Tag: friendship

Spoil Them Rotten with the Luxurious Discovery Box

The Perfume Society’s Luxurious Discovery Box is a gorgeously curated gift idea, bringing together an incredible line-up of samples from niche and luxury houses, and featuring a huge variety of luxury, niche houses and hidden gems just waiting to be discovered by whomever is lucky enough to receive it. And listen, maybe that person deserves to be YOU…

We think the Luxurious Discovery Box really is perfect gift for any occasion, but especially for a loved one – and if you’re feeling particularly generous, why not include an I.O.U. ‘voucher’ promising to purchase the full size of their favourite? The only snag with that brilliant idea? There are so many fabulous fragrances included in this box that your recipient is likely to fall head over heels for several!

Remember, February isn’t just for romantic partners. This Luxurious Discovery Box makes a thoughtful gift for a best friend at ANY time, or for someone who’s been through a tough time and deserves a gorgeous treat; or indeed, as we say, a spot of scented self-care for yourself, maybe?

Let’s dive into the scented treasures of samples awaiting the lucky owner of this box…

 

 

 

 

The Luxurious Discovery Box: Just £35 (£31 + P&P for VIPs) for sixteen samples from FIFTEEN fragrance houses!

 

 

Memoize London’s Aurora (2ml extrait de parfum ) is a captivating journey that begins with a fascinating marine quality, swiftly followed by a fruity medley of pineapple and tangy rhubarb. As it evolves, a luxuriously smooth jasmine emerges, before settling on a base that combines delicious amber and noble sandalwood. The result? A fragrance that’s both graceful and enchanting, perfect for those seeking a scent that’s truly memorable.

 

For lovers of opulent aromas, BDK Parfums’ Vanille Leather (2ml eau de parfum) is a must-try. Dominique Ropion has crafted a masterpiece, dressing up a leather accord with a bouquet of white flowers – honeyed tuberose, sweet jasmine, and carnal orange blossom. The addition of earthy patchouli and oakwood lends an almost dark chocolate quality to the scent. With breakout notes of pink peppercorn and powdery orris, all wrapped up in Madagascan vanilla, it’s Luxurious Discovery personified.

 

Molton Brown’s Mesmerising Oudh Accord & Gold (1.5ml eau de parfum) is where “Luxurious” transforms into a gilded, glittering dream. Opening with sharp notes of black pepper, cardamom, and bergamot, it broadens to reveal precious saffron and black tea. A wash of rose welcomes the star of the scent – a resinous base of oud and leathery styrax, accompanied by a honeyed tobacco quality. It’s the ideal party perfume, guaranteed to turn heads.

 

Mastenbroek’s London Dusk (2ml eau de parfum) is a playful yet sophisticated scent that captures the essence of London from twilight till dawn. It opens with an innocent blend of coconut and fig, supported by sparkling water notes. As it develops, a carefully measured saffron and incense provide a golden smokiness, hinting at distant parties and morning mist. The dry down reveals an earthy vetiver mixed with sweetened sandalwood, beautifully capturing the transition from night to day.

 

Suave by Brioni (1.8ml eau de parfum) lives up to its name with a charming, confident, and elegant composition. The fragrance opens with vibrant pink pepper and tart mandarin, complemented by piercing galbanum. It then weaves down to earthy vetiver and smooth leather, before settling on a resinous amber and sandalwood base with a hint of oud. It’s the perfect scent to accompany the snappiest suit.

 

The legendary Aventus by Creed (2ml eau de parfum) needs little introduction. This bestseller opens with a disarming pineapple note, developing through resinous birch and floral jasmine, before settling on an earthy oakmoss and animalic ambergris base. A modern classic that continues to captivate fragrance enthusiasts worldwide.

 

Goldfield & Banks’ Mystic Bliss (2ml eau de parfum) is an olfactory interpretation of the Southern Lights. It opens with a pairing of fig and cassis, shot through with green cardamom and clary sage. The heart features a recreation of the native kunzea flower, adding an aromatic purple hue. As the scent evolves, a restless incense appears along with a sweetened amber accord, creating a truly mystical and mesmerising experience.

 

Parfums de Marly’s Valaya (1.5ml eau de parfum) is a study in delicate radiance and scented contrasts. Effervescent notes of white peach and bergamot dance with lily of the valley, creating a veil of scent that drapes effortlessly on the skin. A touch of dry vetiver provides contrast, while orange blossom adds a weightier floral quality. The final touch of patchouli and a whisper of oud ensure this is a keeper.

 

Maison Crivelli’s Oud Stallion (1.5ml extrait de parfum) offers an unexpected take on equestrian-inspired scents. Warm spicy saffron and cardamom are swiftly joined by a leather and oud pairing, creating a lasting sensual intensity. The addition of Turkish rose adds a genderless quality, while cedarwood lends a pleasing dryness to the composition.

 

Edeniste’s Oud Ghazal presents a grown-up interpretation of cherry notes. The opening features a black cherry accord reminiscent of Black Forest gateau, balanced by an arresting pepperiness. As it develops, oud emerges alongside a cognac note, before a bold labdanum makes its presence known. A final touch of earthy vetiver adds surprising brightness, delivering on the promise of a ‘modern gourmet oud’.

 

Oman Luxury’s Paramour (2ml eau de parfum) is a racy blend that proves it’s good to be bad sometimes. A fruity citrus opening of raspberry and grapefruit is complemented by an erotic floral blend. The deeper notes reveal a sensuous sweetness thanks to caramel and tonka bean, while patchouli provides an anchoring darkness that satisfies the senses.

 

Ormonde Jayne’s Muscat, (2ml eau de parfum) evoking the port and its surroundings, is a celebration of discovery. Golden saffron, spicy cinnamon, and deep rose absolute are cleverly blended with earthy oakmoss and green cardamom, creating a vibrant rather than heavy oud accord. A touch of ceremonial sweetened frankincense adds just the right amount of seduction.

 

The Merchant of Venice’s Gold Regatta, (2ml eau de parfum) inspired by the Regata Storica in Venice, opens with a fig and seaweed accord that focuses on textural saltiness. This leads to honeyed immortelle and a driftwood effect, before revealing a sweetened amber base. It’s like a mini-vacation in a bottle.

 

Lacoste Original (2ml eau de parfum) offers a modern interpretation of the brand’s legacy. This bright fougère opens with pink pepper and bergamot, leading to a vibrant heart of lavender and clary sage that’s reminiscent of crisply ironed polo shirts. The base of earthy patchouli and smooth sandalwood completes this sophisticated fragrance.

 

Officine Universelle Buly Eau Triple Fragrance (9ml eau de parfum ~ Note that you will receive one fragrance from the La Douzaine Parfumée collection) offers a selection of their Eaux Triples – one of the following will be selected as a scented surprise in each Luxurious Discovery Box; and each represents a unique olfactory journey. From the sumptuous sandalwood and cardamom of Al Kassir to the fruity, green, frosty notes of Kiso Yuzu, there’s a scent here for every mood and occasion. You will receive one fragrance (in a generous 9ml travel size!) from this selection:

  • AL KASSIR: A sumptuous fragrance, with hints of sandalwood perked up by geranium and cardamom.
  • BERKANE ORANGE BLOSSOM: A bewitching armful of fresh orange blossom and leaves.
  • KOMI FOREST: Russia and its pine trees after the rain, with woody, mineral accords.
  • PERUVIAN HELIOTROPE: A romantic bouquet of white flowers, Tonka bean, and violets.
  • SCOTTISH LICHEN: The irresistibly green scent of the Highlands, bewitched with sage, galbanum, and patchouli.
  • MAKASSAR: An intense oriental blend of woody iris, amber, and blond tobacco.
  • ENGLISH HONEY: The waxy, powdery scent of honey, musk and cedarwood.
  • MEDINA OUD: A mystical fragrance, crafted with accords of agarwood, rose, saffron, and amber.
  • DAMASK ROSE: A magnificent bunch of roses, spiced with ginger and vetiver.
  • SUMI HINOKI: A deep note of smoked Hinoki wood, cypress, and incense.
  • MEXICAN TUBEROSE: Tuberose at its best, where white flowers are highlighted with vanilla, clove, and musk.
  • KISO YUZU: A fruity, green, frosty fragrance with yuzu citrus, mint and Japanese laurel.

 

Finally, another extra special treat from Officine Universelle Buly Pommade Concrete (10ml) – a glorious hand and foot cream true that’s the epitome of a Luxurious gift. With its rich shea butter base and nourishing blend of natural ingredients, it leaves skin silky-smooth and delicately scented with soothing camomile, making it the perfect indulgence for tired hands and feet that need a bit of nurturing.

 

 

 

 

As you can see – and soon, will be able to smell – this Luxurious Discovery Box truly is a treasure trove of olfactory delights. Whether you’re a seasoned fragrance aficionado or just beginning your scent journey, there’s something here for every taste and mood to captivate and inspire. So go ahead, indulge in a little luxury – your favourite people (and you) deserve it!

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Galentine’s Perfume Party: A Fragrant Celebration of Friendship (That Doesn’t Cost a Fortune)

We’re reclaiming February for Galentine’s. Forget heart-shaped helium balloons and overpriced prix-fixe menus at Valentine’s – instead, we’re celebrating the real loves of our lives: our ride-or-die squad. The ones who’ve seen us through questionable haircuts, and dating disasters. This isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about leaning into the joy of connection, laughter, and the deliciously niche hobby we all share:

Obsessing over perfume.

Yes! Picture this: a cosy night in (pyjama dress code: mandatory) with your inner circle, a spread of indulgent snacks, a glass of something fizzy, and a treasure trove of perfume vials contained in a Discovery Box, begging to be explored.

 

 

 

 

No, we’re not talking about decanting your existing collection – though that is a noble pursuit. Imagine instead unboxing a ready-to-sniff, specially curated selection of olfactory surprises, from avant-garde niche, through luxury glam, designer names and reimagined classics; each scent begging to spark a ‘Wait, this smells like…’ moment.

Long-Distance Love-In

Geography got you down? Transform your screens into scent teleporters. Coordinate delivery dates for your Discovery Box parcels (let’s call it ‘synced scent shopping’), then hit ‘join meeting’ with cocktails in hand. Play scent-themed charades or collaborate on a shared spreadsheet ranking each fragrance’s date-ability (‘Would swipe right… but only for a jazz bar rendezvous’).

 

 

 

 

The Rules? There Are None (Except Maybe ‘No Spoilers’)

Blindfold optional, but highly encouraged! Take turns spritzing mystery scents onto blotters (or wrists, for the brave). Does No. 3 evoke 80s power shoulder pads and a Chaka Khan bassline? Is No. 7 the olfactory equivalent of a velvet smoking jacket lounging in a Soho members’ club? Was No. 9 a flashback to a holiday romance? Award bonus points for the most outlandish analogies – the goal is to laugh until your cheeks ache, not critique accords like sommeliers.

Beyond the Bottle

The magic lies not necessarily in finding your signature scent (though that’s a happy bonus), but in the shared experience of discovery. That gasp when a smoky vanilla transforms into something inexplicably nostalgic. The collective ‘No. Way.’ as a leather-bound fragrance conjures memories of that ill-advised ex, but later. These moments become inside jokes, secret handshakes in fragrant form.

 

 

 

 

So, ditch the romantic relationship schmaltz and embrace the deeply personal joy of exploring fragrance with your fiercest allies. After all, nothing says ‘I adore you’ quite like debating whether a tuberose-forward perfume deserves to scent a heist movie montage [that fragrance definitely exists, btw: try Sarah Baker Flame & Fortune! ]

 

Let’s incorporate the following fabulous Discovery Boxes into our Galentine’s celebrations – click on the links for full contents, and descriptions of each fragrance in the box. Meanwhile, here’s some ideas for how you can use each box to create an unforgettable fragrant fiesta…

 

 

Galentine's

 

The Fragrant Fantasy Discovery Box – £22 / £18 for VIPs

This box is perfect for a night of olfactory daydreaming and storytelling, and sharing secrets kept within your closest fragrant friends group.

  • Scent-sational Storytelling: Have each friend choose a fragrance and craft a short story or scenario inspired by it. Is Montblanc Explorer Ultra Blue the scent of a daring deep-sea adventure? Does Maya Njie Tobak evoke memories of a cosy fireside chat?
  • Fragrance Charades: Act out the ‘fantasy’ each scent represents without words. Watch your mates giggle as they try to guess if you’re scaling a mountain (D’otto 1+7) or starring in a scandalous drama (Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Pour Homme).
  • Hand Cream Pampering: End the night with a relaxing hand massage using the Yardley London English Rose hand cream, chatting about your favourite scents from the evening.

 

 

 

Galentine's

 

The Luxurious Fragrances Discovery Box – £35 / £31 for VIPs

This box screams opulence – perfect for a night of perfumed poshness, pampering, and olfactory indulgence!

  • Luxury Scent Bingo: Create bingo cards with fragrance notes commonly found in luxury perfumes (oud, leather, gold, etc.). As you sample each scent, mark off the notes you detect. First to ‘bingo’ wins the sample of their favourite!
  • Perfume Personality Quiz: Develop a quiz that matches each luxurious fragrance to a celebrity or character. Is Creed Aventus the James Bond of scents? Does Molton Brown Mesmerising Oudh Accord and Gold remind you of a glittering Hollywood starlet?
  • DIY Spa Experience: Use the Officine Universelle Buly Pommade Concrete to give each other posh hand massages while discussing which scent made you feel like royalty.

 

 

 

Galentine's

 

The Scented Showcase Discovery Box – £22 / £18 for VIPs

This diverse box is ideal for a variety of Galentine’s fun, fragrant games, and to ease your way in to exploring scents beyond that usual ‘signature’.

  • Blind Date with a Scent: Wrap each sample and have friends ‘speed date’ the fragrances, jotting down first impressions. Would they swipe right on Micheal Kors Gorgeous or Lalique Soleil?
  • Yardley London Flowerful Bouquet Building: Using the five Yardley London samples, challenge your friends to layer and create their own unique ‘bouquet’. Vote on the most creative combination!
  • Scent-sory Journey: For each fragrance, have everyone close their eyes and describe the place, time, or memory it evokes. Does Floral Street Sunflower Pop transport you to a summer festival? Does Argentum Become remind you of a private members club at a spa retreat?

 

 

 

Subscription

 

Grand Finale: The Ultimate Mix & Match

If you decide to really make a night of it and go for all three boxes (lovely Hen Night activity, or birthday bash idea, we’re also thinking), try combining samples from all three boxes for these final activities…

  • Signature Scent Creation: Let each friend create their own ‘signature scent’ for Galentine’s, by layering their favourites from the night. Name these bespoke blends after inside jokes or shared memories.
  • Fragrance Awards Ceremony: Host a light-hearted awards show, with categories like ‘Most Likely to Seduce a Celebrity’, ‘Best First Date Fragrance’, or ‘Scent I’d Wear to Take Over the World’.

 

Remember, the heart of this perfume party is celebrating friendship. These activities aren’t merely about finding the ‘best’ perfume for you, but about creating memories, having a laugh, and appreciating the unique tastes of your cherished circle.

And of course these perfume parties don’t have be for Galentine’s (or whatever you like to call it these days): they can be for any night you fancy a fragrant gathering of besties. So, spritz, sniff, and let the giggles flow as freely as the perfumes you try, in whichever Discovery Boxes you plump for!

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Fragrant gift ideas for friends

While looking for fragrant gift ideas for friends, consider this Christmas as an opportunity to say thank you in scented form – for the shared memories, hope-filled future plans and laughter-filled Zoom catch-ups that got you through the last couple of years!

The best thing about these gifts is, you don’t have to plump for one perfume and hope its ‘the one’ – these gift sets include a range of fragrances with something to tempt everyone. So, instead of getting them the same old thing (which can come across as not really having put any thought in), or randomly picking a scent you’re not sure they’d like (which seems a bit impersonal); choose a set based on the type of friendship you have, and on their unique character – you probably know them best in the whole world, after all!

This Christmas looks set to be better than last year, when so many of us were estranged from loved ones; but if you’re unable to see some of your friends in-person again this year, why not send them one of these boxes of joy, gift one to yourself, too, and arrange another Zoom call (possibly with a cocktail on-hand, why not?!) and enjoy some time smelling through the scents together.

That way you’ll really get to know what they love, and it will give you gift ideas for many years to come as a bonus: genius! For friends near or far – give them one of these to say…

 

 

“Thank you for always having my back, no matter what!”

For friends that have stayed with you through good times AND bad – the ones you could call at 2am crying, and they’d listen / come and get you / can always trust. This socially-conscious, luxury fragrance house have bottles created entirely from recycled glass, along with a sustainability program to help the Moroccan women who pick the orange blossoms used in several of perfumer Carlos Benaïm‘s stunning creations. A magic carpet-ride for the senses.

Sana Jardin Discovery Set: £30

 

 

“Thank you for being as ‘strange’ as me, I love you!”

For the friends you share secret in-jokes (perhaps even brains) with, and are just as wonderfully unique as you – the ones you only have to look at to know what they’re thinking, who can make you laugh across a crowded room. The quirky flair of perfumer Christophe Laudamiel is only matched by his genius skills and superior ingredients. Together with raw ingredient pioneer (Elizabeth Gaynes), and a fragrantly-obsessed supermodel (Helena Christensen!), this ultra-luxe niche collection is addictively fabulous.

Strangelove Discovery Set: £60

 

 

“Thank you for creating precious memories, and allowing me to dream!”

 

For the friends that have travelled with you: around the world, and emotionally, too – they’re by your side no matter how far apart you happen to live, and in even the darkest times you can smile at the shared memories you have. All these fragrances capture snapshots of happy memories in scent, crafted with such sophistication, a sense of refinement, true love and great attention to detail by this brilliant British perfumer and former president of The British Society of Perfumers.

Ruth Mastenbroek Discovery Set: £27.50

 

 

“Thank you for inspiring me with your love of myths / art / history / culture!”

 

 

For the friends who always recommend amazing books / art / places & films – you’re always inspired by what they’ve read or seen, places they’ve been or want to take you to. Here’s a house that takes founder Manos Gerakinis‘ family Istanbul heritage and childhood memories of Greece, and intertwines his love of art, history, classical mythology and philosophy. Scents that simmer with spices and precious ingredients, radiating diversity and passion, like friends who have you writing lists of wonderful new things to explore.

Manos Gerakinis Discovery Set: £35

 

 

“Thank you for understanding the REAL me!”


For friends that see right through to your soul, somehow, and always know when you’re upset or need some extra hugs – these ones just ‘get’ you (the real you) and you never have to explain: they just know. Personality types are integral to choosing the perfect perfume because it’s such an emotional connection. So, each of these fragrances is formed around a distinct character profile, allowing the person choosing to have a strong idea of where to begin. A beautifully thoughtful collection, brilliantly explained.

Olfactive O Discovery Set: £30