Winter holidays are nearing the end, and soon we’ll start waiting for next year’s season. But while we’re still in the current one, let’s talk about it.
Saturday Question #287:
Christmas & Perfumes – Did You Celebrate? What Did You Wear? Did You Give or Receive Any Scented Presents?
Please share your holiday stories – as much or as little as you’d like, whether those include perfumes or don’t.
My Answer
I’m sure I wrote about this multiple times, but I don’t expect anyone to remember or, if you do, to mind me repeating myself. While not being religious, I kind of celebrate Hanukkah, and for many years, on Christmas Eve, we celebrated the birthday of our Christmas cat, Rusty. Which we quietly did with my vSO this year as well. On Christmas Day, we went to our friends’ house for another celebration. But since none of us can claim this holiday, it was more like an extended family gathering without a traditional gift exchange. I wore Lancôme Climat and loved it, as always.
I’ve got a small perfume gift for Christmas: the Harrods‘ Beauty Advent Calendar that I chose this year had a travel bottle of Etat Libre d’Orange Uruk. But even though I was opening a box every day to see what was there, I decided not to use any of the gifts before the New Year. So, I still haven’t tried Uruk (and based on the notes, I do not expect to like it – but we’ll see).
For the New Year, our main celebration that includes gifts, I expect a bottle of perfume (as a present from me to me). This is my only full-bottle purchase this year! I will tell you more about it next year, once I officially find it under my New Year tree. Other than that, I do not expect to receive or give any perfume-related gifts.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
We celebrated Christmas with my family, a gathering of 15 people. It was lovely, everyone brings a part of the dinner, we sing lots of carols and my father at 91 still reads a Christmas story. We don’t do presents. I wore Epona, I’ve been wearing it a lot. Yesterday we had another gathering with friends, and I wore April Aromatics Pink Wood. It fits the cold weather we’re having so well. Wishing everyone well, and for sure peace on Earth!
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I would love a singing celebration! For me, it’s Christmas music as often as I can during December.
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Christmas already seems to be fading ….. my husband bought me Stephanotis by Floris, which I used to enjoy. I think this might be a revived, special edition. Hope I still like it!
I miss my Christmas cat too, dear Undina, and all the others.
Wishing you all a happy new year, and hoping (like Hamamelis) that 2026 might be more peaceful!
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Please report back. This got my interest, but I’ve been disappointed in Floris before.
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Fortunately/unfortunately, the next Christmas will be here in no time ;)
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Enjoy your remaining time of the holidays, unless you’re already back at work (ughh). As usual, nobody would dare buy me perfume, they know the situation here😉 I only gifted perfume to my daughter, one that I know she loves and has had in the past, Narciso Poudrée. A group of nine of us went out for dinner and some dancing for Christmas Day. First time I’ve ever done so and it was hugely enjoyable. I wore vintage Opium. For the coming year I wish for an outbreak of peace.
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I’ve enjoyed my time off tremendously! My tree was perfect and my cat left the ornaments alone. She’s only 18 months and she’s an active and funny cat. Sending love to everyone who has lost a dearly beloved pet-this cat came into my life because my 16 year old former feline companion passed away. I still miss her.
I have to buy my own scents because no-one will indulge me:) I bought a bottle of Soir d’Orient, by Sisley, and it was delivered to the office around 7 pm Christmas Eve. I’ll get it tomorrow when I’m back at work. Then last night I used some expiring codes to buy Hermes Pamplemousse Rose-using clever perfume math it was almost free.
Cassie flower do you mind if I join in and second your beautiful wish for an out break of peace? And I’ll add enough food and clean water for everyone.
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My Christmas was relatively quiet. Normally I have all three of my kids and partners or none. This year I had one daughter and her husband with us, and she asked that I accompany them to pick out a perfume. We went to Neimans, where they are always well staffed in their perfume department, at least here in Texas, but I am always amazed at how they feign knowledge and really know nothing. My daughter knew she wanted to replace her Tom Ford Noir, and they didn’t have it, but have the new Extreme version, which she didn’t like as well. The TF representative said they would probably restock in a few weeks. So we moved to the men’s department. My son in law gravitated to the Creed and was asking the SA where it was made. “Italy”, she said very confidently. I said that I wasn’t sure, I thought it might be French, but I knew for sure it wasn’t Italy. This interrupted her spiel about how it was a 400 year old Italian company. (My SIL googled and found it was established in England but now in France?)
As for me, I am too embarrassed to ask for any more perfume. Every surface of my dresser is covered with bottles. In the past I asked everyone to pool together to get me a Puredistance, but it has to be either really cheap or really different to stir me to buy now.
I hope everyone’s holiday was happy. I’m getting ready for our annual trip to Australia, my husband’s home, and I admit I’m looking forward to leaving US news behind for awhile.
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I forgot to finish the TF story. So when we got home I started googling various department stores and realized the original TF Noir has been discontinued. They now have Extreme, and they also have Noir in their collection of smaller exclusive fragrances. I cannot speak to the differences between all these, but my daughter said she likes the original, and I was able to find it at fragrancenet so I ordered. The TF SA seemed to have no idea it was discontinued.
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This true lack of brand knowledge in many retail establishments is most common these days, Cynthia Lesiuk, and very frustrating. Safe Travels!
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We had a small Christmas this year – dinner for 6 (husband, son, father and sister in law, and cousin who now lives at the senior community with my father in law, whose kids could not be with her). My SIL bought me a small oil rollerball of Lake & Skye 11 11 Azure. Aquatic, so not my usual fare, but appreciate the sentiment. I wore DSH Dark Moon for the day. Today I’m wearing DSH Cardamom & Kyphi. This time of year I rotate through the spicy ones!
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Hey Undina,
Christmas was excellent this year.
We gave loads of candles, body washes and incense. My goddaughter got a bottle of 4160’s Doe in the Snow. My BFF got Daisy Wild and Tommy Girl, two of her fave staples. Jin wrapped a bottle of Shalimar L’Essence that I’d bought myself and I’m super tempted to open it and spritz but currently have a bunch of vintage, modern EdP and Sha-Lemur on the go.
Also, my BFFs fave from an Aussie artist, Bromley Oriental, was on sale 75% off (I’m thinking DC). Bought 10 of them and she will be scoring them over the next 10 years.
Xmas Eve we filled the table and it was so much fun. Jin did his famous Roast pork & Crackling, we had so many roast vegetables and stir fried greens. After there was Pavlova. YUM
Xmas Day we had a very early Ham & Cheese Croissant and Mimosa breakfast with my BFF and her dad, then chilled at home.
Boxing Day we saw Cirque Alice with mates.
It’s very social and fun holiday.
While I don’t believe we will ever see world peace it would be a game changer if the billionaires had their wealth capped and if ALL companies would pay real and fair taxes.
Portia xx
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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were incredibly laid-back and relaxing, and much-needed. On Christmas Eve, I wore Eye of Seven Hills by Alghabra. This fragrance has a complex tobacco and whisky heart, nestled between layers of cinnamon, saffron, nutmeg, amber oud, and sandalwood. It’s one of my favorite fragrances from the brand. On Christmas Day, I wore Pine from Stora Skuggan. It was a bit of an impulsive choice, but it was still appropriate for the day. How would I describe Pine? The name says it all.
Tonight was a delayed Christmas celebration with my sister and her family. Were there any perfumes gifts involved? Only one, and it was a vintage bottle of Quorum Silver by Puig. He’s a bit old school, so the gift was well received. I didn’t receive a single perfume, and usually don’t because simply put, people are too scared. I understand their apprehension; I’m quite particular about perfumes.
I did buy myself one perfume to close out 2025 with the help of a few gift cards received at work. I went for Agneta by Eight & Bob, part of their Les Extraits Collection. It is a Pierre-Constantin Guéros creation, and quite nice.
I wish all of you a very happy and healthy 2026!
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My husband and I had a quiet Christmas dinner, just the two of us. I wore Ginger Biscuit Christmas Day, which meshed well with the pumpkin pie I made. The days before I wore Ormonde Jayne Woman. It’s such a great fragrance with that hemlock note. No special perfume gifts for me this year. I had bought Shalimar L’Essence when it first came out so that counts as my Christmas gift.
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We visited extended family and played some kid-friendly games; it’s been a pretty laid-back holiday. I used to bring at least two fragrances to alternate on trips, but these days I don’t mind wearing the same thing days in a row, so I’ve been wearing only Hermès Barénia. Wishing you all a happy new year!
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I do not follow any religion, but the UK state recognised holidays are Anglican Christian.
There were just DH, our youngest son & me for lunch on the big day. We were joined by our eldest, his pregnant wife & my brother on Boxing Day. A new family tradition of going for curry at a beautiful local restaurant was created.
No scented gifts in either direction this year.
I wore vintage Opium, JML Ginger Biscuit, vintage Samsara & vintage No5 over the holiday period.
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