The perfect lemming for Chocolate-Covered Cherry Day: the Demeter version. "It was the French, however, who had the brilliance to mix the cherry with Kirsch, a colorless liqueur that originated in Germany, made from distilled juice of black cherries and crushed cherry stones, and cover the entire ensemble in chocolate. Voila! the Griotte, or chocolate covered cherry, was born." You can get a 15 ml purse spray for about $11, or the splash version for half that.
My nomination for the (high-end) gift most likely to please a perfumista: the Frédéric Malle Collection Coffret. "Minimal and precious, the coffret presents a 22-piece anthology of the Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle collection, created for the truly perfume hungry. An extraordinary showcase of our storied repertoire, whether you are travelling the world or idly crossing the street to see your favourite neighbour, choose a perfume befitting the moment — or one that you simply adore." 22 X 10ml + Book + Red Travel Case, $695.
For fans of Gucci Bloom, the Deluxe Edition with pump atomizer for holiday gift giving. 100 ml of the original Eau de Parfum ("Capturing the spirit of the contemporary, diverse and authentic women of Gucci, Bloom is creative director Alessandro Michele's first fragrance for the House. Envisioned as a thriving garden of flowers, Bloom is created to unfold like its name. Notes of natural tuberose and Jasmine leave an unexpectedly rich white floral scent on the skin. Rangoon Creeper, a plant that changes color when it blooms, infuses a powdery, floral edge."), $210 AUD at David Jones in Australia.
One of my favorites, and I love the size and the new(-ish) packaging (although the price, not so much): "Frédéric Malle's Une Rose eau de parfum combines the voluptuousness of the flower with the carnal depth of a truffle accord. Created by Edouard Fléchier, this fragrance infuses notes of rose, vetiver, patchouli, and castoreum for a intimate, earthy scent." 30 ml is $195 at Barneys.
This might annoy me too much to even try it, but who knows, maybe it is fantastic. The Nue Co.'s Functional Fragrance: "A fragrance with a function, designed to help you reset at times of high stress. Developed using data insight and research into the connection between cognitive function and the olfactory system. This is an anti-stress supplement delivered in the form of a unisex fragrance. Clean, woody, spicy and smoky. Green cardamom, Iris, Palo Santo + Cilantro". Need more? "Working with global fragrance house, Firmenich and legendary perfumer, Frank Voelkl, we have utilized research from the Brain & Behavior Laboratory at the University of Geneva. The research focused on mapping the neurological reactions to certain scent groups. Essentially, showing us how certain scents make you feel." They also say it works well with prebiotics and probiotics (not surprisingly, that's the bulk of their product line) and that "89% of people felt calmer, more composed and less stressed with thirty minutes of use" (doesn't Theorema already make 98% of people feel better instantly? I feel better just thinking about Theorema). 10 ml is $40, 100 ml is $155.