dark Chocolate, Tiare Flower

Base: Amber, Vanilla, Woodsy Notes

Longevity: 4-8 hours

Sillage: Light

If your giftee is a bit of a hopeless romantic, Vera Wang’s cult classic ‘Princess’ instantly comes to mind.

This scent is fruity and sweet in a ‘high-end patisserie’ rather than a ‘teeth-eroding sugary’ kind of way, without being completely cliché.

The sillage is also fairly light and subtle, so if your romantic is also a bit on the shy side, this is an excellent choice.

 

For the BOSS

Chanel ‘Chance’ EDT 60mL ($139)

Top: Pineapple, Iris, Patchouli, Pink Pepper, Hiacynth

Middle: Jasmine, Lemon, Rose

Base: Musk, Patchouli, Vanilla, Vetiver

Longevity: 10-14 hours

Sillage: Moderate-High

Chance was my first ‘big girl’ perfume and I don’t think I could ever be without it for a special occasion.

This is NOT a fragrance for the faint-hearted- it’s confident, and it demands to be noticed.

Chance outlasts many of my other fragrances (which is especially impressive considering it’s only an EDT), and the sillage is also powerful, but not overwhelming.

If your giftee is a proper independent BOSS lady, Chance should (scratch that, will) take a seat on your shortlist.

NOTE: This particular fragrance comes in a variety sizes, but I highly recommend checking out the ‘twist and spray’ version, as it’s super easy to take with you on the go, and you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

 

For the Lady

Estee Lauder ‘Modern Muse Nuit’ EDP 50ml ($145)

Top: Mandarin Orange, Cassis

Middle: Jasmine, Chinese Jasmine, Chamomile, Heliotrope

Base: Sandalwood, Patchouli, Amber, Musk, Tonka Bean, Madagascar Vanilla

Longevity: 8-10 hours

Sillage: Moderate

Modern Muse Nuit is a much sweeter, less intense version of Chance.

Again, it’s extremely confident, but rather than yelling ‘YO! LISTEN TO ME!’, it elegantly taps the side of a Tiffany & Co champagne flute with a cheeky smile.

I would not recommend this scent for teens or very young adults (I sometimes feel a little bit unworthy when I wear it), but it’s perfect for the elegant lady in your life.

 

For the Flirt

Jimmy Choo ‘Illicit’ EDP 100ml ($155)

Top: Ginger, Bitter Orange

Middle: Rose, Jasmine Sambac, Orange Blossom

Base: Amber, Honey, Sandalwood, Caramel, Cashmere Wood, Vanilla

Longevity: 8-10 hours

Sillage: Moderate-high

Illicit has been my signature scent for over two years, and during that time, I’ve received countless compliments from both men and women.

Illicit is seriously hypnotic. It’s warm, very sweet and comforting, with a very upbeat, zesty kick which I absolutely cannot get enough of.

It’s highly underrated and not a common scent, but once it inevitably captures you, you won’t want to escape.

 

For the Trendsetter

Thierry Mugler ‘Alien’ EDP 30ml ($112)

Top: Jasmine

Middle: Woodsy Notes

Base: Amber

Longevity: 12-24 hours

Sillage: High-INSANE

Alien is my newest discovery, and of all the fragrances I’ve shown you today, it’s definitely the most unique.

I have never smelled anything even remotely similar to this, and if you don’t want to spend the money on it, I suggest you stay far FAR away- because once you do smell it, you will take it home.

Like Illicit, this scent is hypnotic, but in a completely different way. It’s iconic; if someone walks past you wearing it, you KNOW it’s Alien.

It’s incredibly strong, and has been known to last for multiple days on some people- the quality is truly out of this world (hence the name, I guess).

If you have a young trendsetter in your life, look no further.

If you end up buying this for yourself, prepare for infinite compliments and endless longing looks.

 

For the Woman

Chanel ‘Coco Mademoiselle’ EDP 50ml ($164)

Top: Orange, Mandarin Orange, Orange Blossom, Bergamot

Middle: Mimosa, Jasmine, Turkish Rose, Ylang-Ylang

Base: Tonka Bean, Patchouli, Opoponax, Vanilla, Vetiver, White Musk

Longevity: 10-14 hours

Sillage: Moderate-high

Coco Mademoiselle tops pretty much every bestseller list, and for good reason.

This is possibly the most perfectly crafted fragrance there has ever been. It is equally sweet, musky, fruity, and oriental in a way that brings out the absolute best in its wearer.

If there’s a WOMAN in your life who doesn’t have this, I can pretty much guarantee that she will end up loving it more than she loves you (not really, but it’s definitely possible).

Unfortunately, my mother has claimed this as her signature scent so I am forbidden to wear it (I’m not worthy of it anyway), and I have never been more disappointed in myself for not discovering this before her.

 

And there you go.

If you have chosen to continue on this adventure, I applaud you and wish you the best of luck.

Since I could talk about perfume all day every day, please tell me all about your personal favourites in the comments!

Until Thursday, 😉