Few things can compete with a well-worn fragrance when it comes to style and confidence. Some of the world’s greatest perfumers have found a way to turn natural scents into pure, unadulterated charisma, and when used right, these fragrances can have a profound effect on one’s presence in any situation. That’s the reason why fragrances are so reliable whenever Christmas rolls around. Your gift is dialling in one of the most under appreciated yet powerful statements anyone – man or woman – can make, whether that’s in the office or out on the town.
If you’ve chosen right, that fragrance is going to pay dividends for the wearer over the course of the next year and beyond. You just need to know what you’re working with and what’s worth paying attention to. To help, we’ve pulled together a thirteen of our favourite fragrances to give you a bit of a cheat sheet when it comes to winning the title of best-gift-giver this holiday season.
If you know a man who values one-and-done elegance and prefers a versatile scent to dominate any occasion, look to Creed Aventus For Men ($349) with its sensual, bold and distinctly masculine body built with primary notes of Italian bergamot, Calville Blanc apples, Juniper berries, roses, oak moss and ambergris.
Call in something just as pristine yet vastly different for her with Bond No. 9 Scent of Peace ($249) with its soft layers of blackcurrant, grapefruit, lily of the valley, musk and Virginia cedar. The sparkling, fresh and floral scent is full of enough zing to instantly lift the mood in any room.
If the art of seduction is more his domain, the sensual Tom Ford Black Orchid ($269.99) is a no-brainer with its show-stopping blend of patchouli, black plum, black truffle and bergamot, encased in a sleek fluted black glass bottle that’d add some theatre to his collection. It’s almost the opposite for the equally charming Tom Ford Jasmine Rouge ($329), moving with a graceful sensuality that’s perfect for her, built with floral and spicy notes like cinnamon, ginger, clary sage and vanilla.
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If classical and summer-minded sounds like the perfect gift then Montblanc Legend EDT ($69.99) is a sure shot with its gentle fougere accord blanketed by lavender, citrus, jasmine, rose and a punchy base of oak moss. The light, breezy profile of one of Montblanc’s finest fragrances is a safe, reliable choice.
If reliable yet a bit unexpected is more the vibe, Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme ($79.99) should be considered a closely-kept secret amongst fragrance connoisseurs. The long-lasting, immensely satisfying fragrance is one of those quintessential freshies you’d wear in summer with its tight profile of yuzu, cypress, coriander and clary sage. Yet the warmth and heaviness of the woods in the base notes, from the cinnamon bark and vetiver to musk and sandalwood, help position this men’s fragrance as a year-round charmer.
The vigorous and vibrant intimacy of Diptyque Vetyverio ($179) is for the woman who’s seen and done it all, presenting something new by dancing between masculine vetiver and softer, spicier notes like rose, grapefruit, bergamot and nutmeg. With a similar sense of pride and purpose, he’ll feel slick wearing the enigmatic Kilian Boys ($179) developed with waves of wood and spice underneath an unforgettable opening of Coca-Cola and lime.
Formidable and uncompromising, Amouage Epic Man ($259) fits the profile for that super masculine, heady fragrance that trails on well into the night, ideal for the guy who holds no punches. On the same side of the coin is Amouage Epic Woman ($259), angling a different sense of swagger with Damask rose, jasmine, orris and sandalwood.
Frederic Malle French Lover ($229) is a masterpiece from one of Europe’s finest perfumers, presenting him with a powerful and spicy fragrance that’s built around hardy accords of cedar wood and vetiver and softened with angelica and incense. Byredo Black Saffron ($209) is a touch of spice for women whose tastes lust after the exotic, the warm and the bright. If she’s someone who values saying more without saying anything at all then she’ll love this big, exotic scent.
Is he the type of guy you’d usually from at some ritzy beach club on the Amalfi Coast or cruising the Mediterranean on a private yacht? Acqua di Parma Colonia Club ($129) has that sense of time and place caked into its relentlessly fresh yet charmingly woody profile worked with notes like bergamot, neroli and lemon on the top and Haitian vetiver, ambergris and musk on the base.
This article is sponsored by Chemist Warehouse. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Boss Hunting.
