We’re Confident There’s Something For Him in These 25+ Holiday Gift Ideas From Sephora
The Telegraph
The shadow home secretary has sided with the police over the Bristol protests after a hard left MP claimed that “police brutality is the boot of the capitalist state”. In a sign of deepening divisions within Labour over further clashes over the weekend, Nick Thomas-Symonds said that the “violence being perpetrated” by a minority in Bristol was “unacceptable”. Mr Thomas-Symonds added that the events were undermining “legitimate” opposition to Government legislation which would hand the police more powers to tackle non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance. The demonstrations are being organised under the slogan “Kill the Bill.” He was speaking after bricks, glass and fireworks were thrown at officers during demonstrations in the city centre, where protesters have held multiple protests in recent days. While the Prime Minister and Home Secretary have condemned the “disgraceful” scenes, activists and some MPs have hit out at reports of protesters and at least one journalist being tackled physically. They included Nadia Whittome, a Labour MP who quit Sir Keir’s frontbench last year, who said on Saturday: “The case for an independent investigation into the policing of the Bristol protests is clear.” Her comments were echoed by Zarah Sultana, the Labour MP for Coventry South, who wrote on Twitter: “The first lesson is to end the establishment presumption that protesters are always guilty and must be to blame. History tells us that’s false.” Going further, Claudia Webbe MP, who is currently suspended from the Labour Party, said: “Police brutality is the boot of a capitalist state established to keep us all in order.” She added: “This is not policing by consent and falls well short of acceptable standards; police are acting with impunity, this must be condemned. Silence is not an option.” Mr Thomas-Symonds appeared to distance himself from the remarks yesterday, telling Times Radio that he did not agree with either Ms Webbe or Ms Whittome. “People should obviously have a way of making their voice heard of course and there are ways to do that in a covid-secure and safe way and that’s absolutely what they should be doing,” he added. “But let me be clear that the scenes of violence that we’ve seen in Bristol, from a minority of protesters are totally and utterly unacceptable. “That shouldn’t be happening and they’re not helping the cause, the legitimate cause of arguing against the protest provisions in the policing bill.”
How to choose the right cologne or aftershave: 5 expert tips
Fragrances are a lot like clothes. They only really work if you choose the right ones at the right time. Think about it, you wouldn’t show up to a beach resort in a cashmere roll neck, cummerbund and one ski, would you? In the same vein, there are certain dos and don’ts when it comes to your de toilette.
“This is why educating yourself in basic perfumery can be very useful to making better choices,” agrees Emmanuelle Moeglin, founder of the Experimental Perfume Club. “If you know what you like, and what works for what you need, then you can better search for it.”
Best men’s fragrances and colognes: discerning scent
Ahead are five expert tips to help you sift through the surplus of scents so you can choose the right aftershave or cologne every time.
Here are some useful rules to follow when choosing your fragrance:
Learn The Lingo: A lot of men unknowingly use terms like aftershave and cologne interchangeably, but these actually refer to a fragrance’s concentration levels and ultimately determine how long a scent will last. An Eau Fraiche is the weakest, sticking around for just 1-2 hours, followed by eau de cologne, eau de toilette, Eau de parfum and finally parfum, which will still be filling the room long after last orders. You can adjust this sliding scale (and your budget) to whether you’re looking for a simple post-shower spritz or an olfactory all-nighter for parties and weddings.
A lot of men unknowingly use terms like aftershave and cologne interchangeably, but these actually refer to a fragrance’s concentration levels and ultimately determine how long a scent will last. An Eau Fraiche is the weakest, sticking around for just 1-2 hours, followed by eau de cologne, eau de toilette, Eau de parfum and finally parfum, which will still be filling the room long after last orders. You can adjust this sliding scale (and your budget) to whether you’re looking for a simple post-shower spritz or an olfactory all-nighter for parties and weddings. Know Your Notes: You don’t need a PHD in perfumery to find a good fragrance, but it does help to know how they’re made. Most traditional men’s fragrances are built in three layers. The top notes are the ones you’ll smell first, but these quickly fade, giving way to the middle notes which linger slightly longer before you’re left with the base notes. Look out for notes that frequently crop up in the fragrances you like, and the search for new ones will be much easier.
You don’t need a PHD in perfumery to find a good fragrance, but it does help to know how they’re made. Most traditional men’s fragrances are built in three layers. The top notes are the ones you’ll smell first, but these quickly fade, giving way to the middle notes which linger slightly longer before you’re left with the base notes. Look out for notes that frequently crop up in the fragrances you like, and the search for new ones will be much easier. Shop For The Occasion: Just as you dress for the occasion, you should spray for it too. Luckily, all this talk of fumes needn’t give you a headache. Each fragrance falls under a ‘family’ – such as woody, citrus, floral, or oriental – which is usually a giveaway of when it’s best deployed. For example, work colleagues will appreciate you opting for a light citrus scent featuring neroli over a heady oriental oud, while a date almost certainly calls for something earthy and musky.
Just as you dress for the occasion, you should spray for it too. Luckily, all this talk of fumes needn’t give you a headache. Each fragrance falls under a ‘family’ – such as woody, citrus, floral, or oriental – which is usually a giveaway of when it’s best deployed. For example, work colleagues will appreciate you opting for a light citrus scent featuring neroli over a heady oriental oud, while a date almost certainly calls for something earthy and musky. Try Before You Buy: To properly shop for a fragrance, you need to wear it. Not only do scents change over time, they also react differently to different body chemistry – meaning what smells good on blotting paper won’t necessarily smell the same on you. Even if you’ve made it your mission to find a signature scent that you’ll stick with for life, limit your testing to four. Spray one on each wrist and on the inside of each elbow, then let them develop over three to four hours before picking the one that comes up smelling roses (or citruses, or spices.)
To properly shop for a fragrance, you need to wear it. Not only do scents change over time, they also react differently to different body chemistry – meaning what smells good on blotting paper won’t necessarily smell the same on you. Even if you’ve made it your mission to find a signature scent that you’ll stick with for life, limit your testing to four. Spray one on each wrist and on the inside of each elbow, then let them develop over three to four hours before picking the one that comes up smelling roses (or citruses, or spices.) Research The Classics: With hundreds of revivals, remixes, relaunches and rebottlings happening every year, it can be hard to sniff out a fragrance that will have staying power, both on your shelf and your skin. Though you should always buy for personal taste, if you’re worried about smelling like last year’s trend, consider sticking to the classics. Only a few colognes have clawed their way into the grooming hall of fame (think Dior Sauvage, Terre d’Hermes and Bleu de Chanel), making it hard to go wrong.
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Valentine’s Day gifts: Perfumes on sale
While this year’s celebrations will be a little different to usual, the premise stays the same and Valentine’s Day offers the perfect opportunity to express your appreciation for your loved one, particularly if you’ve spent the past year in lockdown together.
Whether you mark the occasion with flowers, jewellery, a beauty product or a card, there’s a host of ideas out there. But, if you’re looking to make a romantic gesture in the form of a perfume, you’ve come to the right place.
Read more: 10 best Valentine’s Day flowers to up the romance in lockdown
Owing to it being a particularly personal item, as well as an investment purchase, perfumes are a notoriously difficult item to buy for someone else. But, nail it and it truly is a gift that keeps on giving.
Our advice for the best way to avoid disappointment is to opt for a classic scent or one that has been tried and tested, which is exactly where we come in.
Read more: 18 best Valentine’s Day gifts that your significant other will love
When curating this round-up of the best perfume deals to shop ahead of Valentine’s Day, we kept a close eye for the scents we’ve personally reviewed, so that you can rest assured knowing the fragrance you buy will be a worthy investment and a gift that they’ll fall in love with.
With some of our beauty retailers slashing the price of our favourite fragrances ahead of the big day, you can save while you shop too.
Whether you’re after a men’s aftershave, a unisex scent you may choose to share or a women’s spring perfume that’ll see them through the next season, we’ve found all the best deals so you can seriously impress you’re loved one this Valentine’s Day.
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Our IndyBest team has hand-picked every deal featured here. We may earn some commission from the links in this article, but our selections have been made independently and without bias. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
The best fragrance deals for Valentine’s Day gifts
Laboratory Perfumes atlas, 100ml: Was £70, now £60, Mr & Mrs Stitch – Buy now
(Laboratory Perfumes)
Buying for him this Valentine’s Day? This scent landed the top spot in our guide to the best men’s winter fragrances thanks to the fact it “offers a nice refreshing change from the usual heavy, woody fragrances that dominate the winter fragrance market”. “It’s not your average fragrance and is sure to attract questions and compliments aplenty which is why we liked it so much,” praised our writer.
Buy now
Gucci Bloom gocce di fiori eau de toilette, 100ml: Was £92, now £61.32, Debenhams – Buy now
(Gucci)
As we enter into spring, you might be thinking that it’s time to update your scent and this musk is the perfect one to do it with. Featuring in our guide to the best women’s spring fragrances, this is “a new twist on the modern classic Gucci bloom,” noted our writer. “Joyful and radiant as a fragrance, it also has an ethereal vibe that’s slightly lighter and fresher than the original scent. Extra marks for the prettier-than-thou box too,” she praised. With more than 30 per cent off, this is a no-brainer.
Buy now
Calvin Klein CK one, 200ml: Was £60, now £30, Superdrug - Buy now
(Calvin Klein)
With 50 per cent off this scent, you seriously can’t go wrong, not least because of the price but also because it received high praise in our review of the best unisex perfumes with our writer noting that it was one of the first unisex fragrances to become mainstream in 1994. As a much-loved fragrance, our reviewer said: “You’ll find citrusy notes of mandarin, papaya, bergamot and lemon, warmed by aromatic nutmeg, jasmine and violet. On the first spritz, it’s sharp and clean, but it settles to a deeper, subtler scent as it dries on the skin.” At such a competitive price and a scent you can share, this will make a great Valentine’s Day gift.
Buy now
Acqua di parma colonia futura, 100ml: Was £113, now £68, Allbeauty – Buy now
(Acqua di Parma)
Having featured in our round-up of the best perfumes of 2020, this is another fragrance you can trust. It’s a “blend of heritage and modern” wrote our reviewer. Made from “99 per cent natural ingredients, and everything but the spray dispenser is recyclable, including the cap”, it’s an eco-friendly choice. As for the scent, you can expect citrus, bergamot, lemon and grapefruit mixed with lavender and sage, which our writer noted was “expected and unexpected”.
If you don’t mind festive packaging, John Lewis & Partners currently has the Acqua di Parma colonia futura eau de cologne fragrance gift set on offer for just £77. Comprising a 100ml bottle of the cologne, a hair and shower gel, and a deodorant spray, it’s a worthy investment.
Buy now
Flower by Kenzo eau de vie, 30ml: Was £41, now £29.30, Allbeauty – Buy now
(Allbeauty)
Another favourite, this summery number also featured in our review of the best women’s spring perfumes, with our writer praising it for being “ground-breaking”. The brand has given its best-loved floral scent an update, “think notes of tonka bean, neroli, ginger and white musk for a youthful, uplifting fragrance,” noted our writer.
Buy now
Gucci memoire d’une odeur, 100ml: Was £92, now £61.32, Debenhams – Buy now
(Gucci)
High street stalwart, Debenhams, has slashed the prices of many of its leading products in its warehouse clearance sale, and luckily, fragrances have not been excluded. You can save a whopping 33 per cent on this Gucci scent, which landed a spot in our guide to unisex perfumes. Heralded by our writer as “an unusual, boundary-pushing scent”, when first spritzed “it smells green and almost bitter, softened slightly with jasmine, and it dries down to a simple wood and musk at the base”. Another fragrance you can trust will make a gorgeous Valentine’s Day treat.
Buy now
Chanel bleu de chanel parfum, 100ml: Was £94, now £84, Boots – Buy now
(Chanel)
Boots is currently offering £10 off a selected range of perfumes, including everything from Dior sauvage eau de toilette to Giorgio Armani si eau de parfum. But it was the Chanel bleu that caught our eye since it featured in our guide to the best men’s summer fragrances.
The scent is “a blend of aromatic woodiness and lingering sandalwood that is quite heavily undercut with a citrus freshness,” noted our writer before adding, that it “is this freshness, a mix of lemon, mint, pink pepper and grapefruit, that lends a sporty sensibility to the scent”.
Buy now
Chloé love story eau de parfum spray: Was £68, now £49.95, Amazon – Buy now
(Chloé)
Chloé produces timeless fragrances that are considered a safe buy when gifting to someone. According to the brand, this scent has been inspired by a Parisian love story, making it an ideal Valentine’s Day gift. A floral scent, it has notes of neroli, orange blossom and cedarwood.
Buy now
Estee Lauder modern muse eau de parfum, 100ml: Was £101.11, now £46.50, Amazon – Buy now
(Amazon)
If you’re looking for a floral, woody scent, this one from Estēe Lauder is the one for you. With base notes of patchouli, amber, vanilla and musk, and top notes of mandarin, jasmine and lily, it’s a gorgeous scent for the woman in your life. With more than 50 per cent off, you really can’t go wrong.
Buy now
Still looking for inspriation? Read our Valentine’s Day gift guide to the presents that your significant other will love
IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.