Scent is one of the strongest devices to help conjure up a particular mood, both when worn on the person or when decorating a space. And never is this more evocative than in helping to create memories and a cheering atmosphere at Christmastime – which is why I’ll be enjoying these festive fragrances this Christmas.
A seasonal favourite, devotees (myself included) eagerly await Diptyque’s trio of festively scented candles every year. Of the three, my pick always tends to be that when lit conjures up an icy northern pine forest, managing to be simultaneously comforting and elegant. It gives good throw, and delicately scents its surrounds even when unlit. If you enjoy a Diptyque Christmas candle every year, I’d highly recommend their matching and completely charming carousel for an extra special touch.
The scent equivalent of an expensive velvet party dress, is warm, addictive, and oh-so-chic. It’s deep and redolent thanks to its notes of amber and musk, so I’d say best suited to evening if you’re celebrating Christmas in a warmer clime – although I’m squirreling my bottle away to wear all winter too. It’d smell equally delicious on a man or a woman, and I’m obsessed with the prettily bevelled bottle.
Spicy clove and fir balsam, inflected with sweet plums and oranges, paint a cosy scentscape in from Australian candlemakers . It finds the sweet spot between being fresh yet still warm and festive, which makes for the ideal scent to create a welcoming Christmas environment that isn’t too overbearing for the antipodean midsummer.
