Festive scents: Sweet and sensual gifts for the holidays

A great gift for any occasion? Fragrance.

Perfume says a lot about a person and is one of those staple gifts that never go out of season. You may not be able to afford that Gucci bag, but you may be able to afford the Gucci perfume.

Just like every other beauty item this season, fragrances have also come out with special-edition sets to pick up and gift, providing great value for the purchaser and great excitement for the giftee.

If you are looking into gifting something sweet this season, then here are some of my top picks.

Juicy Couture Oui Glow perfume

Juicy Couture Oui Glow eau de parfum

A follow up to their popular Oui perfume that came out last year, Oui Glow is its citrus sister.

Oui Glow (C$119 for 100 ml), housed in the same Oui bottle (but this time in orange), is a more energetic and spirited fragrance that opens with Brazilian orange and raspberry notes.  Other notes include jasmine sambac and a frangipani, pink pepper, vanilla bean, and musk to give it a high-energy take on the original Oui.

This one may not be the most wintery scent, but if you have someone going on vacation to a hot destination, this would be perfect to pack with. I’ve always been a fan of Juicy Couture’s fragrances and this one definitely carries the torch in terms of addictive perfumes.  Plus, the eye-catching bottle will definitely look so pretty sitting on anyone’s dresser.

Avon Live Out Loud perfume

Avon Live Out Loud

Avon’s newest fragrance really surprised me.

Granted, I’ve never smelled any perfumes by the brand, but when I got this one in, I didn’t know what to expect.  Thankfully, it’s actually really pretty and fruity, and at only C$40 (on sale right now for C$29.99!), it’s super affordable to pick up.

According to Avon, Live Out Loud celebrates the power of women to go fearlessly after their dreams and enjoy everything that life throws their way. The top notes are sweet wild strawberry, with middle notes of sparkling mimosa, and a base of comforting fluffy vanilla. Sounds delish, right? Well it totally is.

Live Out Loud is the ultimate girly perfume and one that is so easy to throw on and wear from day to night. It’s a fruity, floral scent that will have you just grabbing the bottle to smell it.

Now, if you’re in the mood to write some love notes, Avon has also created a Live Out Loud Fragrance Ink Pen (C$12.99). I’ve never seen anything like this before, but it’s a body ink pen (or a marker) which has the same Live Out Loud scent in the ink.  The non-transfer ink removes easily with soap and water and is the perfect pen to pick up while writing your holiday cards this season.

YSL Libre perfume

YSL Libre Eau de Parfum

New from YSL Beauty this year, Libre Eau de Parfum is a floral fragrance that is very mature in scent and beautiful in bottle.

This fragrance is inspired by freedom and has notes of lavender essence, orange blossom, and musk accord.  It’s a very mature scent and perfect for a nighttime affair or these colder months.

I really like this perfume and think it’s different than my usual sweet scents. I love the packaging on the bottle as the black and gold detailing really set it apart and that iconic YSL that is wrapped around really help to up the ante in terms of decadence.

You can find Libre at Sephora and department stores for C$125 for 50 ml.

Acqua di Parma picks for the holidays 2019

Acqua di Parma Quercia and Sandalo eau de parfum

When it comes to men’s fragrance, I love the offerings through Acqua di Parma.

Although their range is quite extensive, there are two scents I really recommend this season.

Quercia eau de cologne (C$284 for 100 ml) is a fragrance that is very woody. It contains notes of oakmoss blended together with bergamot, petit grain, and geranium for a deep, sensual fragrance.

If you are looking for something more musky, then take a look at the brand’s Sandalo eau di parfum (C$284 for 100 ml). This scent blends together notes of sandalwood, bergamot, cardamom, and tonka bean; so a sensual fragrance that will have you cuddling into your man’s sweater all night long.

Although these scents are both more masculine fragrances, I would say they are unisex in case you like something muskier (I actually was wearing Sandalo quite a bit when it first came in).

If you want to bathe yourself in fragrance then take a look at the Colonia Deodorant Spray (C$56), which is housed in a non-aerosol bottle that will keep you smelling fresh all day long. The formula is delicate and suitable for even sensitive skin.

Lastly, pair the deodorant spray with their Colonia Body Cream, which contains avocado oil, aloe vera extract, and vitamin E to leave skin feeling soft and smooth.

Nest Fragrances Holiday Votive set

Nest Fragrances Festive Votive Candle Trio

Now for a different type of fragrance, I think candles are pretty much great gifts to give for any occasion, and especially so for the holidays!

When it comes to holiday scents, Nest Fragrances definitely doesn’t disappoint, and in addition to their holiday favourites (Holiday, Birchwood Pine, Sparkling Cassis), they have just released Spiced Orange & Clove.  Although this scent does come in their famous candles and diffusers, I am absolutely loving the Festive Votive Candle Trio.

Housed in a box, open it up to reveal three 6 oz. candles in the Spiced Orange & Clove, Holiday, and Birchwood Pine scents. These candles are very good quality and although they are votives, they will burn for 20 hours each, meaning this set will definitely go a long way in terms of filling a home with scent.

This set retails for C$59 and is already sold out on Sephora Canada’s site. Take a look to see if they have it in store, otherwise you can also get it from other retailers, like Nordstrom (order soon to get it by next week!).

Perfume picks from Juicy Couture, Acqua di Parma, Avon, Nest

You really can’t go wrong with a fragrance this season, whether it’s a perfume, candle, or body lotion.  Scents also have the perfect ability to remind someone of a certain life moment, so when they spray it on after the holidays are over (or light a certain candle), I’m sure they will think of the person who gifted it to them.

Are fragrances on your list this season?

Please note, all items sent by PR. All opinions are my own.

Like what you read? Check out these related posts: