Aisling on beauty: Sniff these 10 great perfumes out for presents

Perfume shopping was much easier back in the day. All you had to do was pick up a bottle of on trend Tweed for her and Blue Denim for him and you were sorted. Never mind. There are a couple of tricks to getting the right fragrance for the right person and in some cases generalisations can be applied successfully.

If you know the scent the person you’re buying for already wears, then tell the counter assistant what it is. He or she will know which other fragrances are likely to be suitable and recommend accordingly. Describing the personality and age of the person will also help them to select the brand and fragrance type. I’ve used this method successfully for many fragrance gifts and have found that a good perfume sales assistant is worth their weight in gold.

Miu Miu 50ml €83.50

The first perfume from fashion house Miu Miu is very special. The bottle alone is a fabulous piece in opaque blue with a red stopper and the fragrance is fresh and modern. Green notes bed down to a warm woody finish. The fact that the press images contain pictures of a cat sniffing the bottle made me laugh. One of my cats, GiGi, loved the fragrance so much she curled herself around the bottle and didn’t want to move. She also does the same thing with Marc Jacobs Decadence if you want to follow her recommendations.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream 50ml €68.50

Younger women often prefer a light, floral and sweet scent. Marc Jacobs Daisy, Paco Rabanne Lady Million, Donna Karen DKNY Be Delicious, Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl and Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb are all good bets. Marc Jacobs bottles are always a delight and will make the gift even more special.

Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamom 30ml €52.50

Although this blend was released earlier in the year it is a perfect wintertime scent. A light oriental floral fragrance , warm and spicy too. Cardamom is the top note and it will work very well indeed with a glass of mulled wine and cosy nights in by the fire.

L’Occitane Pamplemousse-Rhubarbe €56 75ml

The story behind this scent made me smile immediately. It came about from a collaboration between the founder of L’Occitane and a pastry chef. They fused food and scent to produce two limited edition Christmassy fragrances and the Rhubarbe is my favourite. With grapefruit at its heart and woody notes of cedar this is a scent that is spicy and unique.

Armani Privee Rose D’Arabie €300 Brown Thomas 100ml

If you’re on the search for a truly opulent night time perfume that is rich and sensual then this is for you. Damascena roses, patchouli, precious oud and soft vanilla create a scent that is memorable and sensual. The limited edition Swarovski crystal studded bottle is a showstopper. This would make a really romantic and memorable gift.

Bottega Veneta Knot Eau Florale 50ml €91.50

A truly sophisticated scent this fragrance and bottle convey a timeless elegance. I can see it suiting a woman who believes that less is more. Understated top notes of mandarin orange, neroli and lavender; with middle notes of peony are warmed with cedar base notes. A lovely subtle day time perfume.

Tom Ford Black Orchid 50ml €96

There’s no doubt about it; Tom Ford produces some seriously sexy scents. A little goes a long way with this fragrance which could be unisex. However it’s so strongly masculine that I’m getting it for my husband for Christmas. It’s a complex fragrance with darkly floral and spicy top notes which bed down to vetiver (of course, it’s Tom Ford) along with other woody notes of sandalwood, chocolate and amber. Dark, rich and delicious.

Cloon Keen Atelier Copacetic €80 60ml

As soon as I discovered this scent earlier in the year I selected it as my pick of the week. I wasn’t the only one who rated it; it was nominated for a prestigious perfume award. For citrus lovers; this scent with bergamot, orange blossom, rhubarb accord and grapefruit is like catnip. This is a very special and complex scent made in Galway by expert perfumiers and I have been wearing it ever since I first tried it.

Maison Martin Margelia Replica Flower Market 100ml €90

The Replica scents are designed to evoke a place and space in time and transport you there with the power of scent. Flower market is a light floral with jasmine, rose and tuberose notes and was inspired by the flower markets in Paris. The stark packaging is such a refreshing change in a crowded market that clamours for attention with bottle shapes and designs. Subtle romance with a twist.

Gucci Bamboo 50ml €87

The bottle is a beautiful glass art deco shape topped with a silver stopper that will look lovely on any dressing table. The scent is feminine and a floral- woody mix, which tones down the fragrance so that none of the top notes overpower you on first spraying the scent. Ylang ylang, sandalwood and orange blossom bed down to a warm vanilla and amber base. One for modern romantics.