The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide

Hello, Fragrant Friend 👋,

Did you know? As of 2023, Britney Spears has released over 40 fragrances, making her one of the most prolific celebrities in the industry.

🗓️ Contents of this Issue

1. Note Worthy: Sneaker Smell, Digital Factory, Frag Snobs
2. Strictly Independent: Les Indémodables
3. Scent MythBusters: Perfumes are great gift ideas for Christmas
4. Quiz: Greenest of the greenest
5. Fragrant Spotlight: Amber in Perfumery

Note-Worthy 🔎🌸

#SNEAKERSNIFF: Osmo, the AI startup bringing a “sense of smell” to computers, is broadening from sneaker authentication to collectibles and rare wines — detecting chemical markers with over 95% accuracy to fight counterfeiting.

#DIGITALFACTORY: Givaudan launched a Digital Factory in Paris with 30 specialists, equipped with Carto for fragrance customisation and the Mini Scent Piano — a catalyst for AI, big data and sustainability solutions.

#FRAGRANCEELITISM: A TikTok debate spotlights “fragrance elitism” — the idea that only expensive perfumes are worth wearing. Many argue affordable scents can be just as enjoyable, accusing “scent snobs” of valuing price tags over the art.

Strictly Independent 🎨 ✨ — Les Indémodables

We launch this section to spotlight independent labels. Les Indémodables was founded by Valerie and Remi Pulverail with master perfumer Antoine Lie, in Archamps, France, using high-quality in-house extracts. Scents: 15.

Vanille Havane. Vanilla and tobacco evoking a Havana evening — rum and ginger, smoky tobacco leaf and cacao, Madagascar vanilla and labdanum, built on unique in-house extracts.

Fougère Émeraude. A fresh take on the classic fougère — bright bergamot and lavender into a green, spicy heart, with oakmoss and tonka.

Musc des Sables. Warm sands and open landscapes — cardamom and pink pepper into gentle musk and solar notes, finishing on amber and vanilla.

Scent MythBusters 🎭️

“Perfumes are great gift ideas for Christmas.”
Myth of the week

TL;DR

While giving perfume as a gift seems thoughtful, it’s often risky because fragrance is deeply personal — what smells amazing to one person may not appeal to another due to taste and skin chemistry.

Why perfume might not be the best gift

Fragrance is highly personal and subjective; there’s no formula to predict someone’s favourite. Skin chemistry changes everything — the same scent can smell sweet on one person and sour on another. Generic “safe” choices often end up regifted.

Exceptions & alternatives

Wishlist specifics or a signature scent are safe bets. Otherwise, consider an olfactive diagnosis kit, a fragrance creation course, a custom perfume kit, vintage bottles, or a bespoke fragrance by a master perfumer.

Fragrant Spotlight: Amber 🌅

In perfumery, amber is a multifaceted term — usually an accord rather than a single ingredient — evoking warm, sweet, resinous notes. It blends natural resins (labdanum, benzoin) with synthetics (Ambroxan, Cetalox). Classic amber combines labdanum, benzoin and vanilla; modern amber leans on Ambroxan; oriental amber adds spices and incense. Iconic: Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan, Tom Ford Amber Absolute, L’Artisan L’Eau d’Ambre, Dior Ambre Nuit.