I've never really asked for perfume for Christmas as I think it is expensive and I wouldn't want anyone to feel like they had to spend that much money on me so I tend to buy it for myself. Not only that but perfume is one of my favourite things to test so I am actually really picky when it comes to fragrance. I change my perfume seasonally and during Winter I like something slightly warmer so I thought I would write a post on my top fragrances for this time of year which doubles as a post about perfumes that would potentially make a good gift, if you are really stuck for ideas. I've tried to include brands which are more widely available and brands that most people would know. At some point I have tested or owned all of these fragrances so I can definitely recommend all of these scents.
Jo Malone London - Pomegranate Noir
Really I think anything from Jo Malone London is a good present as it all smells amazing and it is wrapped beautifully. However there is a particular scent I love for Christmas which is Pomegranate Noir. Pomegranate Noir is not my favourite Jo Malone London scent but as soon as December hits Pomengranate Noir is all I wear. It is literally the perfect Winter scent. Much like the candle scents that I love (which I spoke about on Monday Top Picks for Christmas Candles,) I love a spiced fruit scent for my Winter perfume. Now, Pomegranate Noir is not spiced orange but it has a red berry note which mingles with the warm spices. Even though Cinnamon and Clove are not one of the main notes in this scent, they are one of the main notes that I smell whenever I smell this perfume. The top note in this scent is Pomegranate, the heart note is Casablanca Lily and the base note is Guiacwood. The final two notes do not mean much to me but if you were to imagine a Christmas scent this would be it.
Personally I favour the home products in this scent much more than the perfume but it is perfect for this time of year. Personally I would recommend going for the smaller size because I only wear this in Winter and I have been using the same 100ml bottle for the past 3 years. As I said, anything from Jo Malone London is a treat but Pomegranate Noir really sums up Christmas for me.
Givenchy - L'Interdit
When I was first sent the sample of Givenchy L'Interdit from the Glamour Beauty Club, I thought it had that same spicy, sexy element to the scent that Pomegranate Noir has but it is much sweeter. I thought this would be a great date night perfume and I stand buy that and for that reason I think this would make an amazing Christmas gift.
Much like Pomegranate Noir, L'Interdit has a red berry top note, mainly composed of Cherry, but it also has Bergamot and Mandarin which keep it quite fresh. The heart note is made up of strong white florals like Tuberose and Orange Blossom. Whilst the base note is a juxtaposition of sweet and woody: it contains, Caramel, Patchouli, Vanilla and Vetiver. It definitely has a similar concept to Pomegranate Noir but it is a lot sweeter, I think the packaging for this perfume is simplistic but sophisticated. You can get this in 3 different sizes and the prices range from £51-£83.50 so if you were to buy it as a gift it depends on how much you like the person. I did do a more extensive review on this when I first received the sample which I will link that here: Glamour Beauty Club: Givenchy Sample if you are interested in this perfume.
Chanel - Gabrielle
Another fragrance that I have had a sample of is Chanel Gabrielle. I wanted to include something that was slightly different to the rest of the fragrances and this is it. The rest of the scents are super spicy and sensual whereas Gabrielle is slightly more fresh and I would probably say more of an Autumn scent. The top note is very citrus based which gives it that fresh element. The heart note of this perfume is a combination of 4 white florals which are: Tuberose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine and Orange Blossom. This definitely gives the strength to the scent but they all balance themselves out. The base note is woody and rich. Unlike the rest of the scents this doesn't contain any really sweet notes, nor red berries.
Sometimes I think scent can be pictured within colour and I guess brands think this way too as they use bold colours in the adverts. If I pictured it in colours I would say Chanel Gabrielle was a warm amber colour and both Pomegranate Noir and L'Interdit would be a deep red. I don't know if that helps to visualise what the scents are like but in my mind I get it.
A Chanel scent is a a real treat as they are so freaking expensive but I think a lot of Chanel scents are over done. If anyone walks past you with Coco Mademoiselle or No5 you instantly know what it is and I feel like the same can now be said for all of the Chance perfumes but Gabrielle has that classic Chanel essence but it is slightly more unusual. I have actually bought my best friend a Chanel perfume for her Birthday (which is just before Christmas) and very kindly the women on the counter wrapped it for me and the Christmas packaging is beautiful, it is this beautiful cherry red wrapping paper with a Chanel ribbon perfectly placed across the front. The wrapping really makes a statement much like a Chanel perfume.
YSL - Black Opium
I feel like Black Opium is a classic Christmas fragrance but it is one I've never owned until recently. As I had only really tried a sample before I thought I would try the Click & Go Pen as then I'm not committed to it but it is rather expensive. I paid £29 for only 2.5ml of product but it contains a concentrated gel rather than being a spray perfume so you do not need as much of it. I thought I would throw in a suggestion for any of my friends who are still struggling to find me a present. Opium was a classic fragrance that is still unbelievably popular with people between the ages of 40-50. Everyone seems to have used it and anyone who speaks of it says nothing can compare to it these days. For those of you who haven't heard of it, it was a classic perfume in the 80s and everyone went mad for it. Having never smelt it, I am not sure if this is a worthy title or if it is a glorification of a memory.
I can only assume Black Opium does not smell like the old one but I happen to actually quite like it. This isn't my top pick but I feel like it deserves it's place in this post. This scent has notes of: Pink Pepper, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Vanilla, Patchouli, Ceder and a strong amount of Coffee. This would technically be classed as a floriential scent but it definitely has similar vibes to Pomegranate Noir and L'Interdit. I would say this was slightly more smoky and you really do get the note of the coffee which can be polarising. The packaging for this scent is incredible and you can get some really good gift sets featuring this scent.
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Tom Ford - Anything
I absolutely adore Tom Ford scents and I really wish I could afford to buy myself more of them. I've left this until last because it is definitely a treat item. The Signature range which features Black Orchid is a little bit more reasonable at around £70 for a 50ml bottle but the Private Blend scents are bloody ridiculous at £162 each but the collection does house some of the most exquisite scents you will ever smell.
My top pick from the Signature range has to be Velvet Orchid, my standard going out fragrance which gets a lot of use at this time of year. It is rich and seductive but more feminine than Black Orchid. If you want to give yourself the feeling of being sexy, this is the scent to do it with. If you've got your eye on someone at your work Christmas party, this is the scent you should be wearing.
My top pick from the Private Blend collection is Soleil Blanc as I own it and love it but I feel like it is completely the wrong time of year for this scent. Instead I am going to say Vanille Fatale is my top pick for this time of year. It is a perfume I aspire to own but I simply can not afford it this close to Christmas, especially when I prefer to treat my loved one. Vanille Fatale, is a warm vanilla scent that is a combination of sexy and soft. I love the warming effect this scent has but it is also very deep. This would be the fragrance I would love for someone to treat me to at Christmas but I really do not see that happening at this price point.
As you can tell, this may have been more than 5 picks but I am counting Tom Ford as one big recommendation. I think fragrance is a powerful thing that can completely alter your mood and therefore your attitude and I like to use it as an extension of my wardrobe. Personally during Winter I want a perfume that is going to make me feel comforted and warm but that also gives me a bit of a confidence boost at the time of year when I feel like it suffers the most. These scents give me that feeling so if you are looking for a new perfume or looking for a gift, these are my picks.
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