Boy Smells Holiday Candles
By Michele Meyer
Beautiful, fragrant, elegant, hip — you can’t go wrong with the highly presentable presents we’ve located for you.
LOUIS VUITTON
OK, it’s downright decadent, but famed architect Frank Gehry designed this Lamborghini of leather cases to house bottles that are seriously works of art. The distinctive flaconnier has niches for five of the fragrances, all in the first bottles Gehry has ever designed.
Be sure to include the newest fragrance, Myriad, an intoxicating blend of oud, rose, saffron, cocoa extract, moss and white musk. Louis Vuitton’s master parfumeur, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, created that fragrance, and the other tantalizing extrait aromas include citrus Symphony, floral Dancing Blossom, musky Cosmic Cloud, woody Rhapsody and amber Stellar Times, each 100 ml., $560-630. Flaconnier, 12.2 x 9.3 x 9.1 inches, $52,000. Louis Vuitton Les Extraits Collection.
JO MALONE LONDON
Jo Malone London’s ultimate sampler has returned. This year’s advent calendar has a gingerbread-inspired theme and 25 delicious travel-sized candles, colognes, body washes, hand cream and other concoctions to sweeten your–er, your lucky recipient’s–holidays. We consider the calendar a deal, at least that’s what we tell our hubby. Should he not be convinced, we hope he’ll be as seduced as we are by the new Ginger Biscuit candle, a tasty treat of ginger, nutmeg, vanilla and caramel or the showy Gingerbread Land candle trio. Jo Malone London Advent Calendar, $495; Gingerbread Land Home trio of roasted chestnut, frosted cherry/clove and pomegranate noir candles, $250; or Ginger Biscuit candle, $82, at jomalone.com.
HERMÈS
I confess I’ve never smelled these soaps (or any Hermès fragrance), but the art is exquisite. The Parfums-Jardins collection of gift soap consists of three fragrant soaps: Le Jardin de Monsieur Li (bergamot, jasmine, kumquat and a hint of mint), Un Jardin sur le Nil (Egypt via a fruity floral blend of mango, sycamore and lotus) and Un Jardin a Cythere (Greece via a woody citrus with olive wood, citrus and pistachio). Each pebble-shaped soap is slipped inside a paper box illustrated by an artist, including Elias Kafouros. A gift for yourself or for a loved one, presented in the house’s famed orange box. Les Jardins 3 soaps gift set ($90).
BOY SMELLS CANDLE TRIO
We have to confess that we haven’t been to confession–ever. But we’ll admit these holiday candles are sinfully gorgeous, with lovely aromas whose slightly perverse names inspire lust. If you’re like us and can’t choose between the three, order the trio sets: returning bestselling gender-fluid floral Broken Rosary (cedar, rose, moss and musk), pine-redolent newcomer Spiritous (balsam, ginger, coffee, patchouli and saffron) and last, but not least, the warm and spicy Incensorial (orange, ginger, incense, nutmeg and sandalwood). We also can’t resist the reusable metallic glass containers and foil-label boxes. Trio, 8.5 oz. each, $130; votive trio, $68; single candle, $48. Boy Smells.
KRIGLER SIERRA VISTA 2142
Sierra Vista 2142 warms us up with the fragrance that creator Ben Krigler wears–and for which he gets constant compliments. So we’re excited that he’s introduced a candle with its sultry mix of sandalwood, bergamot, jasmine and lavender. It’s potent yet poignant and, most of all, irresistible. Plus, the bronze handmade glass vessel is a keeper. 7 oz., 40-hour burn, $175. Four Seasons Hotel-Houston, Krigler.com.
PENHALIGON THE TOY CHEST ADVENT CALENDAR
We love to play and be surprised pleasantly, and Penhaligon’s Toy Chest delivers with 24 days of scents and fun. They include the fragrances Duchess Rose (10ml), The Favourite (10ml), Lord George (10ml), Quercus soap (30g), Quercus hand cream (10ml) and Maduro Leaf candle (35g). Nostalgia for the nose, indeed. $545. Penhaligons.com.
CARRIÈRE FRÈRES
Nothing warms us up around the holidays like these delicious candles. The Siberian Pine trio includes Rose, Ginger and Smoke Wood, each 2.5 oz., each $130. CarriereFreres.com.
NATURA BRASIL
You can’t go wrong with Natura Brasil. Their holiday line offers everything you’d want from a gift: vegan products, delicate aromas, beautiful packaging and perfectly priced. The stylish Advent Calendar, Ekos Encounters with the Amazon, is a great introduction to the line for newbies.
It’s a sensory journey through the Amazon rainforest’s scents, textures and colors, with 12 samples. This may be Brazil’s greatest beauty find, behind models Gisele Bündchen, Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio.
Repair sandpaper skin with this set: Ekos Tukumã Body Lotion (30ml), Ekos Tukumã Biphase Shower Oil (35ml), Ekos Castanha Hand Cream (25g), Ekos Castanha Foot Cream (25g), Ekos Castanha Exfoliating Cream Hands and Feet (25g), Ekos Maracujá Hand Cream (25g), Ekos Açaí Exfoliating Soap Bar (50g), Ekos Andiroba Creamy Shower Gel (30ml), Ekos Pitanga Refreshing and Exfoliating Soap Bar (25g), Ekos Murumuru Shampoo (30ml), Ekos Murumuru Conditioner (30ml) and Ekos Murumuru Hair Mask (30ml). What you won’t find: parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, PABA, petroleum, triclosan or DEA. Amazon Advent calendar, $52; or get full-sized lotions, 400 ml., $27. NaturaBrasil.com.
BOBBI BROWN
Among the rare things Meghan Markle and Princess Kate Middleton agree on is Bobbi Brown cosmetics. Find out why with the 12 Days of Glow Bobbi Brown Advent Calendar. We love presents that don’t need wrapping, especially this one. It contains 12 samples, three of which are full-sized, including Smokey Eye mascara in black. Better yet, this is a bargain with festive holly lipstick in Ruby, sparkly eyeshadow, highlighting powder in Pink Glow and cream shadows in Bark and Golden Bronze. And when the party ends, you can rely on the ever-practical makeup remover and cleansing oil. $180. BobbiBrownCosmetics.com.
GIORGIO ARMANI BEAUTY
Giorgio Armani seduced us with a lipstick–and now, we only wear this makeup line. These gift sets are the ideal gateway drug, because they’re reasonably priced and offer bestselling shades. Try one of them and you’ll understand our addiction–and probably join us. Warning: These sell out (and not just to us). The Eye Holiday Gift Set includes full-size Eye Tint Bronze 11 (0.13 oz.), Eye Tint Shell 12 (0.13 oz.), Eyes to Kill Classico Mascara (0.33 oz.) and Lip Power 405/Sultan (0.05 oz.) in a limited edition fabric pouch; $130, Sephora.com, Nordstrom.com and GiorgioArmaniBeauty-usa.com.
TOCCA CANDELA
The perfect hostess gift will transport her to the trendiest vacation spots, including Italy’s Amalfi (citrus and melon) or South of France’s Saint Tropez (rose and iris root). FYI: We haven’t experienced these vegan candles in person, but we’re intrigued by their beauty. 10 oz., $48. Tocca.com.
LEONOR GREYL
Leonor Greyl’s Paris salon is a must-stop on every visit to Paris. Treat yourself or a loved one to the Limited Edition Paris Holiday Gift Box and you’ll see why. This gift set includes our favorites: L’Huile de Leonor Greyl Pre-Shampoo Treatment Oil, Shampooing Crème Moelle de Bambou Hydrating Shampoo, Masque a l’Orchidée Moisturizing Hair Mask and Serum de Soie Sublimateur Conditioning Serum. The finishing touches are two gold and (faux) pearl hair pins, and it’s all in a ribbon-wrapped box. $165. LeonorGreyl-USA.com.
THE CHRISTMAS GUEST: A Novella by Peter Swanson
Are those slay bells? Escape the stress of the season in this spine-tingler by Peter Swanson, the bestselling author of Eight Perfect Murders, a Kirkus Reviews book of the year. Warning: You may rethink spending the holidays in cozy Cotswold. William Morrow, $19.99, Murder by the Book.
MOREAU PARIS
Like a Philippe Patek wristwatch or Fendi baguette, Moreau Paris handbags convey quiet luxury. Those who know will know what you’re wearing—and the purses can be passed down and worn by generations to come. The details also matter. They usually are lined with calfskin, offer an inner pocket that fits most iPhones and are covered with the telltale wicker pattern for which the brand is known. Typically, they’re sold in such shades as crimson, cerulean, pink, yellow and black. $1,654 to $1,998. Sold in Paris, Houston, Mexico City and online.
OLIVIA VON HALLE
You’ve shopped, you’ve baked and you’ve cooked. It’s time to pamper yourself in perfect style, with designer Olivia von Halle’s pure cashmere pajamas ($3,050), robe ($3,700), tracksuit ($3,450) and eye mask ($370), in Vanderbilt Muscat Beige, Logan Aspen Ivory and Radziwell Osaka Navy. Purported fans include Oprah, Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Campbell. OVH.
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