"My nose has tested hundreds, and these bottles are the best.

It brings a whole lot of joy to be known as the fragrance expert among my group chat and coworkers. Whenever a friend needs a new perfume recommendation, I’m the first person they hit up. With holiday shopping on everyone’s minds, I was recently asked about the best fragrances to gift—to which I said, “It’s complicated.” Let’s get into the best fragrance gifts, according to me, Marie Claire's resident fragrance devotee, shall we?

Buying a fragrance gift is no easy task—after all, someone’s signature scent is incredibly personal. For starters, you’ll have a much easier time shopping if you have an idea of your recipient’s preferences. Do they want to smell like a baked treat with a gourmand or vanilla-heavy fragrance? Or would they prefer something lighter and more subtle, such as a body mist or skin scent? And if you have zero clue what the fragrance fan in your life loves, you can’t go wrong with a fun discovery set or luxe gift set.

To make things easier for you, I’ve rounded up the fragrances at every price point I think would make for the best gifts, broken down by category. I have nearly 200 perfumes in my collection, ranging from niche brands to classic scents, but these are the only bottles I can guarantee will be a hit with anyone on your shopping list.

Discovery Sets:

Every fragrance fan I know has a blast sniffing their way through a discovery set. It's a chance to get to know a buzzy brand or learn more about your own scent preferences, without investing in a full-size bottle. The gift sets below are sure to take your giftee on a journey, whether it's through the best fragrances at Sephora or on an olfactory trip to Japan."

Love Eight, £55