The arrival of the festive season is often announced by smell before anything else. The waft of freshly mulled wine or merrily baking mince pies are quick to awaken the Christmas spirit in most, and the fragrant scent of pine needles once the Christmas tree is up is evocative of many a happy memory of that special day from years gone by.
The Library of Fragrance, it seems, have got wind of the importance of festive scents, with an array of Christmas-themed fragrances just waiting to jump into your handbag and spread joy and good tidings to all. Go on, treat yourself – nostalgic and utterly delicious, they are oh so much more worth it than that obligatory Christmas jumper you’ve been eyeing with such concern.
Here’s our pick of the ultimate festive scents to get you through December and beyond – we challenge you to choose just one.
Egg Nog
Creamy vanilla meets spicy cinnamon and nutmeg, along with a dash of warming bourbon and a delightful sprinkling of sugar. Egg Nog is a sweet and comforting scent that is sure to warm your cockles, and is best enjoyed sipping a cup of the real thing beside a crackling open fire. After all, if you can’t at Christmas then when can you?
Christmas in New York
Anyone who has visited New York at Christmas time will know that it holds a magic like no other, and if you’re not going to be hopping on the plane this year then this is the scent to transport you there. Rich and festive spices, sweet apples, and the comforting aroma of warm roasting chestnuts combine to bring forth the most wonderful time of the year, all in one bottle.
Gingerbread
A rich, warming ginger scent that is sweet and spicy in equal measures, Gingerbread is reminiscent of childhood home baking, and not dissimilar to the festive-themed gingerbread latte served in many a popular coffee shop chain these days. This is a smell that will make you feel as though you are cosied up in the warmth, wherever you happen to be in reality. Homely and comforting, it’s a festive season must in our book – and beyond.
Mistletoe
One of the most magical, mysterious, and sacred plants of European folklore, the mistletoe was once considered to bestow life and fertility on those around it. An intensely green, unisex fragrance that will transport you to a crisp winter’s day in the heart of an evergreen forest, Library of Fragrance’s take on the plant is a welcome departure from the sweeter scents if they are not your cup of tea, but it still promises to get you in the festive mood. And who knows? Perhaps it will attract some kisses, too.
