Whether you’re planning to spend December at a wintry escapade or are draping tinsel in the tropics, there’s no better way to keep things feeling cosy than with a seasonal fragrance. Think perfumes – 100ml and below gets into your carry-on! – and home fragrances that veer warm and woodsy, spicy and sweet; chestnuts roasting on an open fire… that sort of thing. Bring your favourites with you so it always smells like Christmas, no matter where you are.
Byredo Chai Candle, USD 85
Swedish fragrance house Byredo is nothing if not inventive. Just see the brand’s masala chai-scented candle: a brilliant version of a festive, spiced fragrance, layering cardamom, ginger and clove over incense, mate and violet and a base of birch, guaiac wood and warm latte. Way cozy.
Jo Malone Orange Bitters Home Candle, USD 72
Jo Malone Orange Bitters Limited Edition Cologne 30ml, USD 70
Bright, ripened citrus, and sweet prune set against creamy, soft sandalwood and sultry amber makes for a timeless take on nostalgia notes. We like the idea of wearing this warming concoction everywhere, then coming home to the candle version.
Diptyque set of 3 candles 70g, USD 114
Diptyque strikes the right accords in this year’s run of candles celebrating winter legends: Pine Tree of Light, Exquisite Almond, and Amber Balm. In each offering, scent pairings vanilla and lavender; almond and tonka bean; and cedars and fir combine for a sumptuous, fresh chorus of smells.
Lilin+Co Mulled Wine Candle, approx. USD 16
Kuala Lumpur soy wax candle company Lilin+Co made two holiday scents for 2018, and our pick is the Mulled Wine. Like the warm, comforting treat it’s named for, this limited edition is designed to put you, and your travel buddies, in a good mood.
Cire Trudon Gizeh Candle, USD 105
Cire Trudon’s luxe Christmas collection takes inspiration from ancient Egypt. We love the beautifully packaged Gizeh Scented Candle for its woody, earthy bouquet of candied chestnuts, birch, patchouli and cedar.
Serge Lutens Parfums Five O’Clock Au Gingembre 50ml, USD 230
Candied, spiced gingerbread flecked with honey and chocolate, anyone? With this Serge Lutens gourmand, you’ll get to extend the best part of the holidays – dessert! – for as long as you’d like.
Maison Margiela MMM Replica By The Fireplace 100ml, USD 126
The definitive Christmas song of perfumes, this one has roasted chestnuts, sweet and creamy with vanilla, set against smoky burnt wood, balsams, juniper and pink pepper. You can almost hear the crackling of the flames, even if you’re in the tropics.
Mona di Orio Vanille 75ml, approx. USD 198
For a composition of fruit, booze and dessert notes that brings to mind spiced puddings at their most elegant, try this rich vanilla scent, brightened by rum and oranges and bolstered with smoky wood, tonka bean, vetiver and cloves.
Maison Francis Kurkdijan Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait de parfum Travel Set, approx. USD 335
A heady blend of jasmine, saffron, almond, cedar and ambergris makes Baccarat Rouge 540 an ideal foil for cool, crisp weather. But no need to schlep a precious glass bottle on your next long-haul flight, because this generous travel set houses five refills alongside a golden atomiser much better suited for stashing in your carry-on.
Comme des Garçons x Monocle Hinoki (50ml), USD 120
Hinoki cypress, cedar, pine, frankincense, moss and vetiver make for a lush, misty forest scent, especially evocative if you’ve spent time in onsen baths and shrines in Japan.
Frederic Malle Dawn 50ml, approx. USD 740
Daybreak is interpreted by perfumer Carlos Benaïm as a oud scent surrounded by rose, pink pepper, labdanum, frankincense and oak moss – it’s at once sensual, timeless and powerful.
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