Considering toiletries are the ultimate fall-back Christmas gift for men, relatives tend to get fragrances all wrong. Not to sound ungrateful, but we didn’t appreciate the naff deodorant gift set at 14, and our feelings haven’t changed in the years since.

Everybody wants to smell nice. The problem is, “nice” is the most subjective idea in the world. One man’s oud is another’s rotting carcass. But all is not lost.

Instead of wasting cash on a pungent bodyspray that could knock out an infant hippo, take an olfactory upgrade with a proper fragrance. As in a well-made, artfully-marketed spritz that’s aimed at men above voting age (and one that’ll receive near universal praise). Take a whiff of our recommended eau de awesomes below.

Givenchy Gentleman

Sure, a proper gentleman never calls himself such. But since it hasn’t been 1823 for quite some time, we’ll let Givenchy’s signature scent slide. First launched in the seventies, this expert blend of honey, cedar and musk hits the right note of masculine without heading into locker room territory.

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Ted Baker Sethun Ag Fragrance & Body Wash Set

Less than £50 for a 100ml bottle of eau de toilette is pretty good going. Add a matching body wash into the mix, and you’re laughing all the way to the bank on boxing day – well, you would be if it was open. This fragrance and body wash set from Ted Baker is about as safe a bet as presents come. Plus, you’ll ultimately be buying yourself a better smelling man. Everyone’s a winner.

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Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka

If it was good enough for Baby J in the manger, it’s good enough for us this Christmas, too. Jo Malone’s Myrhh & Tonka may be a unisex fragrance, but it skews very much on the manly side of oriental: lavender top notes, with base notes of almond and the namesake tonka bean. Three wise men have got nothing on this.