It's that time of year again! Some suggestions for holiday fragrance gifts, big and small...
If Santa is bringing me my heart's desire, this is it: the Annick Goutal Les Orientalistes coffret. Ambre Fétiche, Myrrhe Ardente and Encens Flamboyant, each in 50 ml, in a white leather box. €500. I haven't smelled them yet, but at the moment, that just adds to their charm. No idea where you can buy it, but the elves will figure it out, won't they?
But I'd take this too: Christian Dior Diorissimo in Parfum. $125 for 15 ml, at Saks.
From Voluspa, the Baltic Amber Pedestal Candle Bowl. Triple wick, 120 hours burn time, scented with "smooth amber, spicy cedar, warm sandalwood and creamy vanilla blend into a soothing, resinous elixir". $42 at Your-Cosmetics.
A homemade soap trio for men (made by someone else: the best kind of homemade). Includes Beer soap (25% beer, scented with lime oil), Mocha soap, and Man soap (sandalwood and earth clay). $17.00 at Etsy.
From Korres, the Holiday Fig Set, with Fig Showergel, Body Butter, and Body Scrub. $33 at Drugstore.com.
The stocking stuffer: Neonatura Cocoon solid perfume at Yves Rocher, $5.
The Goutal set is extremely desirable, isn't it? And I would like to point out a subtle touch (something that I can only assume is deliberate) that makes it that much lovelier: the three bottles are labelled with the initials of their names, and those three bottles, in order, spell out “ame”, which is the French word for “soul”. (Well, actually, the French word has a circumflex over the “a”–it's “âme”–but the point remains.)
Cocoon, by the way, is quite a nice scent, a stripped-down blend of vanilla, cocoa powder, and patchouli. It's one of those cheap-and-cheerful scents that I adore. Not everything has to cost $200!
Oh, how nice! But of course I'd have to sell my soul to get the set, LOL…and agree on Cocoon.
That set is beautiful!
I love that you included something from etsy on your list, it's the most fun “place” to shop! I'll be giving homemade soap from Inseine creations (etsy) to most on my list this year.
Glad to hear that the cocoon is nice, I put it on my last order from them.
I'm dribbling all over my keyboard at the sight of that Goutal coffret. Elves! Get me some elves! (How much for souls on eBay?)
Well-spotted on the 'âme', Pyramus.
Etsy is a soap lovers paradise, truly. I am sorry to say that I didn't recheck the stock before I posted that particular soap set though — looks like it sold out today. I'll check out Inseine, thanks!
Yah, elves, we need elves!
I go for the Voluspa Candle Bowl. Would love to share a nice scent with a whole lot of people. And then the three men's soaps are definitely a good gift for my husband who never uses fragrances.
The Voluspa candle is really handsome — I'd like one of those too.
I actually got to see the coffret and sniff the scents in Paris the first week of October. Sales started on 11/12/07 in Paris I believe. It's all I can do to keep from phoning in my order. You can call the Annick Goutal boutique in Paris in the rue de Castiglione and order by phone, they ship by Fedex anywhere in the world. 120 euros for individual bottles. I loved all 3 of them but especially want the incense. Sigh.
Oh, thanks! Or not, LOL…I am seriously going to have to sit on my hands to keep from dialing Paris!