My Top Holiday Fragrances

 

Christmas is almost over when I am writing this, but there will surely be multiple post-gatherings and New Year parties to sport these beautiful winter gourmands. Here comes a list of the most mouth-watering, cosiest, most comforting and festive scents I am aware of and regularly wear myself. These are tried and tested both in terms of performance and appropriateness and I only have good things to say. Let’s go!

 

Jean-Paul Gaultier Classique (edt)

 

Related image

The fabulous Classique… My mother started wearing this last Christmas and now it has officially become a Christmas frag for me. Alas, I am truly sorry for that because it it is an absolute bomb of a scent. It is very unusual: the zingy  ginger in the opening makes you think it is going to be a fresh scent but nope! You are wrong. It slowly develops into a warm, ambery mix of spice, sandalwood and vanilla, without losing that initial zing. Gaultier named it Classique perhaps in the hope of it becoming a modern classic but also because it references some classic perfumes from the ’40s and ’50s: Chanel and early Dior, possibly the first Miss Dior, mimicking aldehydes without actually containing them. In the eye of your mind you see an elegant lady in her boudoir,  in lace stockings and silk lingerie, spritzing on some perfume to wow her sweetheart… Or to go to a Christmas party. Classique is a wonderfully warm and sensual fragrance that evokes bygone days – think Frank Sinatra’s Christmas songs – without feeling dated. It must be the spice that makes it a holiday one for me. Epic sillage and longevity and a gem to have in your collection!

 

Lancome La Nuit Tresor

Image result for la nuit tresor perfume

Ahh, if only Santa had dropped this into my stocking… That bottle. How beautiful is that. I remember binging the ad with the ever-gorgeous Penelope Cruz… Absolutely stunning. I love the romantic story behind it. If you do not own this yet, what are you waiting for!? It is essentially a very chocolate-y scent with the dominant notes of praline, caramel and lychee; there is some raspberry in the background and to me also a great dose of liquorice. I am generally not a fan of the latter which initially kept me at a distance, but the more I smell it the more I like it – and believe me, I have had a two-year courtship with this perfume, gone through numerous spritzes and testers and finally decided to get a bottle. It is very sweet but not in a slightly cloying, powdery way like its sisters La Vie Est Belle and Lady Million: white florals do that but here there the floral part consist of only rose and orchid. La Nuit Tresor is a full-on dark chocolate fruitchuli with amazing staying power and just perfect for this season of indulgence. Did I mention that the bottle was stunning?

 

Yves Saint Laurent Manifesto

Image result for ysl manifesto

This was actually my choice for this Christmas. I sprayed it on in Sephora the other day and realised this is the most suitable thing one could wear at Christmas. It has everything: a generous dose of powdery vanilla, lots of juicy blackcurrant, warm sandalwood and some jasmine. Manifesto is elegant and grown-up, yet vivacious. A perfect party scent and actually better than Armani Sí, which it bears quite a lot of resemblance to  with its blackcurrant (nectar) note.  Wear this with a nice dress and long dangling earrings. This is a feminine, dressy perfume that is ideal for snuggling up with your loved ones. I will try and get a mini or a decant as for me this will always be a Christmas fume I will not want to wear otherwise. But you do what you want – nobody said it is not office-appropriate!

 

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille

Related image

I ordered a generous decant some time in September and back then it did not wow me at all… Like, at all. It was too early in the year and too hot for that. Tobacco Vanille smells like, well, tobacco and vanilla. Not the gross kind of cigarette tobacco but like the good old leafy stuff Gandalf used to smoke – one that smells spicy and earthy and rich. The perfume also features tobacco blossom, pink pepper and dried fruits. In cold weather it has become absolutely addictive. Sweet, smokey, vanilla-y, a little bit boozy and just a tiny bit powdery. And it lasts forever! I know it retails at almost 150 euros/dollars per 50 ml so not cheap but one spray will see you through the day so it is an investment and far superior to many modern fruity florals. Tom Ford is pure class and excellent quality, always. This is a perfect scent for happy gatherings: I see fire in a fireplace, lots of candles, in the air there is the smell of all things nice: roast meat, cake and sweets, wine and liquor… ahh, I think I have to order another decant of this.

Mugler Angel

Related image

No holiday should go without. When I first smelled Angel, it reminded me the smell of old Christmas lights. You know, when you open a box you smell some burnt plastic that somehow feels sweet, almost caramel-ly. That is what Angel reminded me of. Of course, no coincidence that it happened around Christmas-time when I was looking for something extravagant to wear at the parties. Did not wear it back then; I decided to stick to my reliable Coco Mademoiselle… Angel is a hard case to crack, but if you are looking for something memorable and festive, this is it. Besides burnt caramel/plastic you are immediately greeted by a whiff of camphorous patchouli and vanilla and something I swear smells like melon but is actually pineapple. In about three hours some praline appears while the vanilla deepens, and the whole concoctions smells more and more alluring. This perfume, while being cozy and comforting, will make you the star of the event… Literally.

 

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire

Image result for la petite robe noir

Dark cherries, almonds, tea and some powder. All good things in one. I am a fan of the latest flanker, Black Perfecto, which is lighter and over-all more wearable, but nothing fits better in colder nights with mulled wine and a cracking fire than this little beauty. Actually, now that I mentioned this, LPRN does have a slightly boozy quality that brings to mind mulled wine. In the Nordic region we used to drink aromatic red wine with spices and a mix of nuts and raisins. Think almonds soaked in anise and cinnamon-flavoured wine. This perfume coincidentally contains both almonds and anise, also some liquorice (I don’t have a “thing” with liquorice, do I? I hate it in Lolita Lempicka!). It is a relatively dark infusion that keeps you warm and fuzzy in dark winter nights and gets you through all your social gatherings, with or without mulled wine.

 

Lancome La Vie Est Belle

Image result for la vie est belle perfume

I already wrote a long review of this here and try not to repeat myself. A healthy dose of patchouli and sweet fruits like blackcurrant and pear with some white florals (honeysuckle and tuberose, its seems) resting on a warm base of vanilla and praline. It is also quite powdery and long, long, long lasting… La Vie Est Belle first punches you in the face, then catches you in her arms and envelops you with a soft sweet comforting cloud. It is all about the dosage. Too much and you will gas everyone out. In moderation it is quite suitable for any kind of setting as it is mature enough to double as a work-friendly frag, even though it definitely shines in social gatherings and intimate situations. My boyfriend, who generally does not care about perfume and usually dislikes sweet fumes,  thinks it is sexy! Here you go. Again, another beautiful bottle by Lancome.

Guerlain Mon Guerlain

Image result for mon guerlain perfume

Mon Guerlain is a lovely mixture of crisp lavender and warm vanilla. The lavender blends with the vanilla so well that it becomes a rather sweet, powdery scent that to me seems quite unique. Mon Guerlain definitely stands out in the crowd of fruitchoulis and gourmands: it is very, very classy, best suited for a mature(r) lady or at least one who knows what she wants. Perfume has no age or gender, sure; it all comes down to personality. This  perfume has a similar vibe to Tobacco Vanille: a little bit smokey, a little sweet, a little fresh, evoking crackling fire and candlelight. I would love to be embraced by a woman who wears this on Christmas Day. Definitely a wardrobe staple after the holiday season has passed! Mon Guerlain really seems one of the most versatile (and long-lasting) orientals out there – it has a detectably gourmand edge, yet goes equally well with shirt&jeans versus party dress. So go dress it up with a pair of heels and a nice long gown, maybe some pearls. You will not regret it!

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

Discalimer. Image 1 Pinterest. Image 2 iDiva. Image 3 Basenotes. Image 4 Youtube. Image 5 Kingdom of Style. Image 6 EverydayOnSales. Image 7 Escentual. Image 8 Pauline Fashion Blog.

1 thought on “My Top Holiday Fragrances”

  1. Great choices here, loved reading about your impressions! I’m going to restock my designer fragrances collection in 2018, and get the ones I’ve never owned before. These ones will definitely be on my shopping list.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top