With Christmas in just a few days, shoppers are rushing to stores like Boots, Superdrug, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols to buy last-minute presents. One of the most in-demand gifts this year is undoubtedly fragrance, and there are already plenty of huge perfume sales happening online and on the high-street.
If you're lucky enough to get a bottle of perfume or aftershave this Christmas, you'll want to make it last as long as possible. According to experts, there's a time of day you should always apply your fragrance if you want it to last as long as possible.
Mona Kattan, the founder of Kayali Fragrance, says that there are certain steps you should follow if you want your perfume to last all day without having to reapply it over and over again. The first important step is to moisturize first.
Mona says: "Fragrances last longer when applied to damp, well-hydrated skin, so make sure your skin is prepped and moisturized before you douse yourself in perfume. Always use an unscented lotion; otherwise, the lotion may mix with the notes of your perfume and alter the scent." Applying Vaseline to your pressure points will also make it stick.
Another tip is to apply perfume at a certain time of the day. "If you apply perfume to your body when it’s still damp, the moisture will trap the scent, so it’ll last longer – plus, you won’t stain any of your clothes with potential spray marks," says Huda Beauty.
If you are still looking for perfume or aftershave to buy someone for Christmas, we've got you covered. If you want to treat yourself, we don't blame you.
Here are our top fragrance picks for Christmas 2022. We have included a mixture of male, female and unisex fragrances, along with products to suit all budgets.
BEST FRAGRANCES FOR WOMEN
YSL Black Opium Neon Eau de Parfum 75ml - £45 at Boots (was £90)
Top notes: dragon fruit accord, mandarin essence, cedrat essence, Heart notes: orange flower accord, jasmine sambac absolute, hibiscus flower accord, Base notes: black coffee accord, vanilla accord, cedarwood virginia essence
Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Soleil Cristal Eau De Parfum 50ml - £41.50 at Boots (was £83)
Top Fragrance Notes: Bergamot and Mandarin oils, Pink Pepper oil, Heart Fragrance Notes: Sunny Coconut accord, Orange Blossom and Jasmine Sambac absolutes, Base Fragrance Notes: Iris concrete, Patchouli Bali Oil and Vanilla Bourbon Premium Madagascar Infusion
Valentino Born In Roma Uomo Eau De Toilette 50ml Spray - £47.50 at The Fragrance Shop
The sophistication of Aromatic Clary Sage, Violet Leaves and Vetiver Essence are contrasted with cool notes of Mineral Salt, radiant Modern Wood and electrifying Ginger.
HUDA Kayali Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper|25 100ml - £83.30 at Sephora (was £98)
Top notes: Pink Pepper, Bergamot, Royal Lily, Saffron, Middle notes: Bulgarian Rose, Rose Centifolia, Magnolia, Vanilla Orchid, Bottom notes: Sandalwood, Patchouli, Sensual Musk, Golden Amber
Mugler Alien Goddess Refillable Eau De Parfum 30ml Spray - £45.60 at The Fragrance Shop
Alien Goddess includes bergamot essence, jasmine grandiflorum SuperInfusion, Madagascar Bourbon vanilla and a note of cashmere.
AFNAN Souvenir Desert Rose Eau De Parfum 100ml Spray - £45 (was £75)
Top notes are Fruity Notes and Musk; middle notes are Tropical Fruits and Powdery Notes; base notes are Citruses, Sandalwood and Amber.
MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN Baccarat Rouge 540 edp spray 70ml - £215.00 at Selfridges
Top notes are Saffron and Jasmine; middle notes are Amberwood and Ambergris; base notes are Fir Resin and Cedar.
Dolce&Gabbana The One Eau de Parfum 75ml Set - £97 at LookFantastic (Worth £126.00)
The fragrance opens with sparkling bergamot and mandarin, blended with the notes of lychee and peach. In the heart, the Madonna Lily ingredient expresses a voluptuous intensity and enveloping femininity, before a seductive dry down of vanilla, ambery and musky notes.
GOLDFIELD & BANKS Sunset Hour perfume concentrate 100ml - £135 at Selfridges
"As a blazing sun dips into the Indian Ocean, the scent of fragrant native fruit pervades the languorous evening breeze. A heavenly cocktail of citrus and spicy delights awaits, giving way to a deliciously gourmand and sensuous floral heart. Best served at sunset hour!"
FRAGRANCE DU BOIS NEW YORK 5TH AVENUE 100ml - £229 at Harvey Nichols
Top notes: Bergamot, Rose, Heart notes: Caramel, Violet, Cyproil, Base notes: Vanilla, Musk, Cashmir Wood, Guaiac Wood
BEST FRAGRANCES FOR MEN
DIOR Sauvage Eau de Parfum 60ml - £64 at Boots (was £74)
Top note is Bergamot; middle notes are Sichuan Pepper, Lavender, Star Anise and Nutmeg; base notes are Ambroxan and Vanilla.
Prada Luna Rossa Carbon Eau De Toilette 50ml Spray - £44.80 at The Fragrance Shop
Top notes are Bergamot and Pepper; middle notes are Lavender, Metallic notes, Coal, Watery Notes and Soil tincture; base notes are Ambroxan and Patchouli.
Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Pour Homme Eau De Toilette 100ml Spray - £53.60
Top notes are Clary Sage and Mandarin Orange; middle notes are Caramel and Tonka Bean; base note is Vetiver.
Issey Miyake Eau & Cedre EDT 50ML - £51.99 at The Perfume Shop
Top notes Cardamom, Heart notes: Cedarwood, Base notes: Vetiver, patchouli
HUGO Just Different For Him Eau de Toilette 75ml - £27 at Superdrug (was £54)
Top notes are Mint and Granny Smith apple; middle notes are Basil, Freesia and Coriander; base notes are Cashmeran, Patchouli, Olibanum and Labdanum.
BEST UNISEX FRAGRANCES
SERGE LUTENS Le Fille de Berlin Eau De Parfum 50ml - £64.45 at AllBeauty (was £110)
Top notes are Rose and Geranium; middle note is Palmarosa; base notes are Honey, Moss and Patchouli.
Maison Oud Khaltaat Rose Eau De Parfum Spray 75ml - £200
Top Notes: Vanilla, Rose & White Floral, Middle Notes: Citrus, Powdery & Yellow Floral, Base Notes: White Musk, Orange Blossom & Coconut
Maison Oud Amira Eau De Parfum Spray 75ml - £200
Top notes: Apple Blossom, White Flowers and Peach, Middle notes: Fruity, Pineapple and Sweet, Base notes: Wild Rose, Musk & Pachouli.
Ormonde Jayne Gatsby 22 - £120 at Ormonde Jayne
Gatsby 22 is confident, edgy and sophisticated. A boisterous burst of Sicilian lemon and bergamot penetrates the senses. Osmanthus, orange blossom and violets follow instantly to smooth off the sharpness.
Commodity Fragrance Bold Discovery Kit - £22
As the name suggests, there is no modesty when it comes to the Bold collection. Infused with darker, richer, exotic notes, these amplified renditions of their 'Expressive' counterpart embody the concept of 'more is more'. Ideal if you intend on making your presence known and turning heads with a unique, trailblazing scent, these fragrances are to be noticed by you and everyone else.
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