Trust us, team Marie Claire UK totally understand how difficult it is to buy fragrance gifts for Christmas. Truthfully, it's hard enough settling on the best perfume to buy for yourself, let alone trying to buy a fragrance for someone else. We get it—perfume is personal, and it's easy to make the wrong choice.
That being said, however, there's no doubt that perfume is up there with the ultimate Christmas gifts. Whether your giftee prefers floral perfumes, woody fragrances or skin scents, luckily for you, our in-house team of editors and experts have spent their careers testing out the best perfumes in existence. As a result, we know exactly what perfumes are good enough to please, well, everyone. In our expert opinion, not a single one of the perfumes on this list could be deemed divisive—making this a tight edit of the ultimate perfume Christmas gifts.
So, without further ado, these are the 30 perfumes that are guaranteed to put you in your loved ones' good books this Christmas...
Best floral perfumes for Christmas
Generally, I don’t gravitate to floral fragrances but I make an exception for the heady, honey-scented lilacs that make up Apotheke's The Dreamer
Natalie Hughes, Fashion Editor
"I'm a sucker for light florals, and Tory Burch Mystic Geranium is definitely up there as one of my favourites. It smells like a springtime garden, where all of the flowers are just coming into bloom." — Shannon Lawlor, Executive Beauty Editor
Jo Malone's Wild Bluebell smells like walking through a field of wildflowers, but it still has that Jo-Malone richness that makes it ideal for winter.
Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
Best citrus perfumes for Christmas
Victoria Beckham's Portofino '97 is like driving along the clifftops of Portofino in an old Aston Martin with the roof down, while the juicy aroma of surrounding citrus trees fills the air.
Shannon Lawlor, Executive Beauty Editor
Best skin scents for Christmas
I just love Escentric Molecules Molecule 02—it's a scent that goes with everything. I like layering my scents, and it just adds a new dimension to every fragrance I already adore.
Sunil Makan, Editor
"Very early on in my career I worked in one of London's most iconic retailers. It was an institution that stocked some of the fashion and beauty industry's most interesting and forward-thinking brands. It was here that I first smelled Escentric Molecules Molecule 01. It was quite literally love at first smell.
The wonderful thing about this scent is that its blend is rather simple—one single note—although it smells everything but. It's warm, yet fresh, it's punchy, yet oh-so-subtle. It's, hands down, the most interesting perfume I have ever experienced.
On my shifts I would pass by the tester and keep myself topped up throughout the day. The woman on the counter noticed, and one day she snuck a sample bottle into my hands and smiled without saying anything. Her generosity bowled me over. And since then this incredibly unique fragrance that always gets me compliments has the ability to take me back to that moment of kindness. And it will forever be the perfect gift." — Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor
Best earthy perfumes for Christmas
Øthers isn't your typical fragrance brand—it's like a whole makeover for your senses. Mystic Zingaro is a balance of warmth and freshness, like a walk in a forest with resins, woods and a smoky backdrop of incense.
Lisa Oxenham, Beauty & Style Director
While Baccarat Rouge 540 might be top of most people's Christmas lists this year, the Maison Francis Kurkdjian perfume I'm most desperate for a top up of is 724. It's like fresh rain and concrete—impossibly fresh.
Shannon Lawlor, Executive Beauty Editor
Best sweet perfumes for Christmas
"Thé Matcha 26 is a classic Le Labo fragrance that can only be described as a sweet, cosy, velvety and warm afternoon. The genderless fragrance (just ask my husband) holds a blend of fig, vetiver and cedarwood to create a creamy, clean and deliciously sweet scent for all year round." —Sofia Piza, Producer
My fragrance pick for the festive season is always Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir. It's a timeless, smoky scent with notes of sweet red fruits and spicy Casablanca lily. It's my go-to for Christmas time as it reminds me of home and the holidays—my mum has always worn this perfume and has countless candle versions of it around the house, too.
Ally Head, Senior Health Editor
