The Fragrance Gift Set Is A Chic Gifting Move Once Again (2024)

Aftershave gift sets used to be the calling card of the last-minute shopper – a panicked purchase hastily made the day before every big event.

This year, don't be that person – you’re better than that. However, we're not suggesting you dodge the fragrance aisle entirely; but pick out something a little bit more chic than than your average cologne-and-shower gel kit.

Luckily, the biggest and best fragrance brands have really raised the bar this year, offering a host of genuinely good aftershave gifts, from limited editions to elegant discovery sets (which are always a safe gifting idea).

Here, we’ve rounded up the best men’s aftershave gift sets to buy now, so there's really no excuse for gifting a sub-standard scent.

The Best Men's Aftershave Gift Sets

If you’re really unsure, go for Bleu. Chanel’s universally loved fragrance might be a safe bet, but that doesn’t make it a forgettable choice – the piercing citrus top notes, which illuminate the woody base, make sure of that.

Getting your hands on Le Labo's constantly sold-out Discovery Set is an achievement not to be sniffed at. Containing 5 mini samples of the brand's most cult unisex scents (yes, including Santal 33), it's the gift set to beat them all.

Harvey Nichols' curated gift boxes are genuinely good, and this year's grooming selection is a strong option for people you really like. Creed's Aventus Cologne sits alongside skincare from Kiehl's and an (inexplicable but welcome) bottle of Roku gin.

If selecting a scent for someone else brings you out in a sweat, opt for a discovery set. This one serves as a weighty introduction to the prestige Penhaligon's Portraits family: all ten of them, in fact. The fancy packaging makes it feel significantly more special, too.

Skip the wrapping paper and present this one in its iconic tangerine box. Inside, there's a travel-friendly glass bottle of four acclaimed Hermès colognes, including the aromatic new Eau de Basilic Pourpre.

Previously installed as Dior's in-house 'nose' back in 2004, Francis Kurkdjian is now returning to the storied brand. In celebration (and anticipation of his first new offering), Dior has re-issued three of his original cult blends, all of which are neatly packaged in this collector's case.

A stocking stuffer for those who take their fragrance seriously. From the invigorating Bigarade Concentrée to the punchy Vétiver Extraordinaire, six of Frédéric Malle's collaborative triumphs can be found here.

Enfant terrible Geza Schön creates each of his scents using a single fragrance molecule. Each one is curious and hard to define, yet undeniably intriguing.

Acqua di Parma's iconic citrus scent, Colonia, is absolutely the most fail-safe fragrance you can gift: nobody dislikes this timeless ode to the Amalfi coastline. This limited-edition set contains all five iterations of the original, including the brand-new Colonia C.L.U.B.

Now at the helm of Dior's prestige perfumery, Francis Kurkdjian knows exactly how to create an acclaimed fragrance. From Gentle Fluidity to Baccarat Rouge 540 (the ultimate Fragrance Head aroma), all his hits feature in this discovery set.

There is a lot to like about Loewe's hometown Madrid – so much so, the brand has created eight olfactory odes to it. This chic set contains a 10ml vial of each unisex blend, from the woody Descubriendo Colón to the amber-floral Mayrit.

Tom Daxon knows exactly how to create the kind of scent that people will comment on (for the right reasons). Each one of these niche but crowd-pleasing blends is a winner: start with every fragrance head's favourite, the cashmere-soft Iridium.

If anyone can breathe new life into the discovery set, it's Brooklyn-based niche perfumery duo, D.S & Durga. The six miniature vials include Debaser – an inexplicable coconut-steeped ode to the Pixies – and Cowboy Grass, which masterfully combines herbaceous greenery with rose otto.

From Black Tea to Vetiver, Murdock's masculine colognes are easily likeable, making them ideal for gifting. This pleasingly priced gift set contains all four in pocket-sized sprays.

If in doubt, go with Jo Malone. But don't spend your precious time scrolling the brand's endless curation of colognes: instead, head straight for this kit of the five most loved. They're all designed to work well alone, or be layered together to create a unique signature.

Malin + Goetz's unisex fragrances are interesting yet wearable, and this concise kit makes the ideal introduction.

A winning choice for the traditionalist, the Royally warranted Molton Brown crafts scents steeped in sophistication. This set contains three classics, including the masterful aquatic Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel, which is spot-on for summer.

A truly thoughtful move, Hermès' timeless peppery citrus scent now comes alongside a large refill that can be decanted into the bottle – which is itself encased in shockproof rubber to prevent breakage in your bag.

What does an olfactory ode to Napoleon Bonaparte smell like? Turns out, it's a really quite classic blend of smooth woods, sweetened by an unexpected twist of vanilla.

One for the traditionalist, this travel set contains four bag-sized vials of Czech & Speake's Brit-born colognes. From the heady floral Neroli to the tobacco-tinged Cuba, each one is steeped in heritage.