By Adriana Ermter
We love a great perfume. There’s something about the excitement of wearing a new scent and the thrill of emotions it elicits that never gets old. Perfume speaks to our individuality, elevates our style, fuels our sense of self and wordlessly expresses to the world who we are—in that exact moment. It’s why we have so many fragrances scattered across our bedroom shelves and its also why we love gifting perfume to the important women in our life. That’s because giving our mom, sister, bestie, partner or even, our favourite aunt a perfume is more than just a present; it’s a meaningful gesture of our love that takes thoughtfulness and care to the next level. But, before you make your list and start shopping, wrapping and handing out these special fragrant gifts, there are few things to know to ensure you get your holiday gifting just right.
Remember that perfume notes are grouped into categories, as each type of note, or combination of several, is as unique as the feelings they waft when wearing them. Citrus notes like bergamot, lemon, grapefruit and orange are cheerful, energizing and uplifting. Floral ones, inclusive of rose, jasmine, lily of the valley, lilacs and more exude romance, elegance and femininity. Woody scents such as sandalwood, cedar, cypress and vetiver express a warm and grounded vibe. Gourmand notes, associated with indulgent foods like vanilla, caramel, chocolate and cotton candy, can make you nostalgic for feel-good childhood moments. Spicy scents like cinnamon, patchouli, pink pepper and cloves tap into a bold and mysterious side. Aquatic ones, which include marine-inspired water and breezy and clean soap feel fresh, easy going and carefree. Green notes, which include everything from tomato vines, lavender and violet leaves feel intimate and sensual courtesy of their botanical, herbal and earthy nature, while juicy, fruity options, like pear, apple, berries and melons are sweet and playful.
Next, consider who you are gifting the perfume to. Once you identify the women who you’’ll be gifting, sneak a peek at their existing perfume collection or casually ask about their favourite or signature scents. A signature scent often reveals a person’s fragrance family preference, be it floral, woody, citrus or more. You’ll also want to think about what each woman likes to do, what suits their personality and their lifestyle. A sporty or super active woman might prefer the fresh and light notes found in a green or aquatic eau de toilette, while your bestie who goes dancing every Saturday night might enjoy a more intense, spicy fragrance. Aligning the perfume to the person’s specific sensibilities helps ensure that your fragrant gift resonates with them on a more personal level.
And last but perhaps most important of all, know that giving a perfume as a holiday gift isn’t just about the fragrance itself—it’s about giving a piece of art and emotion that can define future moments and create incredible memories. So whether you choose a cheerful citrus scent for your best friend, a romantic floral for your partner or a nostalgic gourmand for your mom, you’re doing more than wrapping a bottle; you’re giving them an experience that will linger. Here are seven scents that we love and their personality type to help you with your holiday gifting.
For the fiercely feminine: Paco Rabanne Million Gold For Her EDP
($165 for 50 ml and $205 for 90 ml, available at Shoppers Drug Mart)
If Beyoncé’s “Pure/Honey” is the soundtrack to her life, this intoxicating floral eau will amplify her feminine charm. “It’s powerful and beautiful, with rose, lavender and a salty musk undertone,” says Gigi Hadid, the face and spokesmodel for the fragrance. “I love the balance.”
NOTES: The brand’s first-ever “grand floral” is replete with botanical lavender and creamy tonkalactone mixed with Madagascar mandarin, sweet Paradise molecule, sparkling rose, ylang-ylang and jasmine blooms, alongside irresistible vanilla and intimate musk.
For the outdoorsy energizer: Wild Coast Gabriola EDP
($65 for 15 ml, available online at www.wildcoastperfumes.com)
Vancouver Island’s blend of diverse plant life and salty breezes are captured in this green, honeyed and woody fragrance of fresh sun-warmed figs plucked up the local Gabriola Farmer’s Market. This eau de parfum will surely resonate with her vibrant, on-the-go nature. “We believe in respecting nature, ourselves, and that we are the sum of the choices we make,” enthuses Wild Coast Perfumery’s founder and perfumer Laurie Arbuthnot.
NOTES: Sunny and fresh from the island are a blend of figs, hay, petitgrain intertwine with mandarin, boronia, oakmoss, linden blossom, cocoa and mango myrtle.
For the sweet homebody: The Maker Dream EDP
($236 for 50 ml, available at Sephora)
Gourmand notes such as vanilla and cinnamon echo a nurturing warmth that’s as reminiscent of home life as it is comforting moments to come. Inspired by dreams of travel and notions of just being cozy at home, the Hudson, New York-based brand’s perfumes are a fusion of “bohemian sensibility” and “sustainable practices,” note the founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg on their website. So even if she doesn’t wish to venture beyond her own back door, know that it’s okay and that she can relish in her own sweet life.
NOTES: Gooey vanilla bourbon swirled into decadent cinnamon butter and sweet magnolia blooms.
For the bold and courageous: Burberry Goddess Intense EDP
($160 for 50 ml and $216 for 100 ml, available at Shoppers Drug Mart)
Aromatic, woody and with more than a hint of vanilla, this sunny perfume with smoky undertones is as bold as it is courageous. “My initial goal for Burberry Goddess was to expand upon the common use of vanilla to deliver a new kind of rich olfactive experience,” explains Amandine Clerc-Marie, the Master Perfumer of the scent. “For this purpose, I used three distinct types of vanilla extraction. The first is a vanilla infusion, which provides the brightest, woody vanilla possible. Then I used Firgood, also known as vanilla caviar. [It] adds a sweet, rich, and animalic vanilla. Lastly, vanilla absolute is darker and richer, enhancing the fragrance with a mysterious, milky aspect.”
NOTES: Earthy and botanical lavender are mix-mastered with spicy patchouli and a bold blend of sweet, woody and salty vanilla, vanilla absolute, bourbon vanilla and vanilla caviar.
For the modern sophisticate: Ariana Grande Mod Vanilla EDP
($90 for 100 ml, available at Shoppers Drug Mart)
Rich and addictive gourmand notes of vanilla and cocoa are heightened with fruit, musk and pralines for a classic, polished aura. “I fell so in love with this fragrance,” says Ariana Grande of her eponymous parfum on TikTok. “I would describe Mod Vanilla as kind of a warm and sensual and more gourmet sexy scent.”
NOTES: Warm vanilla and cocoa are added to velvety dark plum, sheer musk and sultry orrisand praline for her modern and accessible sophistication.
For the mystical thinker: Jean Paul Gaultier Divine EDP
($184 for 50 ml and $228 for 100 ml, available at Hudson’s Bay)
Spicy, warm and floral, this sunny and shimmering eau de parfum suits those drawn to the enigmatic. “Divine is the scent of radiant skin enveloped in flowers and salt, describes the perfumer Quentin Blach. And she doesn’t need to be other-worldly to appreciate it. Earth girls are always welcome to spritz.
NOTES: Heady frangipani, lily and jasmine flowers blend with intimate heliotrope, spicy and warm amber benzoin and salty meringue.
For the cheerful free-spirit: Aerin Lauder Mediterranean Honeysuckle EDP
($194 for 50 ml and $268 for 100 ml, available at Sephora)
A citrus-forward eau de parfum, this pink grapefruit and honeysuckle scent feels like a sun-filled vacation, ideal for the carefree, lively personality, as implied by its name. Created by the brand’s namesake founder as “an escape to the sunny azure Mediterranean,” as well noted on Lauder’s website, this fragrance inspires rest and relaxation as much as it does water-bound ventures and a life that is happy and ready to be experienced.
NOTES: Zesty grapefruit, mandarin and bergamot merge with sweet honeysuckle, lily of the valley and the heady blooms of gardenia and jasmine sambac absolute.
