Editor’s picks: 7 luxury items that make perfect holiday gifts

December 17, 2018

Can you believe it’s almost 2019? The holiday season and December are in full swing, and it’s time for our annual Holiday Gift Guide!

Every year, I spend a significant amount of time researching the absolute finest items that are then selected for my luxury gift guide. Ultimately, I always want to recommend only the best things for our readers. With that in mind, I’m certain that whoever it is you are getting the gift for (even if it is yourself), the list below will have them impressed. Check it out!

1. FOR HER: Tiffany & Co. Eau de Parfum Intense fragrance

Naturally, anything by Tiffany & Co. is the epitome of luxury, and this latest fragrance is no exception.

The crystal bottle is elegant and classic. Presented in a faceted glass flacon, the bottle’s design takes its inspiration from the house’s most iconic diamond cuts. The new rendition, illuminated with a deeper shade of the iconic Tiffany Blue, is offset by a brilliant silver accent on the collar that is embossed with the brand’s logo.

Eau de Parfum Intense is a richer and deeper version of the signature Tiffany artisanal fragrance. You will still notice a profusion of iris, and the notes of amber and warm vanilla-like benzoin. Think of a musky and floral composition, with a warm, sensual accord. Just delightful.

The 75 ml bottle retails for $165.

 

2. FOR HIM: Hugo Boss Urban Journey fragrance

This wonderful new fragrance from Hugo Boss is masculine and sexy, in both its scent and packaging.

The top notes of hidden Himalayan whorlflower and heart notes of intense, aromatic Black Tea, are an excellent combination in this limited edition fragrance. For base notes, Hugo Boss opted for Gaiac Wood, which the brand says is “creating a balanced portrait of the ideal scent for millennials today.”

The flask-shaped flacon is reminiscent of adventure in its minimalist design that is iconic and signals HUGO Man’s unquenchable thirst for exploration.

The 75 ml bottle retails for $74.

 

3. THE SPECIAL CELEBRATION GIFT: Grey Goose Flour Tin special edition

Grey Goose is renowned for its vodka, which is some of the finest in the world. This tin is festive, pretty and allows you to skip gift wrapping all together, as it serves as its own kind of gift box.

From Cognac in France, this breakthrough wheat-based, small-batch, ultra-premium vodka has achieved global success and won a Platinum medal at the World Spirits Championship. Clean and fresh, it features a smooth texture.

Fun fact: this Grey Goose edition is an homage to the brand’s history, as traditional flour tins go hand-in-hand with the bakeries in France. Such tins contain blé panifiable supérieur, or “superior wheat flour,” which happens to be the only grade permitted in the production of Grey Goose.

This vodka retails for $49.95.

 

4. THE ULTIMATE GIFT FOR YOURSELF: Google Pixel 3 cellphone

You may have seen the ads for this latest Google creation everywhere, and what they say is true: this phone is truly next level. Sleek, elegant, modern and very user friendly, Pixel 3 is a dream gift for anyone on your list, including yourself!

This phone is thin, light and has a large screen. Pixel’s iconic two-tone design is refined with a soft-touch glass back that feels great in your hand. The phone features a speedy fingerprint sensor that can unlock the device before you see the screen. If you like watching videos, Pixel 3 is a YouTube Signature device with HDR playback.

I’ve always thought of Google as a company that has been somewhat futuristic and always ahead of the game, and this phone definitely speaks true to this. Exclusive to Pixel 3, the in-camera lens suggestions work in real-time on URLs, emails, phone numbers, addresses and QR codes. All you have to do is point your camera: no mode switching or internet connection required.

For someone like me, who works in fashion and takes a lot of pictures daily, the camera is really essential. One of the highlights of this phone is its photobooth function, which makes the selfie experience easier by capturing 184% more with the group selfie option.

Do you worry about storage? Well, you can also hold on to every photo and video with unlimited online storage on Google Photos! Free unlimited online original-quality storage is provided for all photos and videos uploaded to Google Photos from Pixel 3 through Jan.31, 2022. Of course, creating a lot of media content normally means that your battery won’t last long either. With Pixel 3, you can get 7 hours of charge in just 15 minutes. Super-charged with AI, the adaptive battery keeps you going longer by prioritizing power for the apps and services you are most interested in. Pixel 3 also charges wirelessly with the Qi universal standard (and fast with Pixel Stand).

Cool, futuristic and fun? You got it. This phone is available in Clearly White, Just Black and Not Pink (did I mention that I love those names?).

This phone retails at $999+.

 

5. THE GENTLEMAN’S OPTION: Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve

The nose of this single-malt scotch whisky features sweet and fruity aromas of honey and apricot jam, with notes of sweet cinnamon bread and subtle sensation of spicy liquorice. The palate is all about succulent flavours of mandarins in syrup, ripe poached pears and chocolate-dipped raisins, resulting in a finish that is incredibly smooth and luscious. Just a perfect combination of flavours, right?

Aged in bourbon and sherry barrels, this single malt is then matured in high-quality cognac casks, making it an excellent scotch whisky.

What makes this option extra perfect for the holiday season is that you can customize the label on the bottle to include a special message for the bottle recipient!

This scotch retails at $69.99.

 

6. THE COLLECTOR’S GIFT: Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve

If you are looking for a very special gift, then this limited edition collectable bottle should definitely be on top of your list. This limited reserve is triple distilled and then matured for 18 years. It is, in fact, the last of the “old” Jameson Reserves range.

In terms of its tasting notes, think of subtle hints of vanilla and notes of wood, spice and toffee. Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve is a blend of two pot-still whiskeys and a single grain. It is matured in hand-selected oak casks from Europe and America, and finished in bourbon wood for six months for a brilliantly complex pot-still character.

It’s a very smooth whisky, which is perfect for a special occasion. The packaging is elegant too, and makes it an excellent gift.

This whisky retails at $199.95.

 

7. THE ULTIMATE FAMILY GIFT: Dyson Cyclone V10™ Absolute

Cyclone V10 claims to have the most powerful suction of any cord-free stick vacuum, and that is not surprising: imagine a machine that feels like you are holding an airplane because of its power, yet is the lightest vacuum you’ve ever come across. In fact, this is Dyson’s fastest and most power-dense digital vacuum motor, spinning at up to 125,000 rpm!

The Cyclone is excellent in many ways: it’s very compact and perfect for condo living, it includes a variety of cleaner heads for difference surfaces or types of debris, and one of its greatest features is that it is significantly quieter than your average vacuum. Dyson engineers have designed notable acoustic improvements for the Cyclone, without compromise on suction power. A layer of acoustic felt around the digital motor absorbs vibrations and reduces noise. Additionally, the motor bucket regulates airflow paths around the motor, reducing noisy turbulence.

Cyclone’s whole-machine filtration captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. It also captures dust and allergens to expel cleaner air, so the recipient of this gift will be starting the new year with a convenient and modern machine that also has their health in mind! 

This vacuum retails at $799.

 

Feature image by Evgeniya Porechenskaya / Shutterstock.com.

By Hannah Yakobi
Photography by / courtesy of each brand

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