Gift Giving

Favourite Fragrance Gifts for Every Room

Our curated list of scents perfect for any room in the house. 

It was Coco Chanel who once said: “no elegance is possible without perfume.” Of course, she was referring to the romance of wearing perfume on the skin, but we think the same is true of any room in your house. A home scent is the oft-overlooked finishing touch for any room, helping it accrue familiarity, comfort, freshness, and, yes, an invisible elegance. 

A home scent is also a way to gift fragrance without the tricky business of skin chemistry. Giving a perfume as a gift can sometimes require an intimate knowledge of the recipient, but a home scent can be enjoyed on its own, in the receiver’s own time and space. In short — a home scent is the perfect gift for any fragrance lover!

We’ve unpacked some favourites from Etiket’s extensive home fragrance selection, and curated a list of scents perfect for any room in the house. 

For the Study

In the quiet of a study or home office, we prefer rich, grounding, contemplative scents. Paul Smith’s Bookworm diffuser perfectly captures the indescribable comfort of a library filled with old books, as the fiery colour of its transparent glass vessel enhances warm, wooden shades in the room’s decor. 

Want to go bolder? Indulge in crackling firewood magically softened with vanilla bean in our own house-made Au Chalet candle, or fall down a literary rabbit hole with Imaginary Authors’ Cape Heartache candle, which imagines a rugged Pacific coastal forest filled with coniferous needles and brightened by tangles of wild strawberries. 

Coincidentally, the Strawberry candle by Malin + Goetz also plays up the botanical, green side of the familiar berry. Offering a lighter, but no less comforting, option for this room, it blends the garden-picked, barely-ripe fruit with sparkling pink pepper, fluffy orris root, and cozy musk. 

For the Kitchen

This room can often serve as a chaotic olfactory battleground, so we think any kitchen scent must either go with the flow or cut through the noise. Arquiste’s poetic Sobremesa candle uniquely captures an afternoon digestif around a table in Mexico City, with starched table linens, desert herbs like sage and rosemary, and the wood of the table itself; all scents perfectly at home in any kitchen. Similarly, the Pasta Water candle by D.S. & Durga began as a commission for an upscale Italian restaurant in New York City. One of our most unique gifts, it echoes the warm, salty-sweet glow of pasta steam, allowing it to complement, not contradict, the food. 

Other times, kitchens need to be freshened up after a meal. For a steady beam of scented sunlight, the Daydreamer diffuser by Paul Smith smells just as bright and joyful as it looks, diffusing kitchen-friendly notes of verbena and lavender. For maximum potency, a spritz of the Aramara room spray from Culti Milano electrifies the room with lifelike bitter orange. It also comes in a special edition orange coloured diffuser

For the Living Room

Here, we can get a little creative, and set the scene with colourful accents that add fun and style. Created for the St. Regis hotel group, Arquiste’s Caroline’s Four Hundred room spray has bottled a breathtaking bouquet of American beauty roses, piled high with various dewy blossoms for a Gilded Age Society gala. Far from old-fashioned, the scent is refreshingly botanical and unbelievably luxurious. 

For a more humble pleasure, Culti Milano’s Ficum Blu diffuser is a joyful kaleidoscope of juicy fig. Families with children will also love the playful Fraise & Rhubarbe candle from Montreal locals T. Lees, with its addictively jammy fragrance. 

Opting for the warmer side of botanicals, Paul Smith’s Botanist diffuser adds a sophisticated base note of real earthy vetiver to the room, along with a stylish colour story to boot. Even richer is the Bread in Chestnut candle by Scents of Wood — mingling the intoxicating aroma of toasted grains with creamy tonka and sandalwood. 

For those who take their interior design very seriously, Italian atelier Fornasetti offers museum-quality pieces that smell as refined as they look. We love the Peccato Originale collection, scented with mediterranean florals and rosewood, which feature a whimsical design reinterpreting the Garden of Eden. Available in a variety of sculptural shapes, including the iconic Se Poi candle, Fornasetti home scents blend form and function, becoming veritable art objects for the home. 

For the Bathroom

Clean and relaxing are the goals here. For an ambient scentscape of soothing Japanese green tea, Culti Milano’s Thé diffuser is the perfect everyday companion. And for an on-demand burst of seaside freshness, the Mareminerale room spray is a bold blast of cooling ocean mist. 

For a full-blown spa night, we created our own playfully titled Laisse-Moi Tranquille candle (“Leave Me Alone” in French). With fresh sage, citrus, and squeaky clean amber, it’s the perfect scent to help you tune out and recharge. 

Because bathrooms are often smaller spaces, we find smaller votive candles are the perfect size for this room. The Cannabis Votive candle by Malin + Goetz doesn’t smell like someone’s been sneaking a smoke — instead, it cleverly blends citrus, spices and green-earthy notes into a fresh botanical landscape. And for a bit more to choose from, the adorable Home Hooplas Votive Candle Trio set by Penhaligon’s contains three refined, intriguing fragrances in a gorgeous wooden chest. Inside, find miniature versions of the tropical floral Comoros Pearl and green-fruity Roanoke Ivy, both lovely touches for any bathroom.

For the Bedroom

Bedrooms are sanctified spaces that beg for refinement and comfort. But that doesn’t mean a bedroom scent has to be basic. Take the whimsical but deeply soothing No. 4 Candle by inventive French house Marc-Antoine Barrois. Imagining the favourite snack of their London boutique’s mascot — a large sculpture of a blue rabbit, à la Alice & Wonderland — it blends velvety carrot seed and lush lavender into a soothing hug of scent. And speaking of lavender, we love using the Wild Brooklyn Lavender Auto Scent by D.S. & Durga as a contemporary twist on the old-school lavender bud sachet. Tuck into a drawer to delicately scent fabric or linens. 

Maison Francis Kurkdjian candles make for sophisticated accents to any bedroom. Their Limoges ceramic vessels and seamless, sumptuous scents create an atmosphere of easy luxury. We love the intoxicating, smoky-sweet Oud Satin Mood candle as an opulent bedside indulgence, and their limited edition Rose des Neiges candle for the olfactory equivalent of sprinkling fresh rose petals on your pillow. 

If a bedroom scent needs a touch of sensuality, our house-made Mon Amour candle is a staff favourite. The fragrance is a dance of voluptuous gardenia and purring musk, with just a cheeky hint of spiced cherry. Just be sure you gift it to the right person. 

For the Holidays

There are those of us for whom the winter season demands maximum festive cheer, and whether we realize it or not, smell is a significant part of classic holiday memories. Luckily, we have a wide variety of candles offering the perfect, giftable dose of holiday scent. 

Two Montreal brands produce perfect renditions of the classic Christmas candle. The Rudolph candle from Ruby Brown comes emblazoned with a contemporary antler design, and T. Lees adds a fruity twist to their holiday candle Evergreen & Champagne

Other candles add additional layers of atmosphere, riffing on the Christmas tree tradition. Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Mon Beau Sapin is a beloved favourite, adding snowy sparkle and resinous depth to the winter wonderland. For the more irreverent of Christmas die-hards, the Portable Xmas Tree candle from D.S. & Durga adds a whole forest of evergreens and a dose of warming spice to the mix. Even more uniquely, the brand also offers a Chanukah in the Desert candle. Rustic notes of cypress and juniper float over glowing resins and spice, forming a unique alternative for holiday warmth, no matter how you celebrate. 

Gift Giving

Our 5 Favourite Fragrance Gift Sets

Discover our must-haves, fit for any budget or taste.

The world of niche fragrance continues to grow, and with it, a dizzying array of options, making gifting a bit of a challenge. That’s why we always suggest buying a set for the fragrance lovers on your list. The curated selections beg for exploration and ongoing discovery, while the variety contained within lowers the risk of a flop; it’s very likely something inside will be a new favourite!

With that in mind, here are some picks for our favourite fragrance gift sets, for any budget or taste. To explore our full selection, check out our Gift Guide here.  


Maison Francis Kurkdjian – 3, 2, 1, Noël! Scented Candle Trio

Many know Maison Francis Kurkdjian for their chic, luxurious fragrances, including the megahit Baccarat Rouge 540. But if you’ve never experienced their candles, you’re missing some of their best work. 

This set, packaged with the brand’s impeccable eye for design, features three votive candles in gorgeous French matte ceramic vessels. First, two unique winter florals, exclusively created for holiday 2023, add colour and joy to any room. The third rounds off the collection: Mon Beau Sapin, a much-loved favourite which returns every year by popular demand, is the most refined Christmas tree candle we’ve ever smelled.

D.S. & Durga – Roadtrip Hits

A highly unique set brimming with this Brooklyn brand’s eclectic troubadour spirit, this box offers five of the most unique car fragrances imaginable. 

Yes, we did say car fragrances! These cheeky throwback air-fresheners feature hip black-and-white graphics and warm, poetic scents with whimsical names like Concrete After Lightning and Portable Fireplace. While this set is the perfect gift for any hard-to-buy-for motorist, they can also be used in any small enclosed space, or even tucked into a drawer to delicately scent clothing or linens.

Penhaligon’s – Tiddly Whiffs Set

If you’ve ever visited London during the holiday season, you know the Brits have a magic touch with festive decoration. This set of samples from iconic English perfumery Penhaligon’s brings all that beauty home in a stocking-stuffer-friendly little box. Even the name brings a smile to our face!

We love Penhaligon’s fragrances for gifting because they’re approachable and versatile while still feeling playful and unexpected. This set features the brand’s bestsellers across all three of their collections, running the gamut from fresh to bold and floral to woody. We think there’s a scent inside for every taste imaginable. 

Creed – Holiday Coffret for Him

The ultimate in luxury, this beautiful coffret contains travel sized spray vials of three bestselling Creed fragrances. Among the scents featured are the global phenomenon Aventus and the seminal classic Green Irish Tweed. 

Creed’s reputation for bold, effortlessly fashionable fragrances has made the brand’s logo and timeless packaging a status symbol since its inception. While the three fragrances in this set were conceived as snapshots of opulent masculinity, we also think the beautiful citrus-and-green-tea-supernova Silver Mountain water would make for a perfect signature for any gender. 

Ormonde Jayne – Signature Discovery Set

One of our most beloved brands, the clean lines of Ormonde Jayne’s aesthetic conceal a wildly innovative spirit. Over the years, they’ve released some of the most groundbreaking scents in our collection. 

Warm notes of amber and balsam, edgy facets of novel ingredients like hemlock, and rare flowers like champaca and frangipani find new life within these timeless, unisex fragrances. They all seem to dance within the brand’s signature transparent structure, the brainchild of revolutionary Escentric Molecules perfumer Geza Schoen. Glittering on the skin, they demonstrate classical balance and abstract electricity, making this set an exciting olfactory adventure for newbies and connoisseurs alike. 
Is Fragrance Giftable?
Fragrance

Is Fragrance Really Giftable?

As the holiday season rolls around, we’re often asked about the best way to select a fragrance as a gift. Here are some steps to help you achieve a fragrance gifting triumph.

As the holiday season rolls around, we’re often asked about the best way to select a fragrance as a gift. Many people like the idea of gifting fragrance, especially for a loved one who’s often within smelling distance. But the wide variety of fragrances available and the personal nature of scent make it a particular challenge, especially if you’re not a diehard fragrance lover yourself. However, contrary to popular belief, it is possible to get them a fragrance they’ll love! In a perfect world, you could just buy them another bottle of their favourite, in which case, you’ll be done before you know it. Assuming that’s not an option, here are some steps to help you achieve a fragrance gifting triumph.

1. Don’t think so much about ”notes” or ingredients; think about personality

Perfumes are often described by what fragrance “families” they belong to. Are they sweet? Floral? Woody? Animalic? And while knowing your recipient’s taste in ingredients can help, often fragrances can vary just as much within families as between them. Instead, we suggest thinking first about the personality or style of the person you’re buying for. Are they bold? Reserved? Dramatic? Fun? Distinctions like fancy or casual, and for work or for play, can often help narrow the field better than deciding between cedar and vanilla.

To this end, we’ve compiled a Fragrance Gift Guide with nine categories of fragrance lovers (or the fragrance curious). Look for ones that feel like they describe your recipient’s disposition, taste in clothes, or the way they greet the world.

2. Stick to the safe bets (and beware some tricky ingredients)

There are two reasons that ingredients do matter a little for gift giving: skin chemistry and scent associations. Scent is closely tied to memory, which can make the exact same smell feel different to different people. Additionally, perfume changes subtly once it hits skin, making it harder to estimate how certain perfumes will smell on any particular person. To maximize your chances of success, we recommend sticking to more versatile scents with crowd-pleasing ingredients and styles.

Try: Escentric Molecules

This brand is a hit for a reason. Without getting too technical, many of their most-loved perfumes aren’t really “perfumes” in the sense that vanilla isn’t really a cake. Instead, their line of “Molecule” scents (numbered 01-05) are suspensions of a single versatile base note in alcohol. Translation? They’re the frame, not the painting. This means that they adapt to anyone’s skin and amplify the best qualities of their natural scent. The result is a wear-it-anywhere automatic jaw dropper that can also layer beautifully with any other scents in their collection.

Try: Malin + Goetz

These fun, modern fragrances are a nice bridge between “nice smell” and “proper perfume” (and we mean that in the best way possible). They’re inspired by easily-identifiable smells, and evoke them in an accessible way. They’re already well loved for their addictive body products, and their packaging is effortlessly chic. And worst comes to worst, buying someone a fragrance named “Cannabis” is sure to at least make them smile (but it would also smell great on almost anyone anyway).

Be careful with: buying something ”fresh”

“Fresh” is a concept in perfume that’s become such a cliché it hardly means anything. If they’ve told you they like “fresh” fragrances, or you have a memory of them smelling “clean”, this could be helpful, or could be a trap. Because of the way scent is tied to memory, “fresh” could mean anything from citrus to mint, light flowers to aquatic, and even white musk. Try to narrow your search by thinking of their personality, or if “fresh” is all you have to go on, consider any Heeley fragrance with a white label.

Be careful with: Floral for the sake of floral

Flowers are foundational to the history of perfume. They also could be the most polarizing ingredient of them all. Not only can people have strong reactions to heavily floral scents, but the way that flowers show up in a composition ranges from “shrieking” to “invisible”. This doesn’t mean you should stay away from any fragrance which lists flowers among the notes; most will have some somewhere. However, if a fragrance is described as both rich/intense and predominantly floral, you might want to get them to try a sample first (unless you or they are experienced fragrance buyers).

One exception to this rule is if you know they have a favourite flower. If so, find a fragrance that doesn’t just include it, but is overwhelmingly and exclusively inspired by it. Lilac lovers will likely love A Lilac a Day, orange blossom enthusiasts will likely swoon over Histoire d’Orangers, and if they grow real roses in their garden, Lustre should remind them of home. 

3. Smell for yourself, and even get a second opinion

It will not surprise you to hear that smells cannot be fully experienced through the internet (at least not yet). While many of our clients have learned enough about their personal taste to shop our fragrance selection online, buying a fragrance gift can put many of us back at square one. An excellent way to complete your holiday shopping would be to visit our Montréal boutique and sniff a shortlist of options. If this is a possibility for you, the same advice from #1 applies; when smelling each fragrance, try to think of the person’s energy, personality and style more than decide whether they’d like the actual ingredients.

For those who aren’t lucky enough to live nearby, we also offer the option to purchase samples online of almost any fragrance we sell. If you plan ahead, investing a small amount in an assortment of samples can help you seal the deal, or even sneak an option onto the skin of the actual person you’re buying for. And if the element of surprise is too important to give up, bring the samples around to someone who knows your recipient just as well (or even better) than you do. When seeking a second opinion, the question we’d recommend asking isn’t “would they like this?” as much as “do you think this smells like them?” Lastly, if you’re their significant other, remember to consider what scents you’d enjoy smelling on them as well!

4. Don’t forget the home!

If you’re still not ready to make a judgement call on a fragrance for skin, try a fragrance for space! Any room is enlivened by the invisible colour of a home fraIf you’re still too scared to make a judgement call about a fragrance for skin, try a fragrance for space! Any room is enlivened by the invisible colour of a home fragrance, and we carry a beautiful array of scents in various formats. Home scents are the perfect gifting sweet spot: something almost everybody loves, but many people often don’t buy for themselves.  

The range of diffusers from Culti Milano have been extremely popular, as well as their car sachets – a unique gift for anybody who drives to work. Local Montréal brands Les Citadines and T. Lees create artisanal, elevated scents for every taste, and Arquiste’s candles are vibrant, transportive and unique. Finally, for the ultimate luxury experience, the world-renowned house of Fornasetti makes candles which rise to the level of art objects – taking home scent from invisible accent to dazzling decor.

Finally, gifting fragrance with Etiket has one distinct advantage – free samples! Like most retailers, we can’t accept returns of used fragrance, even if it’s only been sprayed once. However, Etiket offers complimentary fragrance samples with every purchase. Simply request a sample of the scents you’re buying and we’ll happily include them so your recipient can try the sample on before they open the full-sized bottle. If it turns out it’s not for them, they can easily return the unused fragrance and get something for themselves. This also means that every bottle of fragrance you buy for someone else lets you try some free samples for yourself, and if that isn’t a reason to be generous, I don’t know what is!

Image source: @penhaligons_london

Stay in the Know
Sign up for our newsletter and enjoy 10% off your first purchase from the Etiket Shop
Stay in the Know
Sign up for our newsletter and enjoy 10% off your first purchase from the Etiket Shop
Gardons le contact!
Inscrivez-vous à l'infolettre d'Etiket et obtenez 10% sur votre premier achat sur Etiket.ca.
Gardons le contact!
Inscrivez-vous à l'infolettre d'Etiket et obtenez 10% sur votre premier achat sur Etiket.ca.