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The Lipstick Page Forums Beauty & Fashion Blog

Posted by Dain, Wednesday, December 12, 2007 3:38 PM (Eastern)

Though holiday sets litter the shelves of Sephora, when it comes to cosmetics and gifts, what people really want is perfume. My own research has proved this to be true. And really, a bottle of perfume does make a perfect gift, without heedlessly straining your budget. The trick is to find one that suits your recipient's taste exactly, and he or she is sure to enjoy it for months to come. I know there are those with more sophisticated tastes, but in that case they can give specific directions. I've tried to stick to universal pleasers within the grasp of the layman.

When in doubt, the House of Chanel delivers. The aldehydic signature is as good as a trademark, it just smells expensive, a quality difficult to attain, though my admiration is somewhat diminished by its vulgarity. But, there is a Chanel for everyone, mostly florientals. Though difficult for some to appreciate, No. 5 is still the world bestseller, and for the young there is Coco Mademoiselle, with a modern gourmand twist, and Allure for those left behind. But personally, I'm curious about No. 19.

Michael Kors Michael is also surefire hit (unless you've got a floral-hater on your hands), real easy on the nose but very pretty. Sexy tuberose with the warming touch of incense is attractive to both men and women. Though Serge Lutens Tubéreuse Criminelle is undeniably the most poetic representation of tuberose, it is not widely available (I'd have gotten myself a bottle by now if it were). Michael is ubiquitous, but not necessarily common, so it makes a very safe gift.

Oddly enough, I hear very little about this gem, and yet everyone approves of it. Its composition is abstract—vodka, ginger, iris, white musk, dark chocolate—but somehow the juxtaposition of edible-inedible is really effective. Mostly it is a powdery, crystalline musk, sweetened by cocoa, with a touch of the iris peeking through. It is a haughtier, more mature perfume than Michael Kors Michael, more go-thither than come-hither, like the closed-off attitudes of a big city.

Not everyone likes flowers, and for women (or men) who prefer citrus (Though spice/woods are more to my taste, I figure citrus has more fans.), Annick Goutal Eau d'Hadrien has all the charm of a Mediterranean citrus grove, a shimmer of scent not unlike the haze of a mirage, complete with aromatic herbs crushed underfoot.

Burberry Touch for Men is a good masculine crowd pleaser, touching delicately on aquatic, woodsy, spicy, and musky notes without overdoing it. Very clean and sexy, without the animalic cologne reek or the banal soapiness that typifies "cheap" scents.

Labels: annick goutal, burberry, bvlgari, chanel, gift guide, michael kors

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