It’s that time of year where we all start to put together our Christmas wish lists for Santa, or as I like to call him – ‘Nigel’. Being the perfume nuts that we are means that beloved family and friends can sometimes struggle to pick fragrances out as gifts for us, after all we’re a selective (read: ‘picky’) bunch by nature and nobody would want us to open up a gift that we would deem as unsuitable on the big day.
To mitigate the chances of a botched perfume purchase at Christmas I supply a perfume wish list to my partner and my father every year. The other members of my family family flatly refuses to buy me any perfume, stating that I have “too much” and it’s “bordering on an obsession”. Who knows what they’re smoking, but I can always rely on my dad and Nigel (if he’s in a good mood) to pick something from my carefully selected list.
Let’s take a look at what’s on my list this year!
This contemporary take on Shalimar has a wonderfully biting and bitter green edge that makes it very high fashion. Created in partnership with supreme fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin and Ben Gorham of Byredo, 1996 is a delicious and warm bundle of balsams that NEEDS to be on my winter scarf this December. £88 for 50ml @ Byredo.
I have been a devotee of Guerlain’s little black dress since it was first launched as a boutique exclusive in 2009. There’s just something wonderfully vivacious about it that one cannot help but adore. The Extrait brings out the darker and smokier elements of the re-launched EDP and is most likely going to be the gift I give to myself this Christmas. £67.20 for 7.5ml @ Escentual.
Serge’s famous ode to amber is one that I’ve always admired but never loved however, at a recent Perfume Lovers London event (an comprehensive guide to the world of the Oriental) something between Ambre Sultan and I just clicked. It’s now sitting near the top of my list as another ‘warm, cosy scent for winter’. £58.65 for 50ml @ Escentual.
This one may not be as outrageous as other perfumes lurking within the cages at Etat Libre d’Orange but that does not mean it is without interest. In fact there is something rather captivating about the iris-popcorn accord and burning rubble that makes La Fin du Monde destructive, if not wholly apocalyptic. It would make a welcome addition to my winter wardrobe. £59.50 for 50ml & £99 for 100ml @ Escentual.
Perfume can bring so much joy and no perfume has a more sunny disposition than Urara’s Tokyo Cafe. Wearing it is like drenching oneself in raspberry jam and rose petals with a few green stems thrown in for good measure. Happiness in a bottle. £40 for 30ml & £80 for 100ml @ 4160 Tuesdays.
Those of you who are regular readers will know that Traversée du Bosphore is one of my all-time favourite scents and therefore may question why it’s on my wish list when I must own a bottle already. Well I do own a bottle but unfortunately it seems that L’Artisan are looking to ‘shelve’ this wonderful gem and therefore I must hoard as much as possible!
Join the Discussion!
What’s on your Christmas wish list dear readers? Are you lusting over some winter warmers or are you hoping that your loved ones will surprise you by splashing out on one of those big ticket items you’ve been gagging for?
Let me know in the comments box below! I’m off to eat mince pies and pretend that I don’t like listening to Michael Bublé Christmas songs…
Disclaimer
Image 1 via graindemusc.blogspot.com, guerlain.com, harveynichols.com and facebook.com [edited] Image 2 via parfuma.com. Image 3 via guerlain.com. Image 4 via harveynichols.com. Image 5 via facebook.com. Image 6 via thescentcritic.com. I write for Escentual as their fragrance expert/blogger and therefore am affiliated. Prices quoted here are the cheapest I’ve found not due to affiliation.
The Candy Perfume Boy 