Tried and tested

Give the gift of fine fragrance this holiday season

Last Updated: 05/11/2021

Take the guesswork out of choosing perfect {perfumes} with our edit of cult favourites to please every stylish woman and discerning gentleman you need to buy for – it’s sure to hit all of the right notes…

{For a man about town}

Cheap smells are not for this dapper dandy, whose suit is tailored and whose brogues are bespoke. No, it’s all about the details for this man who moisturises and his scent must be as subtle as his Hermes socks are snazzy. Step forward Escentric Molecules’ {Molecule 01}, which comprises just one fragrance molecule – Iso E Super – which magically melds with his own pheremones to enhance his powers of attraction. Think: ‘the lynx effect’ for more sophisticated gentlefolk. It’s also unisex so you’re at liberty to ‘borrow’ his bottle…

{For free-spirited friends}

If your wavy-haired friend is consistently planning their next trip to somewhere laid-back and beachy, bring the summer to her with Sol de Janeiro’s {Sol Cheirosa ’62 Eau De Parfum}. It blends notes of caramel, pistachio and vanilla along with a floral note of jasmine and every spritz will transport you to the sun-soaked beaches of Rio. Housed in a sun-soaked golden bottle, the packaging embodies the effect of the sun and will help dark, winter days feel a little lighter and warmer.

{For a hopeless romantic}

Perfect for les ingénues, Laura Mercier’s {Eau de Lune Eau de Parfum} has a clean, uplifting freshness that is dreamy and ethereal – ideal for those whose noses you’ll find buried in the latest romance novel – just think of pink satin distilled into scent and you’ll have an idea of this feminine blend of white flowers, fresh mandarin, ylang-ylang and powder violet. Conjuring the hopefulness of Frank Sinatra crooning Berkeley Square *sigh*, it’s sure to delight eternal optimists whose hearts melt over mushy happy endings.

{For a winter baby}

Perfect for those already thinkingg of Christmas come October and decorating their Christmas tree in early November, Maison Margiela’s {Replica By The Fireplace Eau De Toilette} is a snapshot in time – a bottled memory of ‘burning wood and chestnut’, made with fruity, spicy, sharp top notes of pink pepper, orange flower petals and clove oil. Like a pile of fresh firewood, the scent boasts earthy, heady middle notes of chestnut accord, gaïac wood oil and cade oil – balanced with sweet base notes of vanilla accord, Peru balsam and cashmeran, like toasted marshmallows in front of a dancing flame.

{For a tireless adventurer}

Inspired by the Texan desert city after which it takes its name, Memo’s {Marfa} is a thing of beauty and a joy to wear. Capturing the breathtaking ‘big’ skies, the sun-warmed earth and heady, sweetly scented winds that carry notes of ylang ylang and cedarwood, this is the most perfect parfum for wide-eyed wanderers. A Georgia O’Keefe landscape made in fragrance, this daring, gender-neutral scent is made for those who love to step outside their comfort zone and walk on the wild side. Sexy and empowering, the complex blend inspires and emboldens… and, it looks exquisite on a well-dressed bathroom shelf.

{For an analogue bestie}

If your friend is obsessed with simpler times (think: old books, cassette tapes and film cameras) then we recommend reaching for D.S. & Durga’s {Bowmakers} perfume. A rich and warming woody scent, it’s a love story to the luxuriance of fine instruments carved from rich mahogany to burled maple. With top, opening notes of mahogany and violin varnish that lead to a heart of maplewood and cypress before finishing with notes of spiced tree resin, cedar and moss that linger on skin long after it’s spritzed, this scent will garner a host of compliments and enquiries as to “what perfume are you wearing?”…

{For a seventies siren}

If your friend feels at home in a floor-sweeping jumpsuit and towering platforms, Charlotte Tilbury’s {Scent of a Dream} is ideal for all disco divas. Unapologetically sexy, this hedonistic blend is spellbinding – boasting a bold ‘fleurotic’ heart and ‘psychoactive’ base of hedione, Iso E Super and ambroxan, this ensures she’ll be belle of the ball. Studio 54-esque, Charlotte cites supermodel Kate Moss as her muse, so tell your friend to mist this liberally, lace her lids with glitter and prepare to dominate the nearest dancefloor…

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Emmie Thornhill

Emmie Thornhill

Deputy Content Editor

Emmie is Cult Beauty’s Deputy Content Editor. Her love of skin care began in primary school when she first learned the term “hormonal acne” and has been in a love-hate relationship with tea tree oil ever since. She lives in East London – where you can normally find her baking, tending to her plant jungle or planning her next tattoo or hair cut/colour appointment – and is known to start DMCs with you about your birth chart placements, the importance of wearing SPF every day and the difference between a vagina and vulva.