Christmas Gift Ideas For the Fragrance Lover

Christmas is a great time for amazing smells…of festive candles burning, hot mince pies, mulled wine, Christmas trees, foliage…I could go on.

It’s also a time where people gift their favourite fragrances whether it’s a scented candle or an Eau de Parfum. Here are my top picks for fragrance gifts!

Mia Flora Massage & Skin Care Sweet Almond Oil

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/

I am a huge, huge fan of aromatherapy massage and I have recently been delving into the art of using a base oil and adding a few drops of a lovely smelling essential oil-as massage therapists do. I have discovered a lovely base oil at Holland and Barrett and a huge range of fragrant essential oils that you can choose to add to it. This would make a lovely gift for a friend who likes massage, aromatherapy or even for someone who loves to relax in the bath, as you can also use the essential oils (a few drops) in the bathtub. Never apply essential oils directly to skin as they are really potent and strong and can therefore irritate skin. Always mix with a base oil or apply to a bathtub full of water for a true aromatherapy experience.

Grapefruit Uplifting 100% Pure Essential Oil

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/

As used with the base oil above, this is an energising scent and would be great to use if you were feeling particularly tired.

Cinnamon Leaf Uplifting 100% Pure Essential Oil

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/

I love the smell of cinnamon…perhaps it’s because I am from America and we are obsessed with all things cinnamon there. The scent of cinnamon is warming and reminds me of cinnamon rolls and spiced apple cider – the stuff of my childhood. Perhaps that is why I am addicted to the smell and this spicy and warming essential oil takes me straight back to that comforting place. So if there are any cinnamon lovers out there – this is a great essential oil for you.

The Perfume Shop Viva Box

http://www.theperfumeshop.com/

The Viva Box has to be one of my top picks for the Christmas season this year, if not the very top. This is an amazing gift for a female as it comes with 7 samples of perfume so whoever you buy for can choose their favourite and collect ONE full size bottle from The Perfume Shop. It sells for £37.99 and seriously, what a great gift. Fragrance is such a personal thing and this allows you to give it without making any mistakes and it’s a joy for the receiver of this gift as well because you get to sample 7 minis before making your decision. Each sample probably contains 2-3 uses so it allows someone to wear the perfumes throughout the day and compare them before making their final decision on which one they want the full-size of. I cannot rave about this gift enough-perfect for a best friend, mum, grandma or pretty much anyone!

Florence Anne Grapefruit & Lime Scented Candle

http://www.boots.com/

Boots has a new home fragrance line this year for Christmas called Florence Anne, named after the Boots founder’s wife. It is a very reasonable range of home fragrance and has the packaging and feel of a luxury brand. As it is a new collection, you can surprise someone with this gift, knowing they probably have never heard of the range before. And that makes a truly surprising gift.

Scent Chips and Burner

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/

Disappointed in your fragranced candle? I can assure you wholeheartedly that you will not be disappointed in a scent burner. This is the best way to infuse your home with an amazing scent. I tried this one in my tiny London studio and it quickly filled the room with an amazing (cinnamon – my favourite) scent. In fact, I have never experienced a home fragrance product that works so effectively. I am usually disappointed in candles and diffusers because some of them simply don’t give off any scent. In fact, with this scent burner, I fed it a few scent chips (Holland and Barrett have many fragrances to choose from) and the scent filled my tiny room so much so that I had to open a window. So therefore this would be perfect for someone’s home because it would easily fill a home with the most amazing scent! So until I move into a home…I will have to only burn this for a few minutes-it is seriously that effective! Makes a great gift for the home fragrance lover.

Elizabeth Arden Untold Eau de Parfum

http://www.elizabetharden.co.uk/

This is the scent for the woman who has it all. Elizabeth Arden to me always emulates classy and they have certainly done this with their Untold Eau de Parfum. I have the 30ml size which I love because it is lightweight and easy to travel with. And since I travel for the holidays it makes a perfect gift for…well, me. With jasmine, blackcurrant, raspberry, pink pepper, and patchouli, this is a floral and fruity fragrance with an oriental twist. And the gorgeous feminine bottle makes you feel pretty, spray after spray.

Crabtree & Evelyn Hollyberry Candle

http://www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk/

Crabtree & Evelyn shine at Christmas – with lovely Christmas packaging that will put you in the mood just by glancing at it. This year, they have launched a limited edition Hollyberry Candle that smells sweetly delicious. It smells of just-cut foliage, plump wild fruits and trails of inviting spices. This is a very Christmasy scent and makes a perfect gift for Christmas because it is a special scent just for this time of year. Great gift for a Christmas lover!