With the holiday season just around the corner, gifting the perfect present to your mother, wife, or sister has never been this exciting. Remember, finding the best women’s perfume Christmas gifts shouldn’t be a chore.
That’s why I have compiled the perfect list for everyone’s taste. Albeit, the perfume is a personal thing that we experience individually, rest assured each and every perfume has been selected carefully.
In this article you’ll learn more about:
- Should you give a perfume for Christmas?
- What kind of perfume to gift
- Different fragrance strengths and concentrations
- How to wear perfume and make it last longer
- Where to buy perfumes safely
- 10 best perfumes a woman can wear
Did you know that according to Grand View Research the perfume market size value is expected to be USD 40.9 billion by 2025? Wow, that’s a lot.
So, this article has not only been created as a general top list but also as a buyer’s guide so that you can have everything in one place.
The list contains a mix of affordable and luxury products to cover a wider perfume spectrum.
Hopefully, packed with this newly acquired knowledge, you’ll find something for your loved ones. What are your favorite women’s perfume Christmas gifts that you would gift to loved ones?
Let me know in the comment section at the end. Keep reading to see which best women’s fragrances made my list.
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Should You Gift A Perfume For Christmas?
Fragrances like all luxury things in life are experienced differently by each person. Because you don’t want to make an expensive mistake, please take into consideration these things before purchasing perfume as a gift:
- How often does the person wear scented products?
- What kind of scents does she like(natural or perfumes)?
- What kind of lifestyle is a person living(job included)?
- A person’s age
Now that you have answered these four questions, you’ll get a general idea about gifting scented products.
I would also recommend knowing your nearest and dearest hobbies and interests in order to get a more complete picture of a possible Christmas present.
I have already mentioned in my best men’s perfume Christmas gifts article that gifts such as deodorant sticks and sprays, and shower gels should be only gifted if they come bundled with the perfume.
This is because most likely we already have a ton of such products and gifting a perfume will make you more caring and memorable.
PRO TIP: Avoid gifting perfumes to your boss and to people you don’t know that well. In these scenarios just go for Amazon eGift Card. Not only that it will save you money, but you’ll also save time as well.
The short answer is yes, with a little personal investment.
What kind of perfume should you gift?
I respect women’s taste in perfumery and secretly believe that they have a more refined touch. In my men’s edition of Christmas perfume gifts, there was more emphasis on safer perfumes.
I’m gonna break this rule and list only those which have stood the test of time, are luxurious smelling, and are accepted by the majority.
One thing I’ll mention which I believe is important is that just because it’s Christmas, it doesn’t mean that the gifted scent has to smell like food and spice.
In fact, what should you gift is something unique that could be wearable in more than one season.
Also, Keep in mind that more often than not, the price difference doesn’t always mean a better product. Learn more about the difference between a designer and niche fragrances here.
Different fragrance strengths and concentrations
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, buying perfume for Christmas shouldn’t be a chore, nor does it need to be confusing.
Perfumes come in different sizes, concentrations, and lines. That’s why it’s important to know the important differences between them before purchasing a scent.
Fragrance strengths & perfume concentrations refer to raw material oil concentration. These oil concentrations vary from perfume to perfume and affect longevity, sillage, and projection.
All scented products fall into some of these main categories:
- Eau Fraiche 1-3%
- After Shave/Mist/Splash 1-3%
- Eau de Cologne 2-4%
- Eau de Toilette 5-15%
- Eau de Parfum 15-20%
- Pure Parfum/Extrait de Parfum 20-40%
Knowing how perfume concentrations work is essential for perfume shopping. Especially, if a gift is for someone that already has a perfume collection.
How to wear perfume and make it last longer
If you had already heard people complaining about perfumes that disappear in the blink of an eye, you are not alone.
Many people tend to experience this misfortune. But thankfully, there are some valid solutions to this potential issue.
Here are pro tips you can use daily or surprise someone else with your perfume knowledge:
- Choose the scent for the right occasion/season
- Spray perfume on the skin
- Spraying less is often better
- Moisturize dry skin
- Layer your fragrances
Learn more and expand your perfume knowledge by reading the full How To Wear Perfume article.
Where to buy perfumes safely
Opting for fragrance discounters can save you more than 30% when buying perfumes and other beauty products.
Unfortunately, perfumes and often faked, and according to ABCNews article “Active ingredients found in counterfeit fragrance include things like urine, bacteria, antifreeze”.
Thus, please don’t purchase from suspicious street sellers, random online websites, and such. You can buy 100% original perfumes from links provided in this article or on FragranceX or Strawberrynet.
Best Women’s Perfume Christmas Gifts: The List
As you have learned, with a little caution and knowledge, buying perfume for Christmas can be a fun way to make long-lasting memories.
A couple of these scents have been already mentioned or reviewed on the Scent Grail website. While others have made a couple of perfume lists.
Guerlain Shalimar
Why choose Shalimar: a testament to longevity, tradition, and perfume artistry, Shalimar is almost a hundred years old perfume.
Citruses and smooth vanilla notes dominate during the fragrance life.
An exotic touch of incense, musk, and florals round up the perfume by making it both classic and exotic.
Check out the full Guerlain Shalimar review.
Guerlain Shalimar on other lists: Best cheap perfumes, Top Fall perfumes
- Fragrance Type: Oriental
- Perfumer: Jacques Guerlain
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 1925
- Age group: 30+
- Main Notes: Vanilla, Citruses, and Musk
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Autumn and Winter
- Occasions: Business and Romantic
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Chanel No 5 Eau de Parfum
Why choose No 5: in 2021, the iconic Chanel No 5 will be a whole century old.
Much has been already said about this wonderful masterpiece, which is also arguably the most important perfume creation of all time.
Clean, soapy, powdery, and sophisticated. Equally good for both young and elder ladies.
- Fragrance Type: Floral Woody
- Perfumer: Jacques Polge
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 1986
- Age group: 30+
- Main Notes: Aldehydes, Iris, and Sandalwood
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Business and Leisure
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 9/10
Tom Ford Black Orchid
Why choose Black Orchid: Black orchid opens up with effervescent citrus and orchid notes. An incredibly distinctive truffle note joins up in the mid and transitions to the bittersweet chocolate base.
Opulent and dark, this modern trendsetting masterpiece is one of the best creations from Tom Ford’s house.
Black Orchid is a very complex scent, ideal for chocolate and patchouli lovers.
Black Orchid on other lists: Best Men’s Fragrances Of All Time
- Fragrance Type: Floral Oriental
- Perfumer: n/a
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2006
- Age group: 25+
- Main Notes: Chocolate, Truffle, and Orchid
- Longevity and Projection: 12 – 16 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Business and Romantic
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Ariana Grande Cloud
Why choose Cloud: Sweet and addicting, Cloud takes Baccarat Rouge 540 formula to a tropical vacation.
Sweet coconut with praline dominates the scent and lasts forever. Flirty, but without sharp edges found in some other celebrity perfumes.
For the price, it’s a no-brainer, and you are getting the best inspiration of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s masterpiece.
Cloud on other lists: Best cheap perfumes
- Fragrance Type: Sweet Floral
- Perfumer: Clement Gavarry
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2018
- Age group: 18+
- Main Notes: Coconut, Whipped Cream, and Praline
- Longevity and Projection: 10 – 12 hours with great projection
- Seasons: Any season
- Occasions: Any season
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Jil Sander Sun
Why choose Sun: timeless, soft, and creamy fragrances. Although the bottle and commercial would suggest a sunscreen lotion type of scent, Sun is actually a nice oriental vanilla-centered perfume with a touch of flower aspects.
It suits colder weather the best when its oriental woody aspects come to the forefront. After more than 30 years of its release, it is still as relevant as it was back in the 80s.
- Fragrance Type: Floral Oriental
- Perfumer: Pierre Bourdon
- Perfume Concentration: Edt
- Release Date: 1989
- Age group: 25+
- Main Notes: Vanilla, Ylang-Ylang, and Tonka Bean
- Longevity and Projection: 10 – 12 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Any season
- Occasions: Any season
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Poudree
Why choose Poudree: powdery musk combined with jasmine slowly transforms to mildly sweet vanilla in the dry down.
Warm and cozy, just like the pink bottle itself, Poudree is a warm scent for cuddling on cold rainy days.
A subtle scent for ladies with an acquired taste.
- Fragrance Type: Floral Musk
- Perfumer: Aurelien Guichard
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2016
- Age group: 25+
- Main Notes: Tonka Bean, Musk, and Jasmine
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Spring and Fall
- Occasions: Romantic and Leisure
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 8/10
Lancome La Vie Est Belle
Why choose La Vie Est Belle: based on natural and simple beauty with the freedom of choosing your own happiness, this fragrance should inspire you to enjoy little things.
The most dominant notes of vanilla, iris, blackcurrant, and pralines provide a fruity opening, floral heart, and warm base.
The bottle is a redesigned version of the classic Lancome bottle from 1949.
- Fragrance Type: Floral Oriental
- Perfumer: Olivier Polge, Dominique Ropion, and Anne Flipo
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2012
- Age group: 18+
- Main Notes: Praline, Vanilla, and Blackcurrant
- Longevity and Projection: 16+ hours with great projection
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Romantic and Night outs
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 7/10
Guerlain Mon Guerlain
Why choose Mon Guerlain: Perfumer Thierry Wasser said that he was inspired by “the choices, emotions, and dreams that embody modern femininity” and “notes of a woman” when he created this perfume, along with Delphine Jelk.
The fragrance itself is a simple combination of flowers like Iris and Lavender, combined with recognizable “Guerlain’s Vanilla” which smells lovely.
An all-purpose fragrance that won’t offend anyone.
- Fragrance Type: Floral Oriental
- Perfumer: Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2017
- Age group: 25+
- Main Notes: Vanilla, Iris, and Tonka Bean
- Longevity and Projection: 8 – 10 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Spring and Fall
- Occasions: Romantic and Night outs
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 8/10
Dior Miss Dior
Why choose Miss Dior: Miss Dior opens up with bright blood orange with a pinch of neroli to amp up the citruses.
The middle and the base stage are composed of Bulgarian rose and earthy patchouli.
Sophisticated and beautiful, Miss Dior will also remind you of Chanel’s Mademoiselle with the inclusion of classiness and romantic touch.
- Fragrance Type: Floral Woody
- Perfumer: Francois Demachy
- Perfume Concentration: Edt
- Release Date: 2013
- Age group: 25+
- Main Notes: Rose, Neroli, and Patchouli
- Longevity and Projection: 6 – 8 hours with moderate projection
- Seasons: Spring and Summer
- Occasions: Business and Leisure
- Uniqueness: 3/5
- Value for money: 9/10
Mugler Alien
Why choose Alien: ideal for jasmine lovers who like heady and sweet, but wearable perfumes.
Alien is both romantic and confident, and it doesn’t stop with jasmine. It dry downs to a woody-ambery base which doesn’t let the main floral accords get loose.
Of all the fragrances mentioned on this list, Alien performs the best, so spray wisely.
- Fragrance Type: Woody Oriental
- Perfumer: Dominique Ropion and Laurent Bruyere
- Perfume Concentration: Edp
- Release Date: 2005
- Age group: 25+
- Main Notes: Jasmine, Woody Notes, and Amber
- Longevity and Projection: 24 hours with fantastic longevity
- Seasons: Fall and Winter
- Occasions: Romantic and Night outs
- Uniqueness: 5/5
- Value for money: 10/10
Conclusion
By choosing to buy perfume as a Christmas gift, you are buying something’s different for the most wonderful time of year.
If you get a chance while being in a perfume shop, don’t forget to sample potential purchases, so that you get a general idea about the scent.
Don’t forget to check out S.P.A. Signature Factor Guide as you prime resource for buying perfumes.
Lastly, I hope that you have found something for your dearest on my best women’s perfume Christmas gifts idea article.
Until the next time, stay safe and be good!
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– Marin Kristic
Personally, as a lady in her 30s, I would warn against purchasing Chanel no. 5 as a gift unless you know the recipient really wants it. I understand the appeal it once had, and I understand wanting to refute the newer view of it, but it smells grandmotherly to a lot of people. I even checked it out last time I was shopping, thinking “I’m actually not sure what this smells like.” Spritzed it, waited for a moment, took a whiff, and was immediately hit by “grandma”. There’s nothing wrong with the scent itself, but it was so popular in its time, that a lot of our grandmas (for people born in the 80s and 90s) smelled like it, and scent memory is VERY strong in human beings. Another example: any time I’m in the kitchen section of an antique store, it smells like my great grandma’s house. Things were just made with different materials back then. But having a kitchen that smells like my great grandma’s kitchen is very different than intentionally seeking to smell like my grandma—a lady who I love, but who I associate with much more matronly attributes.
So while Chanel no. 5 is irrefutably very important, and smells nice, it is not a perfume I would purchase as a gift without having the go ahead. I feel like there’s a not-insignificant chance that the recipient won’t be happy with it, and won’t be willing to “just give it a chance” when the money spent on the gift could have gone to something they would much prefer.
Good call on Miss Dior though. I got a mini sampler size recently, and I love it.
Hi Jenny. Thank you for sharing your comprehensive opinion about Chanel No. 5. I agree that it does carry a somewhat “dated” aura, but in my perspective, it could make a wonderful gift for someone aged 30 and above who appreciates the world of fragrances. After all, it remains a timeless classic and ranks among the finest perfumes ever crafted. Best, Marin 🙂