Ho, Ho, Ho: ‘Tis the best time of year for perfume buying

“This is the best time of the year to buy fragrance,” says Michelle Veilleux, public-relations manager at The Bay in Toronto. The PR pro shares that she recently scored a great Burberry tote when she stocked up on her favourite Burberry scent. Gotta love the gift-with-purchase offers that abound at holiday time.

You’re making your lists and checking them twice but don’t forget to add a “for me” category. ’Tis the season for giving after all.

All major retailers offer perfume promotions in time for Christmas, making late October (when the promos hit store shelves) the opportune time to stock up on a signature or coveted fragrance for yourself and receive the bonus of a companion body lotion, cream, scrub, purse-sized perfume or even travel bag. For the generous-minded, the season also means one could, if so inclined, buy and subdivide: two- and three-for-one deals of toilettes and lotions, candles and totes, after all, make for great stocking stuffers.

A few of our favourite finds:

At The Bay, find a Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb gift set, complete with a 50-ml eau de parfum, 10-ml roller ball fragrance, a 40-ml body cream and a 50-ml shower gel. All for $125.

A Lady Gaga Fame Holiday gift set with 50-ml eau de parfum spray and a very cool Fame black soap and a 10-ml roller ball scent. For $113.

A Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio gift set with a 100-ml eau de toilette, deodorant and a 75-ml shower gel and also a 75-ml after shave. A score at $105.

If you’re looking to replace your classic go-to-scent, you’ll also be in luck. Angel lovers will be able to pick up a collectible Thierry Mugler Precious Star fragrance gift set for $96—available at The Bay but also at Murale. With the purchase of the fragrance, which is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, one also scoops an eau de parfum miniature, a travel-size Perfuming Body Cream and a Perfuming Shower Gel.

For fans of the elegant For Her Narciso Rodriguez scent, you’ll be able to pick up terrific two and three-for-one deals. Look for an Eau de Parfum set that comes with a 50-ml spritz with a 10-ml companion purse spray, priced at $103; and also the Eau de Toilette set with a 100-ml toilette, 10-ml purse spray and 75-ml body lotion for $118.

Those enamoured of Juicy Couture fragrances also win in this pre-Christmas stretch. You’ll find various gift sets from the mass-glam brand at major drug stores. We particularly like the new Viva La Juicy  La Fleur 150-ml and 40-ml fragrance sets that come with a travel-friendly roller ball for $115 and $75 respectively. And if you can’t get enough of the mini-sized perfumes that launch at holiday time, look for Juicy Couture’s $65-four-pack of 5-ml flacons which include Juicy Couture, Viva La Juicy, Couture Couture and the new Viva La Fleur.

At Murale, there’s also a Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Gift Set ($89). If your first fragrance love is that fruity-floriental (with vanilla, orange blossom and peony), nab a 50-ml eau de toilette and a bonus 75-ml shower gel for $108.

The beauty retailer is also offering an Elie Saab perfume gift set, where fans of the elegant floral can score a 50-ml eau de parfum with a bonus 10-ml purse spray. Slip that in your own stocking for $126.

This is just a quick sniff at what’s on offer at your nearest fragrance counters. But be warned that supplies are limited, so make haste and start your holiday shopping on the right note with a bit of self love.