Gifting someone else a fragrance can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Yeah, perfumes are tricky if you don’t know the person that well, but they aren’t the only scented option to gift this holiday season.
To keep you from wandering the aisles, wafting in the different scents until you’re lightheaded, we have rounded up below 20 good-smelling gifts. From bath products and diffusers to luxury candles and under-$50 options, isn’t the highest compliment being told you smell good?
So, you’re looking for the best scented gifts?
➼ Under $25
➼ Under $50
➼ Under $75
➼ Under $100
➼ Under $150
➼ Under $200
➼ Over $200
➼ Our experts
Best Under $25
Dove Hot Cocoa Body Scrub
We all know that one person who turns to treats during the holidays, from hot chocolate to peppermint bark. Putting these fragrances on your body can sometimes be overbearingly sweet, but Dove’s holiday hot-cocoa scent has notes of cocoa and toasted marshmallow that smell a bit nutty and layer well with vanilla. This body scrub will not only leave them smelling amazing, but it also gently exfoliates the skin, leaving it silky-smooth.
EOS Shea Better Holiday Body Lotion Sparkling Amber
TikTok can’t stop talking about EOS scents. Sparking Amber has become a favorite because people have been comparing it to Baccarat Rouge 450. To be honest, it does smell very similar, and the moisture it provides lasts all day long.
Phlur Vanilla Skin Deodorant
Phlur’s Vanilla Skin was probably the scent of the year from its growing popularity on social media and at retailers. The brand recently launched deodorant that smells just like the scent. It’s sweet and addictive, and it actually works. It’s the perfect gift for the friend who can’t stop talking about how much they love the scent; it’ll complete their collection.
OSEA Vagus Nerve Pillow Spray
This lavender- and chamomile-infused pillow spray is a must-have for relaxation and meditation.
Nippon Kodo Aloeswood Incense
It doesn’t have to be expensive to be great. Ashlea Halpern over at the Strategist describes the scent: “Delicate but powerful. Not in a nose-singeing, throat-scratching, dorm-room patchouli kind of way, but more like I’d stumbled into a dewy meadow or sun-dappled timberland and inhaled with all my might.”
Best Under $50
Saltair Pink Beach SPF Body Oil
Saltair is beloved for its blissful vacation scents like Pink Beach. This year, the brand turned the coconut-and-vanilla fragrance into a glistening body oil with SPF. The sun-kissed glow it gives is like no other.
Kai Bathing Bubbles
This is No. 1 on our Best-Smelling, Bubbliest, Most Soothing Bath Products roundup: “The cult-favorite gardenia scent has a slightly creamy undertone that translates well into a relaxing bath, and the bubbles are also kind of mellow.”
L’Occitane Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil
Perfect for an at-home spa day, or every day. Mom get super-soft skin, plus the aroma of warm almonds and vanilla. If she likes it, you can buy her the refill (with 78 percent less packaging) next time.
Maison Louis Marie No.12 Bousval Candle
Simple and minimal, this candle has subtle notes of orange, bergamot, and cardamom. Keep this earthy and woody candle lit or leave it as a centerpiece on a coffee table.
NEST New York Driftwood & Chamomile Candle
This candle sets the perfect recovery vibe, infused with chamomile and driftwood to calm and comfort the mind and body.
Josie Maran Topless Tangerine Exfoliating Body Scrub Jar
This sugar scrub gently exfoliates the body while conditioning it with shea butter and argan oil, a shower must-have. The topless tangerine scent is a juicy citrus that adds to the body-care experience, and the refillable packaging is so easy to travel with.
Tocca Candela Classica Saint Tropez
This earthy yet rosy candle encapsulates floral gardens in the South of France. If you have a friend who visits every summer (or wants to), gift them this to transport them their for the holidays.
Hermés Barénia Perfumed Soap Bar
Hermés launched a Birkin-inspired chypre fragrance this year. The patchouli and citrus scent smells like a second skin. This soap bar has a luxurious lather and is engraved with a jumbo H for Hermés, a chic bathroom statement for any host.
Better World Fragrance House Sweeter Tings Scented Candle
Yes, Drake has a candle line, and the scents actually smell really good. If you’ve ever been in the lobby of the Edition Hotel, you’ve likely been captivated by the citrusy yet warm and inviting scent. This smells just like that, and it comes with a gold marker so it can be customized by the owner.
Aesop Shine Hair & Beard Oil
This lightweight beard oil has a citrusy aroma for the man who likes his beard to smell good; it also provides a luster that nourishes and softens beard hairs.
Boy Smells Hinoki Fantôme Room Spray
What do you give your homebody friend who has every homey item they could possible have? A fragrance for their room. This one leaves an earthy aroma with vetiver and fir balsam; it’s meant to be meditative and invigorate the senses, a dream for anyone who loves the comfort of their own home.
Best Under $75
Glasshouse Fragrances Christmas 3-Piece Candle Set
Glasshouse scents fill up my home in November and December because they don’t smell like corny holiday scents that bring back yucky nostalgic odors. Instead, they play on the freshness of holiday scents and make you want to light a candle, bake cookies, and turn on a Hallmark movie.
Cécred Temple Oud Candle
Beyoncé’s ultimate gift to us is a Christmas performance this year. You probably aren’t gifting your BeyHive friends tickets, but you can gift them a Cécred candle. The temple-oud scent of the hair products has had me sniffing my hair all day (not cute), but that’s how good it smells. With notes of oud and sandalwood, the candle will fill up any home with cozy vibes.
Burberry Her & Burberry Goddess 4-Piece Mini Holiday Gift Set
When you have absolutely no idea what to get someone who loves scent, play it safe by gifting this Burberry set. Both Burberry Her and Burberry Goddess are beloved, so you can let them choose for themselves.
Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain Scented Oval
Hate candles, but still want to be able to choose the aroma in your space? Diptyque’s scented wax ovals omit scent for up to three months just by hanging around and looking pretty.
Brown Sugar Babe IT Girl Body Oil
Brown Sugar Babe tapped beauty editor Kayla Greaves this year for a body-oil scent that exudes confidence like an “It” girl does. With patchouli, myrrh, bergamot, and black pepper, the thick oil seeps into the skin while leaving a lingering scent that sticks to any fragrance applied on top of it.
Via Citrus Meyer Lemon Tree
This isn’t just any lemon tree; it’s a Meyer lemon tree, whose citrus is said to have a more floral, even slightly spicy aroma compared to regular old lemons.
Santa Maria Novella Pot Pourri in Embroidered Silk Sachet
This sachet filled with a mixture of buds, leaves, and flower petals typical of the Tuscan hills is the sort of luxury we’d never buy for ourselves but would love to get as a gift. Santa Maria Novella is an apothecary in Florence, Italy, and the oldest pharmacy in the world. The proprietors have been making potpourri for three centuries — they know what they’re doing.
Best Under $100
Naked Beauty x Modern Magic Eau De Parfum
Beauty podcaster Brooke DeVard bottled up her vision of Los Angeles in a scent: a bergamot and neroli scent balanced with musk notes like amber. It’s a scent that changes throughout the day as you wear it, and the bold orange bottle is a treat for any fragrance shelf.
Parfums de Marly Valaya Hair Mist
If you have a friend who sprays their fragrance in their hair, please stop them. The alcohols in fragrance are damaging to hair, which is why hair mist exists. My most complimented one is Parfums de Marly’s Valaya mist, a fresh yet floral scent that grips to the oils and weight of my hair and usually lasts longer than the scent on my body.
FORVR Mood I Am Her Eau de Parfum
Beauty influencer Jackie Aina launched her first fragrances this year after being a scent authority. The most beloved? I Am Her, a pear and red-velvet blend with subtle hints of oud. It’s feminine and badass, so it’s safe to say it lives up to the name.
NOYZ 12:00 Eau de Parfum
This scent is meant to stop time, so you don’t know if you’re ending the night or starting it. It’s bold enough to be seductive, but also playful enough, with notes like raspberry, to be an everyday scent. It gets endless compliments without breaking the bank.
Maison Margiela REPLICA’ Candle Set
This Maison Margiela candle set has a scene-inspired candle for every mood. Our favorite? Jazz Club. Overall, these candles are great to have around the house because even if you don’t light them, you’ll get a whiff of the notes and they look nice if your décor is on the minimal side.
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Parfum Body Crème
The person in your life who has a shelfie full of products can never have too many body creams. Fenty’s body cream smells just like the fragrance — spicy and warm with notes of rose. The thick cream hydrates the skin while leaving the alluring scent behind. Not only will they have the most luscious skin, but they’ll be smelling just as good as it looks.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Hand and Body Cleansing Gel
This is like a gift for you too — your partner will smell better than they ever have before. And nothing says “I think you’re a grown-up with long-term relationship potential” like fancy hand wash.
Sol de Janeiro Biggie Biggie Bum Bum Cream
Every beach bag deserves a Bum Bum cream. The lusciously warm scent is hard not to love, and this jumbo-size cream will last for months. It’s a gift for the friend who is always on a flight for beach vacation.
Moodeaux Worthy IntenScenual Eau De Parfum
Moodeaux fragrances are formulated with less alcohol to minimize the drying effect for sensitive skin, but it doesn’t affect the scent at all. In fact, it lasts longer than most because it has a higher percentage of fragrance oil. This scent, Worthy, is a woodsy floral aroma that the brand dubs “a hug in a bottle,” and I must admit I do immediately feel at ease when I wear it because of how velvety it feels and smells on the skin.
Byredo Summer Rain Candle
Byredo is a classic. It’s so aesthetically pleasing that you might never want to light it. Byredo’s summer rain has warm sandalwood and tonka beans as the base with top essential-oil notes.
Best Under $150
Loewe Honeysuckle small scented candle
Because who wouldn’t want a Loewe candle? They’re long-lasting with an aroma that fills the entire home and the vessel is the gift that keeps on giving even after the candle is done burning.
Saje Aroma (Be) Free™ Matte Black
A diffuser is a good way to scent your space safely (no fire hazard) and naturally. This one is attractive enough that you can leave it out as decor, too and Saje’s essential oil blends have a powerful aroma so the scent travels across your home.
Blondery Variety Box
Send a person sweets and you feed them for a day. Send them an assortment of blondies, though, and you fill their home with the smell of deliciousness for more than just a day (if they can resist). This decadent assortment would be great to bring to a gathering, too because it includes gluten-free and vegan options.
Best Under $200
STORA SKUGGAN Moonmilk Eau de Parfum
This scent is for people who don’t like to smell like anyone else. Stora Skuggan’s scents introduce you to a room before you step in; that’s how intense they are. Moonmilk has unique notes of sandalwood, black tea, leather, and black pepper. Even though it’s warm and creamy, it’s also slightly animalic.
Bvlgari Allegra Magnifying Sandalwood Eau De Parfum
This is another scent that’s designed to layer; it’s a magnifier meant to intensify the perfume you’re already wearing. Because it’s sandalwood based, it pairs great with other notes in the musk family.
Cartier Les Écrins Parfumés Cartier Désert Candle
This is the candle I love to pull out when I have company because of how inviting and fresh it smells. Cartier candles also last forever.
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau de Parfum
This is Gucci’s first gourmand fragrance, and the first time I smelled it I immediately asked, Why haven’t they explored this sooner? It’s an overload of vanilla that leaves a honeyed sweetness on the skin, one that’s rich but not overpowering.
Liis Choux Choux Eau De Parfum
Inspired by decadent French pastries, Choux Choux is a rich gourmand scent with notes of sandalwood and cocoa. Many scents have been trying to smell like actual food; this smells more elevated and the sweet notes are balanced out with citrus peel. It lasts all day long. I’ve gotten endless compliments on how delicious it smells.
2787 Genetic Bliss Eau De Parfum
As a molecule perfume, this adapts to everyone’s body differently. The fun in gifting it is seeing how it smells on the recipient.
Victoria Beckham 21:50 Reverie Eau De Parfum
This is the scent I wear for every date night. The mysterious tobacco enveloped with creamy vanilla makes it an alluring feminine scent. Victoria Beckham created this scent to reawaken a travel memory with her husband, David Beckham, so it makes sense that it’s so fitting for date night.
Best Over $200
D.S. & Durga 1.7 oz. I Don’t Know What Eau de Parfum
There’s a science behind layering fragrances and creating your own signature scent. This isn’t a fragrance to wear alone; it’s an enhancer that’s meant to be layered on top of your favorite fragrance. The result is a signature scent that mixes well with your body chemistry. It intensifies whatever you’re already wearing and smells great on everyone.
Parfums de Marly Althair Eau de Parfum
Parfum de Marly’s newest scent is a rich, musky one. With notes like bourbon vanilla and cinnamon, it is a long-lasting fragrance that gets compliments all day long.
Acne Studios par Frédéric Malle Eau de Parfum
Frédéric Malle’s interpretation of Acne Studios is a clean, yet magnetic scent with a sweetness of peach and florals that make it addicting.
Fragrance Du Bois Sirene Extrait de Parfum
Extraits are the most concentrated forms of perfumes. Fragrance du Bois is home to extraits that are uniquely crafted for specific types of people. This cherry and incense fragrance is its first female-inspired scent.
Van Cleef & Arpels Encens Precieux
Van Cleef scents are often full of mystery. This one smells like tobacco overload, a great scent to layer with creamy and warm perfumes.
Mind Games Prodigy Extrait de Parfum
Mind Games often takes notes that you’d never expect to be blended together, and the result is magical. Prodigy fuses rose with cinnamon for a spicy surprise — they’re wafted together with soft musks for a flirty finish.
Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum
Have a friend who can’t get enough of vanilla? If Gucci Flora isn’t enough, this Vanilla Powder perfume dries down with a bit of an enticing coconut aroma.
Our Experts
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