From winter candles to premium handwash, here is a catalogue of indulgent gift ideas designed to help ease the Christmas countdown
Even as someone who loves buying gifts for other people, the countdown to Christmas gives me brain freeze. Thus I refer to a series of categories of indulgent products for the face, body, bath and home. That’s the great thing about luxury beauty products: no matter how small, each of these items elevates the everyday, providing pleasure and ritual one otherwise might not allow themselves.
Incense
Incense is having a moment – gone are the associations with the nether reaches of Camden Market, now incense holders make for exquisite objets art. With prestige perfume brands distilling signature scents into teeny smokable sticks, incense is an instant olfactory hit, that will bring you into the present moment. There’s a solemnity to the heavy smoke in the air, cleansing the space in a matter of mere minutes – unlike the obligatory three hours you need for a candle to melt evenly. Try Byredo’s Trois Encens, handmade in Tokyo in Bibliothèque, Woods and Sweet Grass scents for the gift of a mood reset.
Festive Fragrance
A bottle of Chanel No. 5 is an all-timer perfume gift – but this limited edition eau de parfum is frosted, and could not be more festive.
Hermès Pencils
There is no unboxing like that of this 40-strong gift set of Hèrmes eye and lip pencils. A jewelled candy box of delights: the colour spectrum is vast, the pigment is dense and creamy with impressive staying power and the brushed gold caps give delicious hand feel. There are smaller and choose-your-own selections available, too.
Camomille Satin
Camomille Satin eau de parfum is a great twist on a gourmand – the fragrance category of the decade. As with all Dries Van Noten perfumes, it is delicious but strange. The fresh herby quality of chamomile shifts into evening mode with the gritty depth of resinous galbanum and the round heft of vanilla bean. The brocade-inspired metalwork on the bottle makes this a divine present, especially in communion with its matching, limited edition silk pouch.
Cire Trudon Oil Diffuser
One of the best oil diffusers out there that has an incredible trail given how long it lasts (I’ve had mine on my mantle for well over a year). I gifted one of these to my sister-in-law years ago on a special birthday and it’s one of her favourite possessions: refills make for an excellent, more affordable top-up present. I love Gabriel for its rich chimney fragrance, perfect for Christmas; while Josephine, with its fresh spring garden of rose, jasmine, camellia and iris offers year-round interest.
Lyma Laser Pro
This is what to buy the skin-obsessive who has – and tries – everything. The Lyma Laser Pro is an expert piece of kit with a near-infrared laser light (40 joules per 60 seconds) that can penetrate skin layers all the way down to the bone and, at three times the diameter of the original Lyma laser, this one covers a much larger radius. Nothing else on the market can boost collagen production, tighten skin, reduce scars and tackle pigmentation as radically or quickly. Use everyday for 12 weeks for extreme results (on face and body), then use two or three times a week for maintenance.
Winter Candle
Le Labo’s new candle Cyprés 21 is an excellent present for your host: described as “a cabin in the woods”, resinous cypress combines with juniper, clove and star anise for a deep winter trail that is grounded by the dark whisper of incense. It’s super romantic, not least thanks to Le Labo’s beautiful Japanese-inspired cotton bandana gift wrap that’s available only for Christmas.
Premium Handwash
I would never be disappointed receiving this as a present. Like most households we get through a lot of hand wash and there’s no better way to up-luxe an otherwise zombie-like task. Loewe’s Tomato Leaf Hand Cleanser is addictively chic – though I do wish you could buy refills.
Bath Oil
Susanne Kaufmann Oil Bath for the Senses is the kind of gift that takes pride of place in the bathroom and so you’ll spy it every time you visit the recipient – the herbed, Alpine-insired oil is as delightful to observe in-situ as it is to soak in. The bumper 500ml jar would be my choice.
Good Old-fashioned Pot Pourri
Everything from 13th-century Florentine pharmacia Santa Maria Novella has gift potential down to the scented wax tablets (for your drawers), or the old school solid soap bars: the packaging design, the classical fragrances – it is all delectable. I love this unexpected gift option: Santa Maria Novella’s ceramic vase with St Peter the Martyr, a handcrafted reproduction of an original 17th-century pharmacy jar, filled with the brand’s famed pot pourri. Santa Maria Novella makes the ultimate traditional dried concoction that will take you straight to the Tuscan hills.
11. A Comb
The Intrecciato Comb Set from Bottega Veneta in Sherbert is only for the chicest dressing tables – also perfect for a friend who likes to travel.
12. An Eyeshadow Palette
Get the Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eye Colour Quad in Black Diamond for a make-up lover of any age or expertise. This ultra-versatile palette with four very buildable shades allows for dramatic range, from a barely there shimmer look to a deep and dynamic bronzed nighttime eye. Plus: this powder doesn’t budge.
