I'm an Expert in Gifting Fragrance—43 Chic Perfumes for Everyone on Your List

As one of the most iconic perfumes in the world, there's no better gift for a perfume lover than a bottle of Chanel N°5. Each year, Chanel launches the scent in limited-edition packaging, making it the perfect present for a Chanel perfume lover.

As one of the most expensive-smelling perfumes around, your lucky recipient will adore opening a bottle of Baccarat Rouge 540 (and you'll cement yourself as an amazing gift-giver—forever). With its smouldering amber, saffron and woody notes, it's a timeless fragrance that anyone will adore. I wouldn't blame you for buying a bottle for yourself, too.

There are few things chicer than a Byredo perfume—they're the ultimate in fashion insider scents. For an extra special gift, may I suggest the newly designed bottles of the Night Veils collection? These perfume extraits are not only a long-lasting scent, but they smell heavenly. Vanille Antique is a crowd-pleasing golden, resinous vanilla that is guaranteed to get you compliments.

Retrospect is not only one of our favourite Merit Beauty products, but it's also a beauty-editor favourite. Inside the impossibly chic gold-topped bottle is a soft skin scent, with musk, pear and florals that give it a golden radiance that is incredibly sophisticated. If you want to buy something for a hard-to-please beauty lover, you can't go wrong with this scent.

Nothing sets a beauty lover's heart racing quite like a present from Diptyque. Thankfully, there's plenty to choose from its holiday collection, from festive candles to limited edition Diptyque perfumes. Orphéon is adored by our beauty team, with its fresh and sparkling opening that dries down to a warm, powdery base. It's the ultimate French-girl fragrance.

I don't know any perfume lover who won't audibly gasp upon opening this beautiful Dior solid perfume. Housed in a gold case, you twist up the solid perfume, which you can swipe onto your wrists and neck. It's the perfect size for on the go, and makes the most chicest of stocking fillers.

As one of the most-coveted scents of 2025, gifting this scent will put you in the good books of any fragrance fan. This airy, clean scent combines the floral-muskiness of the original Valaya (which is one of my most-complimented perfumes, ever) with a twist of nutty almond that makes it utterly addictive. I can't stop smelling my wrists whenever I wear it.

Maison Crivelli is one of our beauty team's favourite niche perfumes, but it's Tubéreuse Astrale that is easily our favourite. I once received 10 compliments within an hour after wearing it, and it's truly stunning. Inspired by the night sky, it's creamy and velvety with tuberose, tempered with an addictive suede-like leather that makes it totally irresistible.

Not sure which Byredo fragrance to buy them? This perfume discovery set allows them to try six of Byredo's most-loved fragrances, from Bal d'Afrique to Mohave Ghost, and the cost can be redeemed against a full-sized bottle once they have found their favourite.

Comète is rich in Chanel lore. Coco Chanel herself was often inspired by astrology and the stars, and inspired the creation of a diamond shooting star necklace that hugs the neck. It inspired this scent, which is a breathtaking powdery floral with cherry blossom, iris and heliotrope. It's like bottled stardust.

From Loewe comes the new Crafted Collection, with three impossibly chic scents to choose from that the fashion lover in your live will delight in opening. Inspired by singular raw materials, Roasted Vanilla has sumptuous, velvety depths with oakwood and pink pepper that make it utterly addictive.

I don't know anyone who wouldn't love to unwrap a bottle of Celine's weighty perfume bottles to treasure on their dressing table. But, I'd highly recommend Parade. It's a sensual, powdery musk that smells like your skin, but better—deal for those who don't like overwhelming scents, but still want to smell sophisticated.

If you're buying for the person who wants to smell like they own countless Bottega bags, then you're in luck. Building upon their fragrance collection of Bottega Veneta perfumes, the fashion house has now launched three new scents inspired by the night. Almost Dawn captures the glowing radiance of an emerging sunrise, with chestnut wood, white truffle and vanilla. Housed in a glass-blown bottle that comes with its own marble stand, there's really no chicer scent you can gift.

Daisy is an iconic scent, and its newest iteration sees this breezy, blue-sky floral elevated with jasmine, vetiver and notes of banana blossom that give it a creamy, delectable twist. It's a failsafe perfume for a younger sister that will see them through the year.

As vanilla fragrances go, it's hard to top the Vanilla Powder Extrait De Parfum. It smells exactly how you would imagine, with a sweet powdery trail of vanilla that really does get you noticed. The Extrait version is even more long-lasting, and is a real compliment magnet.

This bold yet effortlessly chic fragrance captures the spirited energy of London, with juicy bursts of red and dark berries up top, gently softened by violet and jasmine in the heart, and anchored by warm woods, musk and amber at the base.

Beauty editors would prefer to keep this scent a secret if they could, but I'm spilling. Sun-drenched orange blossom and neroli sparkle amongst earthy vetiver, making it smell like bottled sunshine. Any floral perfume lover will adore it.

A classic fragrance, Chloé Eau de Parfum has stood the test of time, and smells just as luxe and sophisticated as it did when it launched. Powdery and soft, rosy and feminine, there's a reason why this airy floral perfume is so loved and timeless.

If you're stuck on what to get your recipient, then I couldn't recommend another perfume more than Glossier You. Universally loved, this perfume develops with your natural skin chemistry to make you smell incredible. It's creamy, skin-like and musky, and this festive gift set contains a full-sized bottle, as well as a travel-sized vial for on-the-go top-ups.

This new Chanel fragrance (marketed towards men, but we're not big believers of gendered scent) takes the iconic Bleu DNA and intensifies it with leathery, resinous amber at its core. Sure, it's a great scentt for those who enjoy a masculine-leaning scent, but I know plenty of beauty editors who love and wear Bleu themselves, too.

This new, more potent version of the iconic Gucci Flora line opens with a burst of bright Italian mandarin essence. At its heart, a creamy gardenia accord is blended with hedione, which lends floral richness. It's jammy, fruity and floral, with amazing lasting power on the skin.

Ask beauty editors about their most-complimented perfumes, and they will, no doubt, tell you that Amouage Guidance gets them chased down the street by strangers. This fruity floral is given a praline twist with hazelnut, encased in warm, velvety petals, which make it mouthwateringly delicious and will undoubtedly have passers-by asking after your scent.

If you’re on the hunt for a perfume gift for a recipient who is bold and full of personality, then consider this scent. This fragrance bursts with sparkling mandarin juice and velvety peach, hypnotic on the opening, drying down into hypnotic red spider lily and jasmine sambac that make it oh-so seductive to the core. The finish is addictive: warm, vanilla-y and and resinous.

This particular scent went TikTok-viral after a video of a Parisian woman pulled it out of her handbag and shared how it's beloved by French women. This amber-floral oozes sophistication. A twist of bergamot, plum and pink pepper opens the scent, leading to a heart of skin-like musk, hypnotic rose, and creamy tuberose, all tempered with a deliciously warming vanilla base. It's heaven;y.

Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Eau de Toilette is a timeless fragrance that captures the essence of purity and freshness—it's an ideal perfume gift for those who favour clean, floral scents. Launched in 1992, this iconic perfume is renowned for its minimalist design and elegant composition, which still smells modern even now.

As fine fragrances go, there's something incredibly special about receiving a Guerlain perfume. Tobacco Honey is a failsafe for the fragrance fanatic in your life, with its golden honeyed amber and smoky tobacco trail that has earned it as a favourite perfume amongst fragrance super-fans.

When in doubt, a Jo Malone London perfume will always, always be appreciated (receiving the signature black and cream gift box, tied with a grosgrain ribbon, is unmatched). New for the festive season is Sandalwood & Spiced Apricot Cologne, which is a delightful, smooth apricot scent, grounded by creamy, woody sandalwood and warming vanilla. It's a great perfume that is wearable enough year-round, too.

If you or your gift recipient aspires to smell like a chic Parisian, then the new Barénia Intense is sure to make you smell like quiet luxury. This beautiful chypre scent is a more potent form of the original Barénia, making it a perfect winter perfume or evening scent.

Escentric Molecules perfumes (and especially Molecule 01) are a beauty editor's secret to smelling subtle and expensive. The new Escentric 02 Extrait de Parfum amplifies the ambroxan of the original Escentric 02 scent, making the woody and musky fragrance even more potent and long-lasting. It creates a halo of scent and is a guaranteed compliment magnet.

For an ultra-luxurious treat, allow me to point you in the direction of Dior's Esprit fragrances. These draw upon Dior's iconic La Collection Prive scents with potent perfume extracts, making them last for hours on end on the skin. Bois d’Argent is the most hypnotic sweet woody scent that leaves a trail of scent wherever you walk.

This is a stunning date night perfume. The creamy tuberose, orange blossom and zesty neroli open the scent, before it unfurls into the depths of tobacco, earthy vetiver and patchouli that leave a hypnotic silage everywhere you walk. Wear with caution: it will have strangers asking what you're wearing.

One of the biggest and new perfume launches of the year is Miu Miu's Miutine, which is a firm favourite of our beauty team. It's a delicious gourmand perfume, with notes of wild strawberry, gardenia, brown sugar, vanilla and patchouli. It's a grown-up, chic take on sweet perfumes.

If you're stuck on a single fragrance to gift, then a travel set or discovery set is a smart way to go, allowing your recipient to try a range of fragrances. But to be honest, they'll no doubt fall in love with every single scent in Trudon's Rouge Collection—each scent is as stunning and expensive-smelling as the next.

Phlur perfumes are the perfect fragrance for the cool girl in your life. There are so many stunning scents to choose from, but my personal favourite is Vanilla Skin, which is almost good enough to eat. Hypnotic vanilla dries into a cosy cashmere wood base that makes you feel like you're bundled in the softest of cashmere.

Who wouldn't want to unwrap a Tom Ford perfume on Christmas Day? At the outset, the scent greets you with a luscious date accord, infused with warming cinnamon and smoky labdanum for an opulent, rich-smelling scent that glows, much like the amber-toned bottle itself.

I can always tell when someone is wearing this perfume—it's a stunning signature scent. Smooth, smouldering and undeniably sensual, it's a seductive blend of white musk, suede and rose that will have everyone asking what you're wearing. Can we take a moment for the chic lacquered bottle, too?

Any fragrance connoisseur will appreciate a bottle of Le Labo Santal 33. It's a timeless and incredibly chic scent of sandalwood that is both fresh, woody, spicy and creamy all in one. It's a universally loved scent, and perfect for those who appreciate niche fragrances.

Any beauty lover would love to find a bottle of Aesop under their Christmas tree. My suggestion? Go for Eidesis. It's a spicy, warming woody scent that perfectly captures the botanical vibe of Aesop, and is a brilliant woody perfume to see your recipient through the colder months.

Inspired by cognac, is one of the best boozy scents around that feels totally decadent to wear. Zesty bergamot, grapefruit and crisp aldehydes deliver an instant hit of brightness—think effervescent and refreshing, like the first sip of something chilled. As it settles, smooth cognac essence, myrrh resin and creamy tonka bean melt together to create a soft, addictive warmth that lingers beautifully on the skin.

If you know someone who has been exceptionally good this year, then a bottle of Creed will always be appreciated. Featuring 80-year-aged oud, this scent unfurls into powdery rose and warming spices that envelop you as you wear it. It's truly one of a kind and a special gift for any oud perfume aficionado.

This fragrance is so good, it won in our Who What Wear UK Next in Beauty Awards fragrance category. Featuring a delectable Italian milk foam accord, it's deliciously creamy, lactonic and addictive.

For any Gen Z recipients on your present list, this Calvin Klein body mist makes for a great stocking filler. The Vanilla Nude scent is a real crowd-pleaser, and it can also be used as a hair perfume, too.

Only those who are really in the know about perfumes know about Serge Lutens. The chic French fragrance house creates some incredible perfumes, but Ambre Sultan is a warming amber classic that's perfect for the season.