Perfume is one of the most popular and well received gifts at any time of the year, but it’s also something that can be difficult for many to get right. I’m a massive perfume lover (something I seem to spend way too much money on too!!) so when it comes to purchasing for others I try to decipher the main scents that stand out in the typical fragrances the person might wear. For example some people prefer sweet tones over florals or would be more inclined to wear musk and cedar tones. The perfumes I’ve chosen today are for the last minute gift guiders who are looking for a popular classic or new on the fragrance scene. I’ve categorised them all and I’ve tried to ensure that all choices are middle of the road without being too overpowering. All of the below can be found easily in all major department stores with large fragrance sections such as Selfridges, Brown Thomas, Debenhams, Macys, House of Fraser and Bloomingdales etc.
The Safety Purchase: Fresh and light
The Girl by Tommy Hilfiger / Emporio Armani for her / Dolce And Gabbana Light Blue
For a “safe” purchase, I always find light airy fresh fragrances to be a real winner particular if you don’t know the kind of perfume scents the person tends to like. My top three would be The Girl by Tommy Hilfiger which is their latest fragrance, the classic Emporio Armani for women ( I find their gift sets to be brilliant value around Christmas time) and the trusted Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue.
All three have soft neutral tones, something that would be ideal for the kind of woman who likes light and airy fresh scents without any fuss. Both Emporio Armani and Light Blue would be great all round for a broad age ranges, and Tommy Hilfiger aimed at the 17 -30 age range.
Oh So Sweet
Mon Paris from YSL, Lancome’s La Vie Est Belle and Michael Kors Wonderlust all share beautifully fresh sweet scents without being overpowering. If you follow me on Snapchat you’ll see La Vie Est Belle is my perfume essential for the past two years. I find the original La Vie Est Belle to be my favourite as its subtle and sweet while keeping its scent throughout the day. YSL Mon Paris I reviewed during the year which you can find here, and Wonderlust by Michael Kors was released towards the end of this year which is a beautiful floral scent with more of a spiced kick to it. For those who prefer sweet tones these are really wonderful finds. Note: If you are picking up La Vie Est Belle in particular, there are actually several scents under the same name but with different bottle packaging so be extra sure when choosing – ( I always go for the original).
The floral lover
Tom Ford Black Orchid / Estee Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge / Clarins Eau Des Jardins / Marc Jacobs Daisy Blush.
Picking floral tone perfumes can be tricky especially as the perfume scents in florals tend to become more prominent depending on a persons PH/ acidity level in their skin. These four I’ve picked are middle of the road floral fragrances so that whether they become stronger or lighter on a persons skin they would still be elegant, confident but not over the top. Note: Clarins Eau Des Jardins is difficult to come across in the Winter months. Look to Clarins stores in the likes of Debenhams, House of Fraser and Macys NYC.
Musk – Wood perfume notes:
For Musk’s, my key favourites would be Si by Giorgio Armani which is a new fragrance to the brand this year, then Calvin Klein Classic Euphoria and Bvlgari Jasmin Noir. All three have a beautiful modern feminine richness to them. They vary from floral musk to rich dry musk scents that will certainly please the lovers of this kind. Musk is a very prominent scent in perfumes so it’s always easy to acknowledge this scent if you are trying to decipher the perfume tastebuds for the person you are buying for. Lou. xx
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