Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) is the best time to buy fragrance. Whether you’re shopping the shelves at Boots or your go-to niche perfumer, it’s the only time of year when you can find nearly every scent on offer.
If you’re someone who wears perfume daily, you’ll already have your top-tier choices: maybe you’re a sucker for Le Labo Santal 33 or you’re addicted to Glossier You.
Then there’s the crowd-pleasers at Gucci, Byredo’s complex blends and the genderless scents at Harry Styles’ Pleasing. Either way, the final weekend of November is the best opportunity to get whatever’s on your list for less.
If you’re feeling adventurous and up for choosing something new, winter’s the time for heady blends powered by comforting vanilla and warm woody notes. Dressing up for a big night out? Try sultry musk or tobacco. Since aroma doesn’t travel as well in the cold, I’d recommend going for a potent eau de parfum over an eau de toilette or cologne so it’s not lost when you’re out and about.
Now we’re knocking on the door of the festive season, it’s a great opportunity to treat someone while making the most of your Christmas gifting budget. If you’re not sure what they’re into, most of the top fragrance houses offer discovery sets which will be on offer, too. And since these are usually minis, they’re handy for those who like to spritz on the go.
Our top tip? Shop around the multi-brand retailers as well as the brand’s own websites to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Liberty and Space NK are the best for niche brands while Boots, Superdrug and The Perfume Shop are better for the well-known blends.
Best Black Friday Deals On Men's Fragrances
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Spray - 50ml
An instantly recognisable Tom Ford scent, Tobacco Vanille is one of the most iconic winter scents you can buy. Silky smooth and rich, the spicy notes of vanilla, tonka beans and cocoa balance sweet romance with a spicy confidence. Gentlemanly charm in a bottle.
Was: £222
Buy now £177.60, Sephora
BOSS Bottled Night Eau de Toilette 200ml
Splash out on a brand new fragrance for less this Black Friday. Amazon has this deal on BOSS Bottled Night for 63 per cent off the RRP.
Was: £119
Buy now £49.95, Fragrance Direct
Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum 60ml
Dior Sauvage is one of the most versatile fragrances for men. It’s a fresh, woody blend with a subtly masculine finish which works for pretty much any situation going – and, right now, it’s £15 off.
Was: £85
Buy now £70.00, Boots
Le Labo Tonka 25 50ml
Le Labo describes Tonka 25 EDP as “evoking the smell of warm skin” – and the brand couldn’t be more right. When you first spritz, you get the top notes of sweet vanilla and woody cedar. Then it settles to a powdery musk which is so subtle it feels as if it's your natural scent, making it perfect for guys who like their aftershaves understated. And, like all of the brand’s sprays, the scent sticks from morning to night.
Was: £170
Buy now £153.00, Fenwick
Byredo Gypsy Water 50ml
French perfumer Byredo is offering a free 70g candle of your choice (which is worth £35) with every purchase over £150 during Black Friday weekend. Since the fragrances are £150 or above, it’s an instant win. My favourite blend is Gypsy Water which is powered by woody notes of pine and sandalwood balanced with the spiciness of pepper and incense.
Buy now £150.00, Byredo
Malin & Goetz Leather EDP
This unisex fragrance is a fun play on the leather theme, uniting its nots with muted florals and wood for a vintage scent that, like leather, gets better with time. It opens with lotus flower and the spice of pepper and clove, before unfurling to a heart of muguet, orchid and green violet. Base notes hum with cedarwood, sandalwood and of course, the star ingredient itself. Vegan friendly.
Was: £86
Buy now £77.40, Liberty
Best Black Friday Deals On Women's Fragrances
Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 Eau de Toilette
Escentric Molecules’ fragrances are designed to enhance your natural body chemistry. This one is made up of 100% iso e super, a molecule which creates a hyper-modern cedarwood scent when it mixes with your own smell. The end result is an aura which feels entirely personal.
Was £115
Buy now £92.00, Space NK
Yves Saint Laurent Opium Eau de Parfum 90ml
The warming aroma of Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium Eau de Parfum has endured since the 80s. While offering a touch of nostalgia, it is already incredibly distinctive where the spicy finish of vanilla, amber and patchouli have a long-lasting trail. The musky, sophisticated scent has top notes of mandarin and lily of the valley with a heart of jasmine and carnation.
Was: £125
Buy now £100.00, lookfantastic
Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml
Does it get any better than a Tom Ford fragrance? The perfect blend of masculine and feminine, anyone who leaves clouds of Black Orchid in their wake exudes a certain understated sophistication that’s sure to turn heads.
Fusing floral notes of jasmine and gardenia with the strength of sandalwood and vetiver for distinctly blurred gender lines, it’s crafted using a high concentration of perfume oils so a little most certainly goes a long way.
Was: £152
Buy now £121.60, LOOKFANTASTIC
DIOR Miss Dior Eau de Parfum 100ml
Natalie Portman approved and therefore in our basket, Miss Dior is a light and floral note that is universally adored. The blossoming bouquet is overflowing with freshness from the notes of Lily-of-the-Valley, peony, iris and rose. At the base, however, it becomes creamy and comforting from the elements of musk, vanilla, benzoin, tonka bean and sandalwood. Cue the compliments.
Was: £145
Buy now £130.00, Boots
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau de Parfum for Women
The gourmand aroma in the beloved Gucci Flora Gorgeous collection, the yellow-toned flacon is filled with the rich and potent notes of vanilla and orchids. It is a scent that plays off contrasts by setting the warming touch of vanilla with the fresh marine Ozonic accord that brings balance and prevents it from becoming overly sweet.
The fragrance leaves a lasting impression where only a little goes a long way and is refillable.
Was: £95
Buy now £76.00, Boots
Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum Spray 35ml
Chanel’s N°5 is oft dubbed “the very essence of femininity”. The iconic aroma is defined by its powdery floral bouquet aroma that has stood the test of time. Not your typical vanilla aroma, it centres around May Rose and jasmine with a zesty citrus opening. But once it settles on the skin, what remains is a deep, smooth and sensual vanilla trail that lasts. The flacon is almost as instantly recognisable as the aroma itself with its minimal, square glass exterior.
Was: £75
Buy now £60.00, Amazon
Armani Si Eau de Parfum
This addictive aroma from Armani sits in the chypre scent family. It has a top of blackcurrant liqueur, a heart of rose de mai absolute and freesia and a base of patchouli and oakmoss. The heady aroma is one that stops passersby in their tracks to ask you what you’re wearing. It was formulated back in 2013 but remains as popular today as ever.
Was: £95
Buy now £76.00, lookfantastic
Best Black Friday Deals On Fragrance Gift Sets
Jo Malone Twelve Days of Ornaments
From the stylish monochrome packaging to the crowd-pleasing scents, Jo Malone is one of the best beauty brands to gift at Christmas. For Black Friday, they’re offering a complimentary full-sized body & hand wash when you spend £130 as well as an orange bitters travel candle and limited edition stocking when you surpass £190.
Our top gifting pick? The twelve day advent calendar which includes a mixture of perfumes, candles and body care all individually wrapped in cute black and white boxes.
Buy now £180.00, Jo Malone
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette 100ml Gift Set
Whether you're shopping for Christmas pressies or future birthdays, a perfume gift set rarely misses the mark. This set includes a 100ml EDT of Marc Jacobs' Daisy, a travel version and a scented body lotion to boot.
Was: £99
Buy now £79.20, Lookfantastic
Glossier Two Of You
The stampede-causing fragrance from Glossier is on sale! Get a 50ml and 8ml bottle of Glossier You, and never be without your new favourite smell.
Was: £80
Buy now £60.00, Space NK
Dolce & Gabbana Duo Mini Set
It's a modest saving, but it's also D&G so we'll take our wins where we can. With packaging this good, you'll barely need to wrap up the set, which includes miniatures of The One and Light Blue.
Was: £24
Buy now £20.40, Boots
Hermès Twilly d’Hermès gift set, Eau de Parfum
Treat someone special to a gift they will adore. Hermes three-piece gift set includes a 50ml Twilly fragrance, a 15ml mini and a 40ml lotion - all suitable for travel.
Was: £105
Buy now £89.25, Boots
Sana Jardin Discovery Set
Not only do Sana Jardin’s scents smell amazing, but they’re also responsibly made to empower female harvesters in the supply chain. The brand helps them to learn new skills, create their own products and earn an independent income.
Was: £35
Buy now £24.00, Sana Jardin
Gucci Eau de Parfum Discovery Fragrance Gift Set
Tumble into a world of Gucci for less this Black Friday. The luxury house's fragrances are on sale at John Lewis; four miniatures for men and women in a sized-down version of their famous packaging. Perfect for adding to your travel beauty kit or slipping into Christmas stockings.
Was: £67
Buy now £53.60, John Lewis
Aesop Fragrance Anthology Volume I
Australian beauty expert Aesop is known for its complex, spicy scents, perfect for the colder months – and the mini pump spray bottles are perfect for your handbag. Why not try them out for 20 per cent off?
Was: £35
Buy now £28.00, Space NK
Phlur Best Sellers Deluxe Trio
It's the cult fragrance on every beauty insider's lips right now. Phlur's three bestsellers are here in mini, handbag-friendly format ready for adding to basket. Each measuring 5ml, you'll get Vanilla Skin, Father Figure and Missing Person in the set. An economical way to trial them before buying your full-size favourite.
Was: £28
Buy now £22.40, Space NK
CREED Women's Sample Inspiration Fragrance Gift Set
Creed's fragrances are legendary, but they don't exactly come cheap. Before you stump up for a full-size bottle, get your hands on this discovery set which includes five vials. You can see how they develop and how long they last before picking your fave.
Was: £40
Buy now £32.00, John Lewis
Acqua Di Parma Colonia Gift Set
If you're searching for something special for that tricky customer on your Christmas shopping list, Space NK has just the ticket. Its discounted Acqua Di Parma's Colonia Gift Set, which contains a 100ml cologne, scented hand and body wash (75ml) and matching body lotion (75ml), all in the timeless Colonia fragrance. Plus it comes in a gorgeous presentation box, ready for handing over.
Was: £154
Buy now £123.20, Space NK
When does Black Friday end?
The event always runs until the Monday afterwards, known as Cyber Monday. This year that is December 2.
That said, many retailers have allowed their Black Friday sales to turn into pre-Christmas sales, sometimes running onto Boxing Day and even January. Reductions can fluctuate so if you see something you like at an agreeable price - don’t wait.
