Those who love their scents know that if you love scents, you really love them, to the point where you’d spend hours researching online, make the effort of heading over to the store for a whiff of the chosen one, and then spraying it on your skin to get a feel of the dry-down before committing to that beloved bottle. If you know someone this obsessed, know that they won’t mind the surprise of a new unchartered scent too — so here’s where you should start. Pick from luscious limited editions, iconic ones dressed up for the festive season, discovery sets, as well as luxurious room diffusers and scented candles so their homes smell just as divine.
L – R — Jo Malone Midnight Musk & Amber Cologne, $240 (100ml) | Tory Burch Essence of Dreams Divine Moon, $175 (90ml) | Byredo Eyes Closed Eau de Parfum, $414 (100ml) | Maison Crivelli Papyrus Moléculaire, $311 (100ml).
If you know exactly what they like, you might as well spring for these full-sized editions of these exquisite scents. Jo Malone London’s seasonal special brings together an entrancing sensual musk and warm amber; Tory Burch’s is an inspiring number that brings about a sense of peace and serenity, thanks to an alluring Lady of the Night flower and notes of honey and citrus; while Byredo’s Eyes Closed imagines a world of connection with spicy cinnamon and cardamom, followed by orris butter, ginger and carrot.
As for the new-to-Singapore contemporary fragrance brand Maison Crivelli, expect the most unexpected and original scents that centre about specific memories of founder Thibaud Crivelli. Papyrus Moléculaire, for instance, is spicy, woody and powdery all at once, and captures the time he was with a group of tattooed women smoking cigars. From sensual powdery wood to tobacco leaves and a hint of leather, the scent profile is so accurate that we can imagine ourselves in that exact scenario too.
L – R — Guerlain Oud Nude EDP, $520 (100ml) | Dior Fragrance Discovery Set – Limited Edition, $335 | Penhaligon’s Leading Ladies Festive Set, $80 | Christian Louboutin Beauty Loubiworld Miniature Set, $238.
Part of Guerlain‘s L’Art & La Matière collection of premium fragrances, Oud Nude is a sensual and luminous scent that shows off skin-soft oud wood paired with woody ambery notes, a raspberry accord, and complemented by Atlas cedarwood, soft sandalwood and Madagascan vanilla. Continuing on the luxe train is this magical box of 10 La Collection Privée Christian Dior scents, a discovery kit of 7.5ml miniatures that include the Gris Dior, Sakura, Lucky, and Eden-Roc among other iconic scents.
Next, step right up to a World of Wonder with Penhaligon’s holiday goodies, including this showstopping set of women’s fragrance miniatures, consisting of The Favourite, Elisabethan Rose and the recently-concocted citrus-aromatic Luna scent. The enchantment continues over at Christian Louboutin Beauty, where three of the scents from the Loubiworld Intense fragrance collection are housed in a luxurious glossy red box reminiscent of those famous red-soled high heels.
L – R — Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace Scented Candle, $77 (165g) | Maison Francis Kurkdjian Mon Beau Sapin Scented Candle, $128 (180g) | Trudon Christmas Scented Candle – Fir, $185 (270g) | Acqua di Parma Bosco Holiday Diffuser, $168 (180ml).
Warm and inviting is the way to go during the holidays, and here’s a scented candle that lives up to that dream. Maison Margiela’s ‘By The Fireplace’ imagines a wintery evening by the chimney, hence the mix of cashmeran and clove oil for the sensation of burning wood, with a touch of traditional roasted chestnuts as well. For Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s trio of holiday candles, these are based off childhood memories, and include yummy gingerbread or apple toffee scents, along with Mon beau Sapin, an exquisite pine scent that feels like you’re taking a winter stroll in a snowy forest.
More Christmassy scents await with Trudon’s fir-scented candle, which brings together hints of myrrh and incense absolute with Siberian pine and fir tree, while its vessel is also decorated with festive charms for the season. And for those who’d like their house smelling fresh without the fire hazard, there’s always diffusers. Acqua di Parma’s seasonal exclusive Bosco scent is fresh and green, where frosted pine needles blend with invigorating eucalyptus and contrasting notes of clove for warmth. Its glass jar and box also feature a unique print inspired by a Florentine artisanal technique, a fitting design for the Italian fragrance house.
L – R — Dior Beauty J’adore Set – Limited Edition, $305 | FLOWER BY KENZO Eau De Parfum, $157 (50ml) | Le Labo Discovery Set 3 x 5ml, $90 | Ferragamo Signorina Eau de Parfum Holiday 2022 Edition, $156 (50ml).
This one’s a scent you can’t go wrong with, wrapped in a constellations-inspired box created by artist Pietro Ruffo. Known for its sensual floral notes of ylang-ylang, rose and jasmine, the J’adore Eau de Parfum is an icon of the house, and available as a full-sized 100ml EDP, Lait Sublime body milk, and 5ml fragrance miniature that faithfully reproduces the original bottle’s slender curves. Lady luck will be on your giftee’s side with KENZO’s Kokeshi collection, modelled after the traditional Japanese paper mâché lucky charm. The brand’s iconic FLOWER BY KENZO EDP is now nestled inside a wooden kimono-clad Kokeshi, which can then be reused as a tea box.
Over at Le Labo, they’ve set aside three of their beloved fragrances from their Classic Collection, which includes Another 13, Santal 33, & Thé Noir 29. The former is an underrated clean scent of ambroxyde, musk, jasmine and moss, while the latter is an addictive black tea fragrance that embraces the light of bergamot, fig, and bay leaves as much as the depth of cedarwood, vetiver, and musk. Then, there’s the holiday edition of the Ferragamo Signorina Eau de Parfum, exquisite in white, with a snow-white glass flacon that’s topped with a silver version of their signature Vara Bow. The scent itself is an elegant combination of jasmine and panacotta with vibrant pink pepper, rose, and peony, followed by subtle patchouli and musk. 
L – R — YSL Beauty LIBRE EDP 50ml Holiday Set, $180 | Burberry Her Eau de Parfum Set, $265 | Tom Ford Private Blend Rose Prick Eau de Parfum Set, $635 | Givenchy Beauty L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Gift Set, $169.
Dressed in gold, it doesn’t get more glamorous than this YSL Beauty LIBRE set that highlights their rebellious masculine-feminine scent, inspired by the way Yves Saint Laurent reimagined the tuxedo for women. It combines rich Moroccan orange blossom with fresh lavender, while the jewel-like bottle itself is a work of art, expressing couture elegance via an asymmetric black cap and an oversized Cassandre logo. The universally-loved Burberry Her is also a no-brainer if you want to impress a friend, especially since it comes beautifully packaged in a metallic silver box that bears the signature TB monogram. Within lies a 100ml bottle of the Burberry Her EDP, a body lotion, and a 10ml spray that embodies the vibrant, fruity-floral fragrance, created by master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian.
Fans of the atypical Tom Ford Rose Prick scent will want to get their hands on this set, which combines a 50ml EDP bottle with a nifty travel spray. The fragrance is a bouquet of the absolute best rose breeds — Rose de Mai, Turkish and Bulgarian roses — infused with patchouli and spice and presented in a matte rose pink Tom Ford Private Blend bottle. You may pop by the new Givenchy Beauty boutique at Raffles City to check out the L’Interdit EDP too, a bold and sultry fragrance. Essentially a white floral scent comprised of orange blossom, jasmin and tuberose, unexpected dark notes of vetiver and patchouli take over, creating a chic and powerful ode to femininity.
L – R — Gucci Beauty Mini Coffret Set | Chloé Nomade Eau de Parfum 75ml Gift Set, $230 | Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette Gift Set, $195 | Valeur Absolue Elixir Vitalite, $171 (100ml).
This cute gift set just happens to be one of our favourite discoveries at the Gucci Beauty pop-up outside ION Orchard, where one would receive a welcome row of 4 miniature iconic Gucci scents, including the Flora Gorgeous Gardenia, Bloom, Guilty, and Flora Gorgeous Jasmine. For those who love anything Chloé, know that this year’s holiday set comes beautifully wrapped in a box featuring a frozen floral pattern that recalls English embroidery, while the free-spirited Chloé Nomade Eau de Parfum is ideal for those intrigued by oakmoss, sweet mirabelle plum and fresh freesia.
The Marc Jacobs Daisy is one of those perennial-favourite scents that everyone can appreciate, thanks to how it conveys effortless charm via fruity-floral notes of wild berries, white violets, velvety jasmine and sandalwood. This set is extra worth it as it’s paired with a body lotion and travel spray. If you know a friend who’s always carrying around crystals for good luck or to absorb negative energy, introduce them to the range of perfumes from Valeur Absolue, each containing semi-precious stones within the bottle to amplify positive vibes. Vitalite is a floral cypress scent that’s lively and joyful, and contains green Peridot semi-precious stones to strengthen one’s vitality.
ALL ITEMS AVAILABLE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE BOUTIQUES, COUNTERS, AND ONLINE AT THE LINKS PROVIDED.
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