I decided to put together my six favorite fragrances for holiday gifting including the perfect ones for the men in your life and the best choices if you are on a budget (as you know, the mass market stores and drugstores have really diversified their fragrance selections in the past few years)! An 100 ml bottle of scent can easily last more than a year even used every day so it is always the perfect gift!
Gucci “knocks it out of the ballpark” with every new fragrance that they come up with. Every EDP is strong and sexy–they do not know how to make a low key fragrance and that is a good thing! When they get into florals, you can smell each flower used and every fragrance has stunning of bottles. Did I fail to mention that Gucci fragrances are amongst the most long lasting on the market and that you only need to use a little to pack a lot of punch? I am wearing Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia right now and I feel like I’m lying in a firld of flowers that is next to a fruit orchard. The pink bottle feature the famous Gucci floral pattern of the 70s which they used on a lot of handbags back then and now have brought it into the clothing and accessories like scarves. Anyway, the top note here is White Gardenia, the middle note is Jasmine and the bottom note Pear Blossom so you know you cannot go wrong. Order it here ($138 for 100 ml): Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia.
I already featured the three Good Kind Pure fragrances in my “best of beauty” holiday gift guide but I want to feature them here because they are the perfect budget fragrances and you can buy them in most drug store chain stores! They are perfect for ladies who like their fragrances made as naturally as possible but they last longer than other natural scents on the market at any price point! The Good Kind Pure fragrance collection includes Wild Peony, a vibrant floral fragrance that contains notes of peony and grapefruit against sandalwood and tonka; Vanilla Ginger, a rich gourmand fragrance that is laced with notes of Casablanca lily and warm vanilla; and Iris Petals, a woody floral fragrance that features iris petal and nectarine blossom notes, as well as a warm background of fig and amber woods. All three fragrances are in an eau de toilette formulation that retails for $20 and in a fine fragrance mist for $11. There are several great gift sets and well as individual bottles at CVS.com and Walgreens.com (some are on sale as we go to press), so do a search of Good Kind Fragrances on both those sites. Here is a link to order the Peony mist at CVS: Good Kind Pure Wild Peony Mist.
It’s no secret that Burberry Hero has been praised in the press and has wound up nominated for lots of men’s fragrance awards. It’s “woody and spicy” taken to the next level. The masculine fragrance is topped off with sparkling bergamot and invigorated with juniper and black pepper, then it is deepened with a heart of warm cedarwood of three distinct origins–Virginia, the Atlas Mountains and the Himalayas. The bottle has an angular shape and is strong and modern. It really is something out of the ordinary and makes a statement. I know that Hero is made for men, but the scent is so addicting that I wear it myself–I just adore the peppery kick that it possesses. This is considered a layerable fragrance but I like it on its own. One spritz of Hero lasts for hours, by the way. Price is $99 for 100 ml and it is available at fine department stores everywhere. You can check out the whole Hero collection and order it here: Burberry Hero.
I have always felt that Calvin Klein came up with innovative fragrances and seems to constantly have a “hit” for men on their hands annually. Calvin Klein Defy EDT is a fresh, masculine and addictive fragrance which creates the perfect contrast between invigorating freshness and woodiness. It is designed for the modern man who defies boundaries (thus the name) and reveals to all his authentic nature and contrasts. Defy has a robust, earthy vetiver oil–responsibly sourced in Haiti–at its core which then connects with a rich, seductive base of amber notes. This men’s fragrance possesses a citrus blend that highlights crisp bergamot and fresh lavender absolute. If it sounds unusual, it truly is. It has a lot going on but still it is light and fresh. This is another men’s fragrance that I have enjoyed wearing lately. It is priced at $88 for 100 ml: Calvin Klein Defy EDT.
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette is an ultimate crowd pleaser when it comes to women’s fragrances; it appeals to women of all ages and was a hit immediately after its release in 2007. It’s original signature fresh and feminine fragrance features top notes of wild strawberry, heart notes of violet petals, and base notes of gardenia and jasmine. The white accords of birch and cedar wood add intensity. The truly unique bottle design features a luxurious block of weighted, clear glass topped with a playful scattering of daisies that appear to bloom from the rounded gold cap. There have been many versions of Daisy created and they are all lovely but nothing beats the groundbreaking original. Daisy is the captivating creation of master perfumer Alberto Morillas and to me, the Jasmine in Daisy is the note that stands out the most although fragrance experts might argue with me on that point! Always elegant, always enchanting but not too serious, Daisy is a sparkling floral bouquet, spirited and fresh, wrapped in comfort and warmth. You can order a 100 ml bottle for $108 here: Marc Jacobs Daisy EDT.
Chloé Eau de Parfum Naturelle is a super floral perfume for women, connecting the strength and spontaneity of nature with that of the free-spirited Chloé girl who lives in harmony with her environment. Chloe EDP Naturelle’s woody organic rose soothes and awakens the spirit but hand picked rose is the superstar ingredient of this fragrance, opening the scent with an airy and feminine aura accentuated by Moroccan neroli. Fresh and delicate cedrat essence mingles with green, sparkling black currant for an assertive spirit, while base notes of cedar essence add a remarkable woody facet. Sensual mimosa highlights the scent’s round character and elevates the floral middle notes. This super feminine scent is unforgettable and many online reviewers have said that it is light and summer and “that it can bring summer to any other season that you are wearing it.” It is available at all fine department store You can order it here at $135 for 100 ml: Chloe EDP Naturelle.
By now you probably know that Diesel makes some of the sexiest men’s fragrances out on the market and they are priced reasonably to boot. The latest one in the popular “Brave” series is Sound Of The Brave. This vibrant freestyle men’s fragrance opens with a strong mix of spices, with a heart of bison grass added to the mix. An attractive base of ambery wood and musk brings the winning bottom notes to this powerful composition. I smell some grapefruit and lemon in the mix as well! Your man will love the iconic clenched fist bottle which looks like a modern work of art that he will be proud to display! Priced at $57 for a 1.7 ounce bottle, you can get it at Diesel stores as well as Macy’s and other fine department stores or order on this link: DIESEL SOUND OF THE BRAVE EDT.
Yes I Am Glorious EDP is a radiant and sparkling mix of peach nectar and a bouquet of white flowers, highlighted with the petals of bright magnolias and then finished off with the highly opposite scents of a milkshake accord and pure woods. I love a crazy mix of fruit, flowers and woods in women’s fragrances, and this one does not disappoint. It appeals to all age groups and is truly unforgettable and rebellious in nature. (Trust me when I say that it does not smell like any fragrance that you have tried before!) This is a fragrance you can find anywhere from Walgreens to Lord & Taylor at under $30 for one ounce and rarely do you get this level of quality at this price point! Try the other fragrances in the Cacharel Yes I Am series as well. The best price that we found for the one ounce bottle was here on Amazon and 1.7 ounce bottles are available as well: Yes I Am.
This past November, the creative “noses” that work for Vince Camuto come up with Floreale, a 10th-anniversary, limited-edition scent that embodies the happiness and playful spirit of the lady who wears it. You’ll fall in love with the notes of bergamot and vanilla but there is a pink pepper middle note to make it truly unique and different! Many reviewers online have said that it is hard to get a great floral and vanilla combo scent and that Floreale is the best one that they have ever tried! When I put it on my neck and wrists, I notice that it lasts about eight hours and that it has a nice powdery finish. Macy’s has an unprecedented amount of five star reviews on Floreale (they are approaching 250 as we go to press). This amazing scent is available at fine department stores everywhere but you can order the 3.4 ounce EDP for $90 right here on the Vince Camuto official site: Vince Camuto Floreal.
