I test men's fragrances for a living – here are my favourite Christmas gift sets on sale for Black Friday

Autumn men's fragrances — (Image credit: Future)

One thing I'm always testing here at T3 is men's fragrances. Every week, a new slew of bottles from brands big and small fall across my desk, ready to have their respective scent profiles savoured and unpicked to tell you what's worth buying and what isn't.

It's something I've always been a big fan of. For me, my earliest memories of scent include receiving bottles at Christmas time, and as I've grown older, I've flipped the script, often gifting some really brilliant fragrances to loved ones.

With Black Friday lurking just around the corner, many brands are already offering bargains in advance, helping you to buy products without busting the bank. And if, like me, you enjoy gifting scents for Christmas, there's no better time – I've raided the best men's fragrance gift sets on LOOKFANTASTIC, to help take the guesswork out of spoiling the special fella in your life.

You really can't go wrong with any of these sets, with each one ready to offer a new world of olfactory experience for your loved ones. If you really do need just one recommendation, though, I'd opt for the Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Elixir set.

I recently got my nose on a tester of this bottle and it's practically perfection – the ultimate fragrance for the modern man. It's not too much of any one thing, with notes that fuse beautifully and feel strong and assured. It's a perfect blind buy!

Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.

Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.

He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.

Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.