There are few gifts more personal than a grooming product. Part of every man’s daily ritual to some degree, the right fragrance, moisturiser or haircare product can make all the difference. Choosing the perfect one, however, takes a bit of research. Is the man you’re buying for adventurous with his choice of scent, or does he stick to what he knows? Would his bathroom sink be much improved by the addition of a hand cream? Will he appreciate a new deodorant, or take it as a passive-aggressive sign that he needs to shower more?

The best approach, in our humble opinion, is to go for products with universal appeal but that each have a clever point of difference. So, from a 24k gold face mask to a fragrance that hits exactly the right note, we’ve curated a carefully edited guide of the grooming products we believe will go down a treat this Christmas.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s fragrances are modern olfactory masterpieces. Which may sound rather dramatic, but if you’re familiar with the brand, you’ll know what we mean. The Pluriel Lavender Absolute & Leather is one of our favourites this season – the masculine wave of leather tempered by the softness of the lavender, making for a well-rounded scent that’s easy to love.

There’s no better way to practice self-care than with a sheet mask, and no one does them quite like 111SKIN. Its Master-Masking Planner is an organiser that instead of schedules and notes, it contains a selection of restorative face and eye masks, ideal for brightening and nourishing skin and for perking up tired eyes.

Sourcing local ingredients from their picturesque farm in Tuscany, Seed to Skin expertly blends science with nature to create some of the most exciting skincare products we’ve seen. The Ritual Kit is a great introduction, and includes a nourishing moisturiser (The Cure), a cleansing and emulsifying gel (The Divine Cleanser) and a clever hydrating spray (The Alche’Mist).

Suffering through shaving might be the norm, but it needn’t be. Turn the process into a joy with this sleek shaving set from Bolin Webb: its vehicle-inspired design and bacteria-resistant rubber stand will look the part in the bathroom cabinet, while the ergonomic shape of the razor makes for an effortlessly clean shave.

Most of us have spent the year washing our poor hands into oblivion, which makes this handcare set from Aesop all the more appealing. The handwash and balm are both infused with the brand’s earthy yet fresh Reverence scent, and make the perfect thing for bringing parched, over-washed hands back to life.

Cire Trudon has been around since 1643, making it the world’s oldest candlemaker. Famously providing candles to the court of Louis XIV in Versailles, the brand is steeped in history. Our current favourite of its portfolio is the Ernesto candle, scented with amber, tobacco, patchouli and rum, making for a rich, elegant fragrance that fits the season. Truly a gift fit for a king.

For the man who has everything, why not a face mask infused with colloidal gold? PETER THOMAS ROTH’s 24-karat gold face mask works as an anti-inflammatory, revitalising skin and giving it a healthy glow. Plus, it contains peridot, a magnesium-rich gemstone to energise skin. Think of it like fine jewellery, but for the face.

Slip’s silk eye mask is popular with frequent flyers, but we think it’s just as welcome when sleeping at home. Silk is the ideal fabric for pillows and eye masks because it won’t leave creases on skin or cause any irritation. A good night’s sleep might not be something you can give as a gift, but this comes pretty close.

Japan Best curates products from some of the finest artisans in Japan. Its bath set makes for an unusual but delightful gift, and is the next best thing to an actual trip to the onsen. It contains a horse hair brush from a family-run workshop, a sea bream-shaped soap infused with Japanese bintochan charcoal and a peeling towel to exfoliate the skin.

MALIN+GOETZ’s broad range of grooming products make for invariably great gifts, from its cult-favourite eucalyptus deodorant, to its impressive selection of skincare. Our most recommended release this year, however, has to be its Detox Scalp Mask. A marvel of a product that soothes irritated scalps and has a refreshing spearmint scent, it’ll also strengthen hair and encourage growth. We’ll spare you the puns about dandruff and snow this Christmas, but if you know a man who’s hair could do with a little TLC (even if it’s yourself), this will do nicely.