Secret Santa gift under €20: perfume in travel size

Looking for a Secret Santa gift under €20, or a small present for the name you drew at work? A travel size perfume is a small gift that feels luxurious: 10 ml of extrait de parfum for €14.95, enough for about a month. Below you will find the best choices up to €15 and up to €20, and the scents that are safe to give to a colleague, a friend or a family member.

In short

• Up to €15: one scent in travel size, €14.95
• Up to €20: one scent with a twist capsule at half price
• Drew two names? From two perfumes you pay €11.96 each
• Safest for a colleague: a fresh scent or a soft, clean scent
• For Christmas, order no later than Sunday 20 December

Why a travel size perfume works for Secret Santa

• It fits the budget. One scent costs €14.95, so you stay under a limit of €15 and well under €20.
• It gets used. A 10 ml bottle lasts about a month, so it does not end up in a drawer.
• It is small. The bottle fits in a coat pocket or a bag, and you can easily take it to the office or a dinner.
• It feels like more. It is extrait de parfum, made in our own atelier in Leiden.
• It works for anyone. Many of our scents are unisex, so you do not need to know the recipient well.

Secret Santa gift per budget

Up to €15: one scent in travel size

A 10 ml bottle of extrait de parfum costs €14.95. In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany shipping is free from €10, so that is all you pay. Is the limit €10, or is your Secret Santa at a distance? Then give the Sentir gift card from €10. We email it on the day you choose.

Up to €20: add a twist capsule

The twist capsule is the case the 10 ml bottle slides into. On its own it costs €9.95, and you get 50% off when there is already something in your cart. Together with one scent you stay just under €20, and the gift feels complete.

Drew two names, or is the limit a little higher? From two perfumes you pay €11.96 each, so €23.92 together, and your order comes in gift packaging with a free twist capsule.

Safe scents per recipient

The rule of thumb: the less well you know someone, the lighter the scent. All scents below come in travel size for €14.95.

For a colleague

You see a colleague every day, but you rarely know their taste. Fresh scents and soft, clean scents are the safest: they are light and rarely too much.

• Fresh Galore: fresh and clean, with citrus, ambroxan and wood. For those who prefer smelling fresh.
• Golden Dust: powdery vanilla with coconut and heliotrope. Soft and lovely in winter.

For a friend

With a friend you can choose something with more character. Think about what they love: warm and cosy, or fresh and fruity.

• Cloud of Happiness: praline, vanilla, white flowers and pear. Soft and warm, for those who love cosy.
• Tropical Jungle: apple, blackcurrant and pineapple on a woody base with oakmoss and a hint of vanilla. Fresh and fruity, and one of our bestsellers.
• Candied Pear: candied pear with marshmallow, caramel and vanilla cream. New this autumn and playful.

For family

At a family Christmas you draw anyone from a cousin to a grandparent. Choose a scent that many people like, and preferably one that anyone can wear.

• Cabin Heritage: warm and woody, with cardamom, sandalwood and a touch of vanilla. Unisex and our bestseller.
• Floral Elegance: citrus and fruit, warmed with wood and a touch of vanilla. Elegant and fresh, and one of our bestsellers.
• Holy Amber: rum, bitter orange and ginger with a curl of incense, on a warm base of tonka, vanilla and myrrh. New this autumn and unisex.

Many of our scents are unisex, like Cabin Heritage, Royal Garden and Golden Dust. Choose on character, not on the label.

No idea which scent to choose?

Take our perfume quiz with the recipient in mind: eight short questions, and you get six scents that suit them. More tips are in our guide on which perfume to give when you do not know their taste.

How to wrap it

From two perfumes your order comes in gift packaging, with a free twist capsule. Giving one scent? A 10 ml bottle fits into almost anything: a small box, a sock or a toilet roll wrapped like a sweet. Wrap the bottle in tissue paper first so it stays in place.

Need a rhyme to go with it? Our poems for a perfume gift include one for a colleague and one for a small budget.

Order on time

We make our perfumes ourselves in our atelier in Leiden. In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany shipping is free from €10 and you usually receive your order within 1 to 2 working days. Secret Santa at work often takes place before Christmas itself, so count back from your own date and leave a few days to spare. For Christmas, order no later than Sunday 20 December.

More to spend, or giving together?

A gift set with three scents costs €29.95, a set with five scents €37. For more ideas per budget, read our Christmas gift guide with perfume and the guides for her and for him.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Secret Santa gift under €20?
One travel size perfume for €14.95, with or without a twist capsule at half price. It is small, personal and lasts about a month.

What do you give for Secret Santa under €15?
One scent in travel size for €14.95, or a gift card from €10. Shipping is free from €10 in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Is perfume a good small gift for a colleague?
Yes, if you keep it light. Choose a fresh scent or a soft, clean scent in travel size: a small gesture that almost everyone likes.

How long does a 10 ml bottle last?
About a month. Every bottle holds 10 ml of extrait de parfum.

Is the gift wrapped?
From two perfumes your order comes in gift packaging, with a free twist capsule.

What if the scent is not right?
Then it can be returned within 30 days.

When should I order?
You usually receive your order within 1 to 2 working days in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. For Christmas, order no later than Sunday 20 December.

View all gift sets · All Christmas gifts per budget · Take the perfume quiz

Written by Thomas van Oosterom, founder of Sentir Parfum.