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Christmas is the perfect opportunity to buy fragrances. It’s an ideal stocking filler and a thoughtful gift that can last for months, but you have to be careful. Most people are very particular about the scents they wear, which can turn a dream present into a nightmare in the blink of an eye.
So, how do you avoid making the wrong choice? For Eva Carlo, fragrance expert at The House of Creed, the secret is all about putting in the legwork.
Focus on building a scent profile for who the gift is for, take time to think about the kind of person they are, and above all choose where to shop with care.
Here’s five tips that will see you on your way to a scintillating scent:
Do your research
The most important thing is to think about the person who will wear it and not your own personal preferences. The wrong perfume can make you feel uncomfortable and ruin your day, to say the least.
First things first, the research: find out what scents they already wear, do a little investigation and discover the perfume families they belong to. This will help to edit the collection in the right direction.
Time is essential
Perfume is a very intimate gift and should be a very considered choice. It takes time to evolve, and choosing by only discovering the top notes of the creation is a big mistake.
Perfumes, like books and musical pieces, take different times to fully evolve: some are linear and short, and you know what you are getting straight away; others take longer to reveal their themes and final messages. Pre-work and time are key to a successful result – luxury, after all, is not something to be hurried.
What are they like?
Another thing that is key in creating a scent profile for someone is thinking about their personality and their tastes – are they discrete or extravagant, frivolous and playful or serious and conservative? What are their colour and textile preferences, the places they love to travel to, their favourite tipples?
These facts will help, with the assistance of a perfume specialist, determine the perfect scent.
Gifts for a fragrance lover
Do they have a huge wardrobe of scents? Will a smaller bottle be ideal, or do they love accessories – if so, a beautiful leather atomiser and scent to decant into it is more the direction for this person.
Do they have just a couple of signature perfumes? Something extra luxurious from the Creed Royal Exclusive collection may be perfect or perhaps you can make a gift extra special by getting it engraved – not only scents, but also limited-edition bottles to treasure.
Find the right place to shop
A comfortable environment and a great connection with a perfume specialist are essential and will make the experience a pleasure instead of a chore. Armed with all the pre-work, I suggest heading to the Creed Boutique in Mayfair, where one of the Creed ambassadors will help you find the ideal scent for your giftee.
Whether you head to Creed or not, be charming, polite and clear to get the most out of the shopping trip, aim to edit the collection down to three or four fragrances, and test them on a blotter first. Then choose your favourite two and then go and have a coffee break - this will give you and your nose a little break, and the opportunity to smell the scents again in a different environment, allowing the discovery of the evolution of the scent.
When you return to make the purchase, ask the Creed Ambassador to include a sample or decant of the perfume, just in case the person who receives the gift does not like it. Don’t feel bad if this happens – choosing perfume for someone else is the devils work and you can come back together with the unopened bottle and choose again.
For more information and gifting ideas, see creedfragrances.co.uk
Still stuck for ideas? Try one of these Creed fragrances on for size…
A sensual, audacious and contemporary scent, Aventus is inspired by the dramatic life of a historic emperor who waged war, peace and romance with equal magnitude. Perfect for the bold, spirited and confident, Aventus opens with tantalising top notes of blackcurrant and Italian bergamot, blended with Calville Blanc apples and sparkling pineapple. A woody and heady centre is complemented with notes of roses, Jasmine blossom and patchouli, while a rich base of oak moss, ambergris and a touch of vanilla provides a final flourish to this sophisticated scent.
A classic, as the old adage tells us, never goes out of style. Like a perfectly tailored suit, Green Irish Tweed has been and continues to be worn by confident men at the peak of their field. Evoking the lush greenery of the Emerald Isle: cut grass, spring meadows, summer wild flowers and herbs warmed by a gentle sea breeze. Tweed suggests Creed’s equestrian tailoring roots, country squires and their estates, shooting parties and hip flasks.
Viking, a fiery men’s fragrance that bottles the fearless spirit of boundless exploration for the modern man who goes against the grain. Inspired by the incredibly crafted longships, a centrepiece of the Viking Age and one of the greatest design feats of the ninth century. A symbol of voyage and undeniable perseverance, longships were carefully designed for the skilled seaman who embodied unbridled determination to conquer.
Launched in 1995 to celebrate 150 years since the establishment of Creed in Paris, at the request of Napoleon 3rd and the Empress Eugenie, Millésime Imperial commemorates the rich history of Creed as supplier to the Imperial courts of Europe. Fresh and stylish, Millésime Imperial is a blend of marine accord and iris with sparkling hesperidic (citrus) top notes. The base is warm and richly layered with amber, musk and sandalwood.
Inspired by the exhilarating crispness of mountain air and the purity of cascading alpine streams, a bracing landscape in which the Creed family find relaxation and renewal. A contemporary scent which captures the purity of citrus notes, tea, blackcurrant and musk. Cool, clean, icy and mentholated - reminiscent of sparkling streams coursing through the snowcapped Swiss Alps.
