{"id":728259,"date":"2025-11-23T14:33:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T11:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=728259"},"modified":"2025-11-23T14:33:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T11:33:08","slug":"tasting-notes-9-holiday-cocktail-and-fragrance-pairings-for-the-festive-season-pairings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=728259","title":{"rendered":"Tasting Notes: 9 Holiday Cocktail and Fragrance Pairings for the Festive Season Pairings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Various\"Various<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The Holiday Issue<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.\n<\/p>\n

Tasting Notes: 9 Holiday Cocktail and Fragrance Pairings for the Festive Season Pairings<\/h1>\n

Bottoms up.<\/p>\n

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By<\/span><\/p>\n
Celia Shatzman<\/p>\n
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\"Celia\"Celia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nCelia Shatzman\n<\/div>\n
\nCelia Shatzman is a Brooklyn-based writer who covers beauty, fashion, celebrities, entertainment, and other lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, and more.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nByrdie’s Editorial Guidelines\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Published on November 10, 2025 08:15AM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Eggnog is just as synonymous with the holiday season as tinsel and the smell of fresh pine. Sometimes it doesn\u2019t feel like the official kickoff to the holidays until you\u2019ve had your first sip of a seasonal cocktail.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI like holiday cocktails because they add a sense of warmth, even coziness, to holiday celebrations,\u201d says Jesse Hedberg, bartender and owner of Club Frills in Providence, Rhode Island. \u201cThey\u2019re usually a little sweeter and actually share a lot of flavors with Christmas cookies. There\u2019s plenty of nostalgia and comfort in holiday cocktails. Sometimes the best way to help you get in the holiday spirit is spirits themselves!\u201d\n<\/p>\n

So, what can make a holiday cocktail even better? Your fragrance. \u201cI don\u2019t think people really understand how impactful your sense of smell is when you\u2019re drinking a cocktail and how these worlds are so interwoven and how expansive it can be,\u201d says Douglas Little, perfumer and founder of Heretic Parfum.\n<\/p>\n

Though the obvious route is to lean into classic holiday spices and flavors like vanilla, cardamom, and ginger, it can go far beyond that. \u201cIt\u2019s the balance of working with the alcohol and the spices to cut through some of those sweet notes or the citruses to be able to make it more awake and alive,\u201d Little says.\n<\/p>\n

Give these holiday cocktail\u2014or mocktail!\u2014and fragrance pairings a try to really get into the festive spirit.\n<\/p>\n

Classic Old-Fashioned <\/span><\/h2>\n
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Courtesy of Brands \/ Getty Images \/ Byrdie<\/p>\n

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The whiskey-based favorite includes a sugar cube, bitters, and a splash of water, with an orange peel for garnish.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

The bartender says: <\/strong>\u201cIt has aromas of woody spices, cedarwood, cinnamon, oud, and orange peel,\u201d Hedberg says. \u201cTry using fresh winter bergamot peel instead of orange for something a little more exotic.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The perfumer says: <\/strong>\u201cTobacco is the one linchpin note that summarizes all of it\u2014it\u2019s sweet, it\u2019s spicy, it\u2019s nostalgic; it\u2019s got all of those pieces of the puzzle,\u201d Little says. \u201cThe next would be citrus, so leaning into something like a bitter orange note. Another note that would summarize this is tonka bean. Lastly\u2014it\u2019s more pulled back\u2014is oakmoss, because within the whiskey that\u2019s used to create an old-fashioned, there\u2019s a peat that is usually present.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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    Heretic Perfume<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Byredo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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    Santa Maria Novella<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Cozy Irish Coffee <\/span><\/h2>\n
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    Courtesy of brands \/ Getty Images \/ Byrdie<\/p>\n

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    Known for warming people up, it combines hot coffee with Irish whiskey and sugar, topped with whipped cream.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

    The bartender says:<\/strong> \u201cThere are aromas of brown sugar, maple, caramel, and toasted grains,\u201d Hedberg says. \u201cShake your cream in a cocktail shaker briefly with no ice and float it right on top of the drink. Also, try adding a pinch of salt to it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

    The perfumer says:<\/strong> \u201cI would lean into something with cacao bean or coffee absolute, and both of those notes are incredible to work with,\u201d Little says. \u201cAnd tonka bean. Those play well into the Irish coffee. Cedar is an interesting piece of the Irish coffee. There is an odd lactonic note that\u2019s part of Irish coffee that can be mimicked well with an ambergris note.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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      Maison Margiela<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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      Good Chemistry<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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      Dolce & Gabbana<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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      \"YSL\"YSL<\/p>\n
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      Yves Saint Laurent<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Christmas Sangria <\/span><\/h2>\n
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      Courtesy of Brands \/ Getty Images \/ Byrdie<\/p>\n

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      Add brandy or orange liqueur to a pitcher of red or white wine, with festive fruits like cranberries, oranges, and apples.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

      The bartender says: <\/strong>\u201cThere can be notes of red currant, cherry, woody herbs, thyme, vanilla, oak, and jasmine,\u201d Hedberg says. \u201cServe it in a punch bowl with a big block of ice for an easy Christmas party cocktail.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

      The perfumer says: <\/strong>\u201cAnother ingredient that mimics a lot of these mulling spices is juniper berry,\u201d Little says. \u201cJuniper berry is a fun note that plays within that same holiday spice space. Cranberry accords, pomegranate accords, any of those fruity notes work really well, too.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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        The Maker<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        Spiced Hot Toddy <\/span><\/h2>\n
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        Courtesy of Brands \/ Getty Images \/ Byrdie<\/p>\n

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        Typically made with whiskey, hot water, honey, and lemon, it can also include spices like cinnamon or a slice of fresh ginger.\n<\/p>\n

        The bartender says: <\/strong>\u201cYou\u2019re going to get notes of vanilla, cinnamon, clove, warm spices, amber, sandalwood, linalool, and lemon,\u201d Hedberg says. \u201cFor best results, don’t just use hot water, heat everything\u2014<\/em>the whiskey, the honey, even the glass!\u201d\n<\/p>\n

        The perfumer says: <\/strong>\u201cWithin the hot toddy space, you\u2019re typically dealing with a tea that is very clove note\u2013inspired,\u201d Little says. \u201cThe key note in hot toddies is a sweet honey note, so I would work with beeswax absolute or honey absolute. Bergamot would be the other top note; I think that\u2019s really classic. Clove or labdanum complements the hot toddy world. Finally, guaiacwood [ed note: palo santo]<\/em> is a smoky note that\u2019s present in a lot of fragrances, and that also plays well within the comforting aspects of what you\u2019d find in a hot toddy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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          \"Malin\"Malin<\/p>\n
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          Malin + Goetz<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

          Hot Buttered Rum <\/span><\/h3>\n
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          Courtesy of Brands \/ Getty Images \/ Byrdie<\/p>\n

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          Warm rum is rounded out with butter, hot water, and a blend of brown sugar and spices.\n<\/p>\n

          The bartender says:<\/strong> \u201cThere is rich vanilla, cream, sweet spice, [and] saffron, as well as a touch of resinous or woody notes, too, like sandalwood and cedar,\u201d Hedberg says. \u201cDon\u2019t use straight butter\u2014make a \u2018batter\u2019 with butter, melted vanilla ice cream, brown sugar, and spices.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

          The perfumer says: <\/strong>\u201cIn the spice notes, I\u2019m leaning toward nutmeg as one of the key features,\u201d Little says. \u201cTo capture the butter note, I would lean into the vanilla aspect of a single note and definitely a burnt sugar note and a rum accord, which is easy to find within fragrance.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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            Festive Eggnog <\/span><\/h2>\n
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            Courtesy of Brands \/ Getty Images \/ Byrdie<\/p>\n

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            Practically synonymous with Christmas, the rich and creamy libation blends eggs, milk, cream, and sugar, and it\u2019s spiked with brandy, rum, or bourbon.\n<\/p>\n

            The bartender says: <\/strong>\u201cAge your nog!\u201d Hedberg says. \u201cMake it a month or two in advance and store it in the fridge until Christmas for something really special.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

            The perfumer says: <\/strong>\u201cIt\u2019s fun to focus on the milk accord that is the key here,\u201d Little says. \u201cA lot of fragrances that have become really popular as of late feature these kinds of lactonic milk notes. Within rum, you could also lean into benzoin and sandalwood.\u201d Of course, you could also focus on a spice accord with notes like clove, cinnamon, or cardamom.\n<\/p>\n

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              Creamy Coquito <\/span><\/h2>\n
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              Courtesy of Brands \/ Getty Images \/ Byrdie<\/p>\n

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              Hailing from Puerto Rico, the creamy, coconut-based cocktail spotlights rum with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

              The bartender says:<\/strong> \u201cIt smells like cream, vanilla bean, sweet cinnamon, warm spices, and sandalwood,\u201d Hedberg says. \u201cUse a blender to combine ingredients and let rest in the fridge in a mason jar for a night or two before serving.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

              The perfumer says: <\/strong>\u201cA fun drink, obviously, and within that you\u2019re featuring that lactonic coconut note and spicy toasted notes,\u201d Little says.\n<\/p>\n

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                \"Heretic\"Heretic<\/p>\n
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                Heretic Parfum<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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                Skylar<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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                The 7 Virtues<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                Cranberry Mimosa <\/span><\/h2>\n
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                Courtesy of Brands \/ Getty Images \/ Byrdie<\/p>\n

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                The classic mimosa gets a holiday spin with sparkling wine and cranberry juice and can be topped with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.\n<\/p>\n

                The bartender says: <\/strong>\u201cSkip the prosecco and try it with a chilled sparkling red wine like Lambrusco,\u201d Hedberg says.\n<\/p>\n

                The perfumer says: <\/strong>\u201cI love the idea of a champagne cocktail, especially during the holidays, and the key parts of champagne cocktails are the sugar cube, bitters, and obviously great champagne,\u201d Little says. \u201cWithin the single notes, aldehydes would be a key feature because aldehydes represent that fizzy aspect, and the champagne bitters with orange or grapefruit. Oakmoss plays a [part in] the bitters aspect. Orris root is another interesting feature that plays a lot within the champagne cocktail.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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                  Victoria’s Secret<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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                  Mulled Wine <\/span><\/h2>\n
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                  Courtesy of Brands \/ Getty Images \/ Byrdie<\/p>\n

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                  Warm and cozy, wine is infused with citrus fruit and spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.\n<\/p>\n

                  The bartender says:<\/strong> Expect \u201caromas of red fruits, hibiscus, cinnamon, clove, warm spices, saffron, and resin,\u201d Hedberg says. \u201cThrow in some sliced fresh ginger for complexity!\u201d\n<\/p>\n

                  The perfumer says:<\/strong> \u201cBitter orange would be at the top of my list,\u201d Little says. \u201cCardamom and clove are part of that mulling process. For the richness of the wine aspect, I would look at myrrh and cassis.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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                    Heretic Parfum<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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                    \"Jo\"Jo<\/p>\n
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                    Jo Malone<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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                    Tom Ford<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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                    Maison Louise Marie<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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                    • Fragrance<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

                      Source URL: https:\/\/www.byrdie.com\/holiday-fragrance-cocktail-pairings-11830449<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      The Holiday Issue If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Tasting Notes: 9 Holiday Cocktail and Fragrance Pairings for the Festive Season Pairings Bottoms up. By Celia Shatzman Celia Shatzman Celia Shatzman is a Brooklyn-based writer who covers beauty, fashion, celebrities, entertainment, and other lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":728260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[83],"class_list":["post-728259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-byrdie-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/728259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=728259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/728259\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/728260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=728259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=728259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=728259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}