The Basenotes Holiday Gift Guide part 1
by Thomas Stone, 09 December 2007
In the immortal words of The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Don't Panic. Yes, it may just be days away, but Basenotes is here! In the first of two articles Tom Stone and Colin Murchie take you through the pick of the season to take the stress out of holiday shopping. The first guide will bring you some of the best luxury buys and the second, published tomorrow, will help you bag a bargain. Happy shopping!
Ormonde Jayne
Ormonde Jayne is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious perfume houses in the world, and the warmth of character shown by its founder and creator, Linda J Pilkington, will have been experienced by anyone who has had the opportunity to visit the solitary perfume shop on Old Bond Street in London. The online boutique now enables delivery of these gorgeous products to even the farthest corners of the globe.
Ormonde Jayne currently offers three exquisite gift boxes in addition to it’s full range of fragrances, bath and body and products for the home available individually. Belle of the Ball gift box contains a 50ml (2 fl.oz) Eau de Parfum with matching 200ml (7 fl.oz) Body Lotion, while the Pure Indulgence gift box offers a 100ml (3.4 fl oz) Essential Bathing Oil and a 200ml (7 fl.oz bottle of both the Hydrating bath and Shower Crème and Replenishing Body Lotion. These two gift sets are available in seven of Ormonde Jayne’s signature fragrances (Osmanthus, Frangipani, Sampaquita, Ta’if, Champaca, Tolu and Ormonde), while the third gift box, bathing Beauty, is also available in Orris Noir, containing a 100ml (3.4 fl.oz) Essential Bathing Oil and two scented glass candles.
As you would expect from Ormonde Jayne, both product and gift packaging are simple and elegant, and delivery rates are reasonable. And if you’re really not sure which of the gorgeous fragrances available you prefer, you could always plump for an ultra chic gift card, giving your friend of loved one the chance to discover Ormonde Jayne for themselves.
Bond No. 9
On the other side of the pond, Bond No. 9 have been developing their festive selection of gifts, and have definitely come up with a cracker this year in the form of the I Love New York Double Decker. Containing 50ml (2 fl.oz) flacons of Downtown Eau de Parfum in a lush white keepsake box with the Bond No. 9 logo embossed on top, this is certainly a gift that any fragrance-lover would delighted with this Christmas.
Also on offer is a Swarovski Pocket Spray Box. The set contains 3 exquisite Bond No. 9 Eau de Parfums (Chinatown, Chelsea Flowers and Eau de New York) accompanied by a flacon paved in black Swarovski stones, making it an elegant and handy addition to any evening bag this season. The set comes in a gorgeous black embossed presentation box to add to it’s glamorous edge.
Carthusia
Italian perfume house Carthusia understands that sometimes, gift sets aren’t suitable for everybody – and so this year you can arrange and even personalize your own from the exclusive range of products available. The former monasteries eight fragrances include Aria di Capri, Fiori di Capri, IO, Ligea La Sirena, Mediterraneo, Carthusia Uomo, Numero 1 and Via Camerelle. A range of bodycare products are also available in a selection of the fragrances, including body wash, body lotion and soaps, as well as scents for the home. The gift packaging is elegant and timeless, offering you a traditional piece of Italy this season.
Penhaligon's
Returning to England and to Penhaligon’s, one of the few true perfume houses in the world. Their selection of treasured gifts are stunning, giving you the chance to customise your gifts by offering a range of silver and crystal atomisers ready for you to fill with your choice of Penhaligon’s scents. Available in the Opus 1870 range is a limited edition 100ml (3.4 fl.oz) Eau de Toilette spray presented in a maple burlwood box, each individually numbered.
Penhaligon’s also offer a range of seasonal gifts, including miniature ladies and gentlemen’s fragrance collections, including four 5ml bottles of their most exquisite fragrances in a traditional trinket box.
Part two tomorrow.
Additional research by Colin Murchie 
About the author
Thomas Stone is a freelance writer based in the UK midlands.
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