Christmas is just round the corner and if you’ve been out and about window shopping for gifts, you would have struggled getting yourself through the throngs of crowds and standstill jam along Orchard Road. If you managed to get into shopping malls in the likes of ION Orchard, Wheelock Place, or Takashimaya, you would have been struck by the snaking queues and long waiting times.
Most of us probably came home empty-handed. If you’re in a last-minute dash for Christmas gifts, try perfumes and fragrances. Whether you need a gift for that long-lost secondary school friend, ex-colleague, cousin, or mother-in-law, fragrances are the safest gifts that will never fail to impress.
Here, a list of seven universal fragrances that will suit and surprise that mother, friend, or teenage niece of yours this Christmas:
If you need to impress the matriarch or in-laws, you’ll probably need a pretty high budget and a gift that looks equally impressive. Here’s a Loubicrown Eau de Perfume ($440 for 90ml) by Christian Louboutin Beauty.
The exquisite glass flacon features a grand-looking crown – pretty apt for the queen of the household. The overall scent? Woody and regal with key notes of patchouli, cedar wood, and tonka bean.
Something a little more affordable and wallet friendly? We got you. Try Gucci’s roller-ball Guilty Pour Femme Eau De Parfum, $40 that comes in a pretty cute box.
This floral perfume carries a little tinge of patchouli, citrus, pink pepper, and Mandora citrus fruit – a considerably universal scent for that most ladies will take to.
Looking for a Christmas gift for your date? Try the cute and mini-sized Tiffany & Co. Rose Gold Eau de Parfum 30ml ($118) that comes in a beautiful rose gold bottle with a classic Tiffany blue collar. Best part? You can skip the tedious and frustrating gift-wrapping process ’cause this fragrance will be nestled in a beautiful rose gold box and Tiffany paper bag.
The fragrance is a bubbly yet sophisticated concoction of blackcurrant, blue rose, iris, and musk – another universal scent that will suit most ladies.
Not sure which fragrance she likes? Get Burberry’s Multi Fragrance Gift Set ($89) which contains four mini 5ml perfumes – super cute, too! This fragrance set comes in a classic brown Burberry box which will surely impress your date.
If she’s going to unbox this gift over dinner, try to keep this list of key ingredients handy:
- My Burberry Eau de Parfum (Gold bottle, gold ribbon): Sweet pea, bergamot, geranium, rose, patchouli
- My Burberry Blush Eau de Parfum (Pink bottle, pink ribbon): Pomegranate, lemon, geranium, apple, rose, jasmine
- Her Blossom Eau de Toilette (Pink bottle, white cap): Mandarin, pink peppercorn, plum blossom, peony, musk
- Her London Dream Eau de Parfum (Yellow bottle, white cap): Lemon, ginger, rose, peony, musk
If this girlfriend of yours loves dainty, all things pink, and flowers, you won’t go wrong with the Chloe Signature Eau de Parfum Mini Gift Set ($202).
This 3-in-1 perfume gift set contains Chloe’s most popular perfume and a matching body lotion (for perfume layering):
- Chloé Eau De Parfum (full sized)
- Chloé Eau De Parfum (mini travel size)
- Chloé Body Lotion (100ml)
For the sporty, college, preppy girl who is still schooling, consider the Tommy Girl Holiday Gift Set (now $81.60 from Metro).
The simple entry-level gift set consists of a lighter-scented Tommy Girl Eau de Toilette (lighter scent than an Eau de Parfum) alongside a tube of body lotion in the same scent.
The fragrance? Youthful and well-balanced with floral and earthy notes in the likes of jasmine, bergamot, and sandalwood.
Philosophy’s Christmas fragrances are officially sold out. Instead, for the graceful lady in your life, get her the Philosophy’s Amazing Grace Ballet Rose Eau De Toilette 60ml ($71). Filled with key ingredients such as peony, rose, lychee, and pink musk, this fragrance was created to evoke the grace and strength of a ballerina – words you should definitely say to her to express your admiration for her this festive season.