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‘Tis the season of cocktail parties, catch-ups with old friends, and enjoying your favorite home-cooked dishes with your family. But aside from my jam-packed social calendar, the most stressful part of the holidays is gift shopping. Yes, I could grab a gift card for everyone on my list and call it a day, but in an age where everyone spends so much time in front of screens, I want to give my loved ones a tangible gift that feels unique to the recipient and their interests. And what’s more personal than fragrance?
As a beauty editor who’s been doing this for more than 10 years now, something I adore about fragrance is its range in scent and design. With so many scent categories, from gourmand to floral, and possible note combinations within each one, you’re bound to find a perfume for each person you plan on gifting this year. But while variety is the spice of life, in the case of fragrance, all of the options can be overwhelming.
So where to start? To help narrow down your choices, these perfumes at Sephora are my beauty editor-approved gorgeous scents to gift this holiday season.
For The Effortlessly Loving Mom
Throughout all of plot twists life has thrown your way, a mom is the best friend who’s been the one constant. And there’s no better time than the holidays to give her a token of appreciation. Fragrance makes a superb gift because it’s super personal. With so many niche scents made with unique cocktails of notes on the market, you’re bound to find one feels distinctly her.
Her
Classic, minimalist, feminine. If any of these adjectives (or a combination of them) describe your mom’s personal style, then Burberry Her will be a well-received gift. Created by renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, the blush pink bottle houses a fruit floral scent that expertly combines black currant, blueberry, raspberry, jasmine, violet, and white wood accord.
Burberry –Donna Born In Roma
If your mom name-drops all of the current season’s it bags when you casually bring up you’re in the market for a new one, a fashion-forward, avant-garde fragrance is right up her alley. It’s only fitting to pair her with Valentino’s haute couture-inspired Donna Born In Roma, a bold sweet floral meets smoky woods scent. The pink-tinted perfume housed in a studded bottle will also make a stylish addition to her medicine cabinet.
Valentino –Flora Gorgeous Gardenia
Whether or not your mom counts gardening among her hobbies, she’ll fall in love with this cheerful fruity fragrance from Gucci. And who could blame her? The bottle alone is a work of art, and the fragrance is elegant and timeless — something I always look for in a scent for mom.
Gucci –Ginger Biscuit Cologne
The scent of fresh ginger cookies makes me nostalgic for the holidays, one of the few times of the year my family is all together. Gift your mom the same warmth and coziness she feels while prepping her signature festive dessert with Jo Malone London’s limited edition Ginger Biscuit Cologne. Along with ginger, the fan-favorite fragrance combines notes of cinnamon, roasted hazelnut, vanilla, and tonka bean.
Jo Malone London –For Your Pop Culture Obsessed Sister
A guaranteed friend for life, you can always count on your sister to be up for a good time or to pick you up when you’re feeling down — or to fill you in on the latest celeb headlines. Show you know a little something about what’s trending in fragrance yourself by gifting her the most buzzed-about scents this holiday that you know she’ll love (and think about you every time she spritzes it on).
LOVENOTES Pink Woods
In my humble experience, all sisters love Ariana Grande. And who can blame them? Her vocal skills are mind-blowing, her songs are catchy, she has great style, and she has a fragrance line stacked with irresistible scents. Part of the LOVENOTES Collection, Pink Woods is a dreamy fresh floral that would make a great everyday perfume.
Ariana Grande –YUM PISTACHIO GELATO | 33
If your sister is always sharing tutorials and trends from #beautytok with you, she’s likely a KAYALI fan. The brand’s fragrances have built up a loyal following, thanks to many of them going viral on TikTok. The latest, Yum Pistachio Gelato 33, is a modern gourmand scent that channels the beloved Italian treat. Needless to say, it’s probably on your sister’s wishlist. So help her out, why don’t you?
KAYALI –Good Girl Blush
The cute exaggerated heel shape of the bottle makes Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl Blush giftable alone, but the classic floral notes are certified crowd-pleasers, too. Your sister will cherish it and proudly display it as decor in her room.
Carolina Herrera –For Your Chic Bestie
The one person who knows your BFF better than she knows herself is you, of course. Gifting your closest friend a fragrance that reflects her infectious personality and style (aka one she’ll love) is a gesture that symbolizes the strength of your bond.
Vanilla Sex
For the friend who is life the of the party, Tom Ford’s Vanilla Sex is an equally unforgettable fragrance. Sweet, glamorous, and captivating, it’s an irresistible mix of vanilla tincture, vanilla absolute, sandalwood.
Tom Ford –Paradoxe
If she’s into the Prada’s innovative designs and accessories, gift her a fragrance from the designer that’s shaped like its famous triangle logo. The amber floral juice inside is fresh, vibrant, and feminine.
Prada –Vanilla Bourbon
A spritz of NEST’s sweet and creamy cocktail-inspired perfume will be like a trip down memory lane, back to the late nights out in college early on in your friendship.
NEST New York –Princess
Independent, smart, strong, witty. Express what you love about your nearest and dearest friend through the power of fragrance. Princess contains warm and spicy notes of ginger, green tea, and marshmallow, which are intended to embody the spirit of a fierce personality. In other words, your BFF.
KILIAN Paris –A Little Treat For Yourself
A job promotion, buying an apartment, a cross country move — or manifesting all of it for the new year. Whatever the year ahead has in store, you deserve a little treat to inspire and reward your big moves. And what better way than a new fragrance to mark the occasion?
Glossier You
The 2024 version of a signature fragrance is actually layering multiple to create a unique custom scent. However, this requires a lot of trial and error to land on just the right combination. As an alternative, I recommend Glossier You. Described as a “skin enhancer” by the internet-favorite beauty brand, it interacts with each wearer’s body chemistry so the spicy, woodsy, and musky notes smell slightly different on everyone.
Glossier –‘REPLICA’ Afternoon Delight
If you’re someone who absolutely must have a little 3 p.m. sweet treat to get through the workday, may I suggest Maison Margiela’s dessert-inspired Replica fragrance? With notes of Madagascar vanilla, madeleine accord, and sandalwood, the decadent scent is the next best thing to your favorite pastry from a French bakery.
Maison Margiela –Black Opium Over Red
Meet your go-to fragrance to wear when holiday revelry is on the evening’s agenda. This addition to YSL’s beloved Black Optimum range is a sweet and warm blend of cherry accord, coffee accord, and vanilla infusion. The decadent gourmand draws you in — and lasts until dawn. Once the season’s festivities are over, it’ll be perfect for nights out in the year to come.
Yves Saint Laurent –Joyphoria
We could all use a little mood-booster from time to time, which is where Charlotte Tilbury’s Joyphoria comes into play. The bright, sunny notes of ylang-ylang, neroli oil, and solar vanilla instatly transport you to your happy place, whether that’s a sunny beach or posted up on your coach with a cozy throw blanket. Bonus points for the vintage-inspired gold bottle. It’ll look gorgeous prominently displayed on your vanity.
Charlotte Tilbury –For The One Who’s Impossible To Shop For
From a distant, twice-removed cousin to a new co-worker, there’s always that one wild card on your gift shopping list every year. That’s where a gift set stacked with heavy-hitter designer fragrances comes into play. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, they’ll discover a new favorite scent — or two.
Perfume Sampler Set
Why stick with a signature scent when you can have an entire perfume wardrobe at your disposal? This set of 18 trial-size Sephora best-sellers allow you to easily switch up your fragrance based on your mood. What’s more, layering scents is a huge TikTok trend, and with this range of gourmand, citrus, floral, and spicy perfumes at your disposal, mixing and matching has never been easier.
Sephora Favorites –
