Fragrances as Christmas presents are a fail-safe, and being Escentual’s Merchandising Manager has its perks. Not only do I get to see a sneak peek of fragrances before they hit the counter, but I’m also privy to the amount of detail behind each scent; like the quality of the notes; the story behind each one, and the faces of the campaigns.

Armed with this information, I feel it’s my duty to offer my help this Christmas. So whether you’re buying for your boyfriend, dad, brother or for yourself, there’s something for everyone below. Let’s get gifty…

The Fragrance For Your Partner

Comme des Garcons Wonderwood Eau de Parfum
Smells: Woody and oudy.

Men love it and women want to wear it. Wonderwood’s allure never gets old. This Comme scent is the ideal gift for your husband, boyfriend, or ‘semi-exclusive’ tinder date; as it’s total package sexy, but also sophisticated. Wood and spice make the ideal combination; every time I smell this, I always say wow, but I also believe the mystery of Comme des Garcons also has something to do with how special this fragrance is. There’s something extremely clever about how this composition pulls you in. I’m yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like it. Plus, this is also a subtle hint to my wife if she’s reading!

He will love it if he likes Tom Ford Oud Wood and Comme des Garcons Wonderoud.

The Fragrance For Your Father

Mugler Alien Man Fusion Eau de Toilette
Smells: Warm, spicy and fresh.

Mugler fragrances are something of an art, and because of that, they make very special gifts. Whether you’re into fragrances or not, Mugler’s Alien for women is a cult-classic; but thanks to Manfred Mugler, we now have a male counterpart, and the world was waiting for it. After the success of the EDP, we now welcome Alien Man Fusion, and I’m putting it out there, it’s by my favourite of the two; I prefer the freshness of this edition, as, as much as it’s an interesting concoction of hot and cold notes like coffee, leather and ginger, it just works. It’s unique but unoffensive, plus if he wants to try something new, without straying too far out of his comfort zone, he will definitely appreciate this.

He will love it if he likes Spicebomb, Alien Man EDP and Fahrenheit.

We asked our expert to review Alien Man Fusion EDT in more detail. Here’s what he thinks…

Fragrance For Your Brother

K by Dolce&Gabbana Eau de Toilette
Smells: fresh, clean and citrusy.

K by Dolce&Gabanna is set to be one of the top fragrances this Christmas, and with a bottle like that, I don’t doubt it will be. That distinctive crown cap is handcrafted and embellished with 24-carat gold, so no two are the same! K is made for a king; its clean-cut fragrance is impossible not to like. Cool and classic at the same time, its laid-back but suave aroma means K can be worn to the office, or in the evening for drinks. From now until Christmas. you won’t be able to escape the TV advert, so if it’s not on his Christmas list already, it’s only a matter of time.

Reminds me of Versace Dylan Blue, Bleu de Chanel and Armani Acqua di Gio Profumo.

The Fragrance For Your Son-In-Law

Yves Saint Laurent Y Live Intense Eau de Toilette
Smells: masculine, sweet and aromatic.

First, there was Y, a fresh lavender fragrance for men, now Y Live Intense is stealing the spotlight with its bolder, more concentrated aroma. Powered by sweet orange blossom, sharp ginger and dark woods, Y Live Intense still has the DNA of Y, but without the lavender, and I much prefer it. For me, the whole campaign is perfect for this edgy scent. Fronted by Maroon 5 star Adam Levine, you know this YSL aftershave is as cool as it gets. I have no doubt anyone opening this on Christmas morning will be impressed.

Reminds me of YSL Y and Paco Rabanne Invictus.

The Fragrance For Your Nephew

Jimmy Choo Urban Hero Eau de Parfum
Smells: Aquatic, fresh and woody.

The truth is, this clean-cut fragrance is a safe bet for all men this Christmas. It’s fresh, it’s handsome and it ticks all the boxes when it comes to appealing to men who want to smell great. Urban Hero has all of the makings of a great scent; with notes like lemon caviar and black pepper involved, you can expect to smell a fresh fragrance with a difference. But what makes this scent really stand out is the grey amber in the base. A fusion of both hot and cold in one, it complements the citrus and woods in the fragrances effortlessly, giving this aftershave a unique edge that he’ll never want to be without.

Reminds of Ralph Lauren Polo Blue and Paco Rabanne Invictus Aqua.

Discover More

• Are you looking to finish your fragrance shopping list today? There are more new and classic choices in my edited Fragrance for Men gift-guide here…