One of the greatest compliments we can ever receive is how good we smell. There’s no better feeling than walking down the street and being asked what we are wearing - and we’re not talking about clothes; we’re talking about fragrance! A good fragrance has a way of making our mark in any room we walk in without using any words. That’s why fragrance is the perfect gift to give ourselves and others. Dare we say it, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Although fragrance is a great gift to pass along to our loved ones, it can also be tricky to decide which one to give, especially if you’re a perfume lover who gets compliments all year. There is an abundance of top fragrance brands with incredible notes to match. Depending on their preference, these notes can sit differently with each nose, which can make the buying process a bit overwhelming. The only solution to this dilemma is to do your research on the best fragrance to gift.
We’ve compiled the best fragrances on the market to help you make the right choice this holiday season. These products have a mix of warm and floral notes to satisfy any sense of smell. Most of this selection is also Black-owned, helping us give back to the communities that serve us the most.
This holiday season, you can feel confident about the fragrance you purchased and who you purchased it from.
FORVR Mood I Am Her
Any product purchased from the iconic brand of Jackie Aina will always be a mood, and this goes for her fragrance too. The I Am Her fragrance is a warm and spicy scent filled with red velvet, pear, and Oud notes. Embrace your feminine energy with this incredibly sensual fragrance.
Chris Collins Lost In Paradise
Wouldn’t we all love to get lost in paradise at any moment? Well, now we can! Chris Collins' Lost In Paradise fragrance makes us one spray away from the getaway of our dreams. This fresh scent is an island paradise with coconut, peach skin, and salted musk notes—the perfect scent for feeling those summer vibes all year long.
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Fenty Eau de Parfum
Rihanna stole our hearts and pockets when she came out with Fenty Skin and Beauty; now she’s back with a fragrance that has us all in a chokehold. The Fenty Beauty fragrance is a staple, with reviews raving about its unisex complimentary scent. Warm and floras are balanced together to be welcoming for everyone. In addition to this, the product notes are magnolia, musk, and Bulgarian rose.
Naked Beauty Modern Magic
Brooke DeVard has us tuned into her podcast every week, and now she has us locked in on her new fragrance. The perfume was inspired by her move to California, which allowed her to enjoy the beauty around her. The Modern Magic perfume is a piece of California with its delicate neroli, green tea, and sandalwood notes.
Moodeaux Worthy
Want to let your loved ones know how worthy they are to you? Gift them the Worthy fragrance by Moodeaux. This fragrance is unisex, vegan, and cruelty-free, making it the perfect gift for anyone. The notes of this fragrance are also a massive plus for the holiday season. It comprises vanilla woods and relaxing lavender to give you peace and a taste of the holidays.
Kimberly New York Diaspora
When it comes to luxury fragrances, no one does it like Kimberly New York. Their Diaspora fragrance is beloved for its vibrancy. Like the name [Diaspora], the product stays true to an island vibe, carrying pear, crisp apple, Jamaican rose, and champagne. One spray of this perfume will make you want to take a trip to the islands.
Dossier Ambery Vanilla
We understand that fragrance can be a great gift and break the bank at the same time. Investing in a Dossier fragrance can be a great way to add a hint of luxury while still saving money. We highly recommend the Ambery Vanilla fragrance by the budget-friendly brand. YSL Black Opium inspires the product and carries mandarin, pear, pink pepper, and licorice notes. These ingredients give off a warm and sensual scent for those who appreciate a nighttime scent.
Dossier Floral Sandalwood
If a dark, sensual scent isn’t for your loved one, try going for floral scents. Dossier also has a great selection of budget floral scents that won’t break the bank. Their fragrance, Floral Sandalwood, mimics Amyris Femme by Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Amyris Femme. Similar to the luxury fragrance, it carries notes of pear, tangerine flower, and violet.
Prada Paradoxe Eau de Parfum
Love your loved ones a little extra this season with a luxury fragrance. Prada Paradoxe perfume is a household staple that is here to stay. This fragrance intensifies the warmth of your body, making it long-lasting while staying warm on the coldest days. Its top notes are jasmine, followed by Ambrofix for the middle, and moss accord on the base. Fall in love with a taste of luxury every time this perfume is in use!
Initio Parfums Prives Atomic Rose
Atomic Rose is a perfect fragrance that can be used all year and on almost any occasion. The notes include Italian bergamot, Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, Egyptian jasmine, and vanilla Madagascar. These notes are all natural and have an explosive balance of day and night. No longer do you have to worry if a scent is day or night appropriate; wear it whenever, wherever.
Libre Yves Saint Laurent
This perfume can barely stay on the shelves without the girls purchasing it immediately. That’s because the scent is truly magnetic to anyone you're walking past. Libre is made with the following notes: lavender, orange blossom, and musk accord. It is also available for a refill, so you no longer have to use the popular fragrance sparingly.
Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver Body Mist
Santal & Vetiver is a rich scent at an affordable price. For less than $50, your loved one can indulge in Australian sandalwood and amber aromas. A gentle wave of warm wood gives you the feeling of sitting by a fire on a summer night. This perfume is inviting yet grounding for everyone.
Bella Vita Honey Oud
How great would it be to smell like the dessert we ate at dinner? We can be sweet enough to eat with Bella Vita’s scent, Honey Oud. This great Amazon find is made with honey, vanilla, and bergamot. Remind your loved ones how sweet it is to have them in your life with this incredibly delicious scent.
Brown Girl Jane Dawn
Lighten up the mood with Brown Girl Jane's fresh scent, Dawn. Allow the raspberry blossom, amber, and vanilla notes to take over the room and uplift your mood. The formula gives a rich velvet scent and is praised for its versatility. Wear it today, tomorrow, or any day. No wrong can be done when this scent is in full effect.
Maison Louis Marie No.14
I'm ending this chapter with a rising fan favorite—No.14 by Maison Louis Marie. This perfume is praised for its beautiful floral scent. Available in full and travel sizes, it is described as warm and floral with notes of jasmine, Bulgarian rose, and vanilla. We believe this fragrance is a perfect send-off for the holidays and a look forward to spring.
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RELATED
Mercury enters Sagittarius on November 2, will be retrograde from Nov. 25 until Dec. 15, and will be in this sign until Jan. 8, 2025. Mercury in Sagittarius is bold and outspoken but, in retrograde, can come across as impulsive and brash. Thinking before speaking is important right now, and so is considering your values and interests before committing to something new. Since Sagittarius rules long-distance travel, this isn’t the best time to plan a new trip or to rush the ones already in place.
Consider where you want to be, and take your time getting there.
What to Expect from Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius
A little more than a week after Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, Mars goes retrograde in Leo. With these important transits happening in fire signs, energy can be misdirected right now. It’s about looking at the full picture and not overwhelming yourself with too many options or interests. Take your passions and align them with your heart and willpower, without confusing inspiration with ego. Emotions are running high, yet this activation is creating a breakthrough in personal development before the year ends.
Read below to see how this Mercury retrograde transit will be for you. Read for your sun sign and rising sign.
ARIES
Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and you are focused on the bigger picture right now, Aries. With Mercury retrograde in your 9th house of adventure over the next few weeks, this is the time to expect the unexpected and to go at your own pace. Don’t rush the clarity that is meant to bloom for you right now, and take things one day at a time.
Even if you don’t have all the answers you need right now, there are still some important truths and insights to gain. You are in the process of reinventing yourself and your life, and the universe is helping you get the space in order to do so. If you are traveling over the next few weeks, remember to be flexible and to go over plans thoroughly.
TAURUS
Mercury goes retrograde, and you enter a time of change and rebirth, Taurus. This transit, for you, is an opportunity to gain balance, perspective, and empowerment. Your commitments and close partnerships are being addressed right now, and you are seeing where your needs are being met and where they aren’t. You are on a journey of letting go and allowing more, and this is the time to focus on being more flexible rather than controlling outcomes.
This retrograde could also be affecting your shared finances and earnings, and this is a good time to take another look at the money coming in and the money going out and make sure things are in order here. Trust your intuition right now, Taurus.
GEMINI
Mercury goes retrograde in your sister sign, Sagittarius, and you are ready for a fresh perspective in love. This retrograde will highlight your 7th house of partnership, connection, romance, and inner harmony, and your heart is figuring things out right now. Confusion or disagreements are more likely within your relationship dynamics, and this is the time to address what your partnerships need.
If you have been feeling out of balance when it comes to love, then this is the time to get things back on track.
This Mercury retrograde is helping you gain a new perspective and reminds you that you deserve the love you are looking for. Use this time to forgive, grow, and use better judgment regarding matters of the heart and the relationships you are building in your life right now.
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CANCER
This Mercury retrograde transit for you is a chance to gain some renewed clarity regarding your health, well-being, and work life. You could be feeling more pressure to perform and have it all together on the job, and there is a need to delegate, let go, and take care of your health more right now, Cancer.
This transit will highlight where some cracks are seeping, where you may need to build stronger foundations and healthier daily routines, and also how you can manage a better work/life balance. Your daily lifestyle may feel a little more difficult to find consistency in right now, and this is because new avenues and perspectives are waiting for you to grab ahold of. Overall, use this time to listen to your inner voice and do more of what feels right for you and your body.
LEO
Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and this transit highlights your 5th house of romance, creativity, passion, and happiness, Leo. This retrograde is an opportunity for you to address what and who makes you happy and how you can show up more for these fortunate experiences in your life. You are looking at if you’ve been making your happiness as much of a priority as it should be this year and also taking a look at what sources help you align with that energy altogether.
This time is about being a little bit more flexible, doing things differently, and being open to a new perspective. Relationship developments are also providing your heart more clarity right now, and you are balancing your needs with the needs of your partnerships and creative ventures.
VIRGO
Your ruling planet Mercury goes retrograde before the year ends, and this is helping you rebuild your foundations, Virgo. Mercury will be retrograde in an area of your life that has to do with your home, history, family, and emotional stability- and you are getting a new grasp on things here.
Where you have been planting your seeds and building for your future are coming up for review during this time, and you are gaining clarity on which of these foundations is stable enough to continue to build upon. You could be feeling less secure than you would like to right now, and this change of pace is helping you reassess your goals and figure out what is worth it for you and the legacy you want to live.
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LIBRA
Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and the focus turns towards your communication channels, Libra. Mercury retro is already a more chaotic time when it comes to communication, and with this retrograde also happening in your 3rd house of insight and communication, you may feel this heaviness a little more right now.
This transit, for you, is about taking your time getting your message across, being patient while traveling and running errands, and giving yourself space to gain some new clarity.
Meditation, journaling, and talking to someone who can support you are therapeutic, and know that your voice deserves to be heard. You are looking at ways you can take up more space and show up in the world without letting your insecurities keep you away from true connection, vulnerability, and understanding.
SCORPIO
This Mercury retrograde is happening in your 2nd house of income, values, assets, and self-confidence, and you are taking a step back to assess your current reality, especially financially, Scorpio. This is a good time to go over your spending habits and earnings, to find greater balance here, and to think about some of your financial goals moving forward.
Look at your resources, skills, and talents, and make sure what you are receiving is equal to or greater than what you have been giving. Less is more right now, and this isn’t the best time to overspend or overindulge, as you need more time to grasp your current stance on things, and how to increase your overall wealth and abundance.
SAGITTARIUS
With this Mercury retrograde happening in your sign, it’s hitting a little closer to home for you, Sagittarius. This is a good time to refine your goals and direction in life and how you want to show up right now. You deserve to be able to change your mind when you need to, and you are thinking about some of the things you have done and what you want to do moving forward.
Miscommunications are more likely while Mercury is in retrograde, but you can use this as a source of empowerment, knowing that you are living in your truth and allowing yourself room to grow in the process. Remember to be a little kinder to yourself during this transit and to give yourself the grace you need right now.
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CAPRICORN
This Mercury retrograde for you, Capricorn, is about rest and taking care of your emotional world. You are being given the opportunity to spend more time alone, to gather your strength, and to heal before you enter the new year. A lot has happened, and there have been many changes in your world this year. This Mercury retrograde is here to help you find acceptance and closure.
You are in a preparation stage right now, and things can feel a little more lonesome in this energy, but with a different perspective, you can see just how much of this space your heart truly needs right now. The past is coming up for you to see things in a new light, and you are ready to gain some renewed insight, closure, and healing.
AQUARIUS
This Mercury retrograde highlights your friendships, community, and your hopes and dreams, Aquarius. You are being reminded of the importance of connection, but more significantly, of good connections. You are looking at who and what surrounds you right now and gaining clarity on whether this energy matches who you are and the things that you stand for.
Your social circle and the people around you are shifting as the power dynamics do, and you are finding your place and purpose amidst this change. It’s about identifying who and what makes you feel good and aligning things in your life to bring in more of that energy. Don’t be discouraged right now; find your people and ask for support.
PISCES
Your career and ambitions are the focus during this Mercury retrograde, Pisces. You have a lot to address here, and you are gathering your skills and talents and reminding yourself that you are worthy of your dreams. Miscommunications and setbacks are more likely within your professional world, but they are here to ask you if what you are striving for, is really what you need right now.
You are thinking a lot about how you show up in the world, what you want to be known for, and what successes you still want to obtain. This isn’t the time to let anyone’s idea or vision of you define who you are; rather, define that for yourself. Show up as you want to be seen, and don’t count yourself out right now, Pisces.
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