There are always one or two names on the gift list that strike fear into the heart. The person who ‘doesn’t really wear perfume’, the one who has a signature scent and refuses to budge, the teen who changes their mind every eleven minutes. How on earth do you choose a fragrance they will genuinely love – and not just smile politely at before shoving it in a drawer for the next decade?!
This is where the Seasonal Scents Subscription – and specifically, the just-launched Winter Box – comes into its own. Rather than pinning all your hopes on one bottle, you are gifting them an entire wardrobe of scented personalities to try on for size. Affordably priced at just £21 for a single box, still beautifully packaged, still feeling utterly treat like, but with far more chance of at least one ‘oh my goodness this is SO me’ moment. In fact, probably several.
[And if you really want to maximise the gifting glory, you could always tuck in a homemade I.O.U. promising a full size of their favourite once they have had time to spray, sniff and swoon their way through all the samples.]
Don’t want to give them an entire year’s worth of scented adventures? Why not subscribe yourself, and give them the Winter Box when it arrives, with the others to look forward to yourself in the New Year? We won’t tell them…
See here for full details of the various subscription options open to you!
Wrapped together in the Winter Box, this luxurious selection of scent samples mean you no longer have to second-guess whether Aunt Julia still wears that 90s classic, or if your best friend is secretly bored of her usual spritz. Instead, you are handing them a whole season’s worth of fragrant adventures to explore. And when they fall head over heels for one – as they inevitably will – that is when your I.O.U. for a full size comes into play. Thoughtful, playful, budget friendly and really rather clever, if you are treating someone else or very much including yourself…
Inside the Winter Box:
Roberto Cavalli Serpentine slinks in for those who love their fragrance with a side of high glamour. Pink pepper, bergamot and blackcurrant sparkle at the opening, while jasmine sambac, lavender, saffron and rose petals create a lush floral heart, melting into vanilla, tonka and patchouli in the base. It is made for late nights, sparkling occasions and anyone who enjoys feeling just a little bit dangerous in the best possible way.
Perroy Goldfawn is unapologetically gourmand – a caramel macchiato fantasy draped in woods and spice – and yet it somehow stays poised rather than sticky. Cedar and sandalwood provide the backbone, wrapped in caramel, amber, vanilla and a flicker of warmth that feels wonderfully moreish. Perfect for the sweet tooth with great tailoring, the person who power dresses but keeps a secret stash of chocolate in their desk drawer.
Jeroboam Kun Amo, meanwhile, is pure bottled joy. A juicy flash of mandarin, bergamot and almond slips into crisp pear, jasmine, raspberry and a salty sea breeze, all anchored by cedarwood, cashmeran, amber woods and that addictive musk signature. It is radiant, flirty and a little bit beach club – the perfect pick for party people, holiday planners and anyone who refuses to let winter dim their sparkle.
Goldfield & Banks Tales of Amber is for the sunset chaser – or anyone whose phone gallery is 90 percent sky photos. Dewy moss and orange blossom give a fresh lift before labdanum, cinnamon, musk and creamy Australian agarwood unfurl into a glow that feels like warm light on skin. If you are shopping for someone who dreams of road trips, slow evenings and big horizons, this is their bottle in the making.
For the friend who loves a bit of drama with their dessert, BDK Parfums Nectar Oud delivers a jewel toned, gourmand oud that never shouts. Raspberry and saffron sparkle at the start before oudh, smoky resins and warm woods glow beneath, cushioned by benzoin and Atlas cedar. It feels like candlelight on gilded frames – perfect for theatre trips, dressy dinners, or that cousin who describes their style as “extra, but make it chic”.
Amouage Decision will speak to the deep thinker on your list – or to anyone quietly rebuilding their confidence this year. A woody aromatic with pink pepper, bergamot and cardamom fizzing up top, it softens into frankincense, juniper, myrrh and gentle woods, like standing beneath an ancient tree after a storm has passed. This is one for reflective mornings, big life choices, or when you want to feel composed and capable even if your to do list is chaotic.
Montblanc Explorer Ultra Blue, in its winter guise, is like a brisk walk by a cold sea followed by a cashmere jumper. Italian bergamot, citrus and a hint of pink pepper cut through the chill, while marine notes, grey amber, patchouli and woods bring a clean but comforting trail. Reach for this for travellers, outdoorsy types, or anyone who wants something fresh yet grown up for office days and weekend escapes alike.
Amber lovers and cosy night in devotees will gravitate to Ella K Parfums Amber K. Here, spices, spider lily and cigar leaf swirl into cocoa, iris and woods, settling in a soft, amber and vanilla cocoon with just a sigh of leather. It is the olfactory equivalent of slipping into the silkiest loungewear, ideal for intimate gatherings, fireside cocktails, or the person who always picks a velvet sofa over a bar stool.
Oman Luxury Nasaj will delight lovers of florals with depth and story behind them. Sparkling citrus fruits and spices give way to a plush bouquet of white flowers – tuberose, jasmine, neroli, magnolia, gardenia – laid on a base of leather, frankincense, sandalwood, patchouli, cypriol and tonka. It feels like an embroidered shawl around the shoulders, perfect for formal evenings, winter weddings, or the friend whose wardrobe is all silk linings and well chosen details.
Written by Suzy Nightingale
