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I love trying new perfumes and today I have a Christmas roundup of the scents I’ve loved this holiday season. I’d love to hear what you’re wearing right now, so let me know what you’re going for in the comments!
Byredo Bal D’Afrique
Byredo Bal D’Afrique ($200-$280) remains one of my unique favorites of all time. It’s a warm, creamy, cozy scent that I think is super unique. If you like scents that draw a little woodsy with an amber blend, be sure to check out this one. For those of you who don’t have a Byredo store or counter near you, there are a few sample pieces you can order. Their Discovery Set ($50) has six of their best sellers and for the ultimate perfume lover, La Grande Selection ($240) has 24 mini 2ml bottles. The larger set gets you a $200 coupon to use on any 50ml or 100ml fragrance on their site.
Top notes: Bergamot, African Marigold, Bucchu
Middle notes: violet, cyclamen
Base Notes: Vetiver, Moroccan Cedarwood
Phlur Someone Wood & Missing Person
Phlur captured my heart with some beautiful smooth scents this year. Missing Person ($96 or $98 for the duo) is one I wore non-stop earlier this year. I also have the travel size and carry it in my purse. It is one of the best soft floral musky notes. It has a natural, skin-like vibe with a blend of white musk. Also available as body lotion and shower gel.
Top notes: skin musk, bergamot nectar, pure jasmine
Heart notes: Fresh Cyclamen, Neroli Flower, Orange Blossom
Base notes: Australian sandalwood oil, blond wood, white musk
Somebody Wood* is my favorite for autumn to winter. It’s unisex and I love the combination of wood and musk. It’s not too heavy or woody and I love anything with a bergamot mix. I’ve used up the shower gel* and will be ordering another one soon.
Top notes: bergamot, lemon
Heart notes: jasmine, saffron, cyclamen
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Vanilla, Musk, Amber, Moss, Cedarwood
Both are available from Sephora and Phlur. If you can’t smell or test in person, check out the Discovery Set at Sephora (seven scents) or all nine at Phlur.
Tory Burch Essence of Dreams
Tory Burch launched her Essence of Dreams line of fragrances earlier this year and I love all five. Each fragrance in the range has a fresh and radiant feel. They have an uplifting vibe. I bought the full sizes of Cosmic Wood and Electric Sky ($29-$125). Right now I’m really loving Cosmic Wood. If you like a soft, floral, woody spice with green notes, definitely give this a try.
Above: cardamom, ambrette
Middle: jasmine, sage
Base: Vetiver
They now carry the Discovery Set ($65) at Nordstrom, which I think would be a really cute gift. Each scent also comes in a small travel spray version, and Nordstrom has an Essence of Dreams Trio Set ($50) featuring Sublime Rose, Divine Moon, and Electric Sky.
Jo Malone Sage and Sea Salt
Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt will always be a signature scent for me. There are lots of fun discovery sets this holiday season and many of them are on sale. Nordstrom has the Cologne Collection Set ($115, reduced to $97.75) featuring English Pear & Fresia Cologne, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Wild Bluebell, Wood Sage & Sea Salt, and Blackberry & Bay. They also carry the Cologne Intense Collection ($160) featuring Cypress & Grapevine Cologne Intense, Myrrh & Tonka, Velvet Rose & Oud, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, and Oud & Bergamot.
Jo Malone’s website often has beautiful extra deluxe size samples with orders that change frequently. I ordered their Christmas Cologne Collection ($115) which has newer scents I’d like to try.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540
Maison Francis Kurkdjian is another line of perfumes that I really love. Your Baccarat Rouge 540 is a classic, rich, creamy and unique fragrance. I bought the smaller 1.17 ounce version which is nice to travel with or to have in your purse. Notes include jasmine, saffron, cedarwood and ambergris. I’m really tempted to try the Shimmering Body Oil!
I tried their latest 724 Eau de Parfum earlier this year and I really love it. It has a very similar feel to Aqua Universalis, which I have plenty left over, so I didn’t buy it. It has a nice fresh clean feel.
Believe
Creed holds a special place in my heart because it’s Andrew’s favorite. It’s pretty much the only line of cologne he wears these days, and he always smells amazing. His favorites are Aventus, Green Irish Tweed* and Silver Mountain Water. This year they have beautiful limited edition leather cases* in royal blue and a refillable atomizer*. I bought Andrew the 5 piece fragrance set for Christmas to take with him on the go. I’m tempted to buy the women’s version for myself.
I have a few favorites too. I love Virgin Island Water from spring through summer. Aventus for Her* is a recent discovery for me, I’ve been wearing it this year and I love it.
Top notes: Egyptian green apple, pink berries, Indonesian patchouli, Italian bergamot.
Middle notes: Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, Indian sandalwood, styrax, musk.
Base Notes: Sweet Peach, Blackcurrant, Lilac, Ambergris, Ylang-Ylang.
The best vanilla scent is Sublime Vanilla*, a soft, powdery blend of vanilla and tonka bean.
Top Notes: Tonka Bean, Vanilla from Comoros (Africa)
Middle notes: lemon, white bergamot
Base Notes: Musk, Tonkin
What are your favorite scents to wear this time of year?
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Press samples are marked with a *. All others bought by me.