Gifts of Fragrance that Think Outside the Bottle

What smells like heaven on you often ends up in someone else's 're-gift' pile, so as a fragrance specialist, I rarely recommend giving the gift of perfume or cologne for the holidays, unless the recipient specifically asks for it. But if you know your giftee-to-be's fave fragrance, so does everyone else. Does anyone really need 12 bottles of their favorite fragrance under the tree? Do not despair..."Scent-a Claus" is here with the Fashiontribes Scented Holiday Gift Guide that will surely please even the pickiest perfumistas and discriminating connoisseurs:

LES OBJETS:

Lartisan parfumeur amber fragrance balls

L' Artisan Parfumeur's Amber Balls are at the top of the list as our personal holiday gift. Designed and created by mother and daughter in Paris, these are the ultimate artisanal gift, handcrafted from terra cotta. They waft a beautiful amber scent that lasts about a year, and the refillable scent "crystals" can be purchased separately. LartisanParfumeur.com & Luckyscent.com

Jacques Garcia Bronze Myrrh Home Fragrance As a world-renowned decorator, tourists visiting Paris flock to his celebrated Hotel Costes and Laduree tearoom. He is also the designer behind La

Mamounia-Marrakech, Hotel Victor – Miami, Jean-Georges in New York, and the Hotel Bellagio in Las Vegas. BeautyHabit.com

HOLIDAY "GREEN":

Redflower's Intensely-Scented Organic Room Diffusers We have tested about a dozen home fragrances and Redflower consistently throws the most fragrance and lasts for at least 3 months. Our personal favorite is Orange Blossom, but for the holidays we recommend the Cardamom Amber Resin scent, which diffuses cardamom, sandalwood, amber resin and aloeswood from a demeter-certified, bio-dynamic blend, encased in a recycled Spanish glass vase. Redflower.com

Earl Gray Oolong-Gui Fei by Mandy Aftel for Aftelier Before we knew we were leaving carbon footprints..there was Mandy Aftel, the Queen of Green, and the most respected expert on organic 'alchemy' in the world. Any tea aficionado on your list will adore her fragrant, organic creations. Our pick: Gui Fei tea, which has an intense dark, spicy perfume with a textured, nutty, floral taste. The tea's full-bodied complexity blends perfectly with the Italian bergamot and lavender absolute, fading into a surprisingly cool finish. Aftelier.com

Ajne Golden Filigree Soy Candle Ajne's vintage-inspired 100% organic soy wax candles are GORGEOUS. Best of all, you can actually re-use the filigree again and again, making them an ecologically sound choice. Available in your choice of eleven scents (for the holidays, we recommend "Festive"). Ajne.com

Sonsa Rae Skincare From the loving hands of a married couple with 30 years of experience in all-natural skin care and perfume, these products are made with 100% pure essential oils. We love them as a gift for both

men and women, especially during the winter for dealing with problem areas like elbows, feet, flaky shins, backs of arms, the back and even rough, dry hands. Each product is made from scratch and is a truly special gift. SonsaRaeSkincare.com

WHAT THEY WILL COVET:

Diptyque's Limited Edition Benjoin The Polish art of Wycinanki originated amongst shepherds who used these decorative pieces to adorn their homes and shelters; even today it is considered the world’s finest form of paper cutting. This benzoin (sweet, vanillic, resinous) scented candle is presented in a purple glass container enhanced by its gold Wycinanki motif. Order two...one for you. First-in-Fragrance.com

Claus Porto Fantasia Soap Gift Box Claus Porto is a

117 year old company that still uses the time-honored tradition of milling seven times; milling refers to the process of "mixing" the soap - the more times that the soap elements are passed through the mill, the more air bubbles are forced out of the mix and the more the fragrance is evenly distributed. Check out the deco inspired artwork on each individually wrapped bar of soap. No you cannot keep it for yourself...although you will be tempted. Almost too beautiful to unwrap. Luckyscent.com

Nuxe Paris Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Usage Dry Oil Spray Ah Nuxe, how do we love thee, let us count the ways: the subtle scent (tiare), fans (chic women the world over),

popularity (it's a best-seller), natural loveliness (preservative-free, silicone-free, 98.8% ingredients of natural origin), and divine (easily absorbed, leaves skin smooth, silky, and slightly fragranced). BONUS from B-glowing.com: SPECIAL $25 GIFT! Purchase 2 or more Nuxe products & receive a Nuxe Gift Set & Travel Clutch worth $25! Includes Oil Prodigieux, Creme Fraiche Moisturizer and the Eye Contour Cream. (No checkout code needed. Limit one per household/per day. Cannot be combined with any other offer.)

Limited Edition Milk Chocolate Gift Collection by Philip B Rock the world of your favorite chocolate lover, just without the calories. This fragrant pair of botanically rich skin treats is sure to bring back memories of childhood! But the formula has an adult side: Cocoa-Butter for conditioning; Oat Proteins and Wheat Amino Acids to revive and soothe; moisturizing Glycerin; and healing Aloe. Apothia.com & PhilipB.com

Hermes Vaporisateur Cuir Nomade The Ultimate refillable travel spray flacon.The leather case, featuring saddle stitching in natural thread, bears a 10 ml flask ready to be filled with the fragrance of your choice. Available in Chocolat and Orange Epsom Calfskin and limited editions colors Ciel, Soleil and Pelouse Swift Calfskin. Enough said...available at Hermes boutiques.

...& THE ONE PERFUME GIFT TO GIVE Rules are meant to be broken, and every women should own at least one Ormonde Jayne perfume (Frangipani Absolue for me, please). From the award winning cult perfumery across the pond is a perfume sampler of all their exquisite created fragrances; in this kit she will definitely find one or two (or three) fragrances she cannot live without. OrmondeJayne.com

- Michelyn Camen, Editor at Large