Buying perfume for someone else, clearly an issue that most of us have had to grapple with, especially around the end of the year. The countdown to Christmas has started in earnest and most people are desperately trying to finish their shopping in time to place their gifts under the Christmas tree. But while some loved ones are easy to shop for, others are definitely tricky.. You know the ones, those who never tell you what they would like (“I don’t need anything” is usually uttered) and leave you panicked as to what would constitute a thoughtful gift. Falling back on books or perfume is a common strategy but both can be tricky options, as you are really shopping for the person the gift is intended for, so what appeals to you is generally not helpful.
GUIDE TO GIFTING PERFUME
How are you meant to approach perfume buying for someone else (we will leave the thorny issue of gifting books for another time, one pitfall at a time hey)? There is no fail-safe recipe but some common sense advice, taking into account logistical and budget constraints, can go a long way to guide you pick something that will bring a smile to the person receiving your gift. Perfume is a personal gift, intimate really, which is why it is so important you to take the time to think about the person the present is intended for.
BE A DETECTIVE, DO YOUR RESEARCH
1. First of all, do they wear perfume? If so, you can either go for a product that is made with that same perfume they wear, if you know they are unlikely to want to change scent (so a scented cream, body gel etc.) or you can try to sneakily inquire wether the person would be open to trying something else…In that case, try to analyse their favourite scent to have clues as to what they may like. If they wear “J’adore” by Dior for instance, this will give you some indication of what they may like (radiant, feminine, soft white floral scents) and possibly of what to avoid. You can also use platforms such as this one to help you with ideas of similar scents.
You will need to enter one or two scents that the person likes and an algorithm will try to match you with similar scents. I mean, it’s not fail safe but it’s a start.
2. Another obvious consideration is the personality traits, hobbies, and personal style of the person you are choosing perfume for. Generally if the person is shy and reserved for instance, and likes to dress with natural fabrics and enjoys painting and bird watching, you will choose a scent that reflects that, so maybe something skin-like, quiet, white musks, soft florals, creamy woods, etc.. You might want to avoid brash, loud fragrances that announce their presence miles ahead.
3. Finding something personal that ties the defining raw materials of the fragrance to the person you are gifting this to, will also help make the present feel more personal. Does he or she really like a country, an activity or a place that features some particular raw materials (i.e. a magnolia tree in her country house, a love of India and spices, horse-back riding and equestrian notes, etc.)
ONLINE PERFUME BUYING
4. Once you have some elements to guide you, you can either go to a store or if you are really pressed for time, order online. The advantage of ordering online is that many brands will send you a sample of the perfume you bought with the opportunity of trying it first before opening the bottle. That way, if the person doesn’t like the fragrance, they can always return it!
5. The other option for ordering online is to choose a brand that will sell sample sets with an option to buy a full bottle of perfume later with a discount code. That way the person can choose a scent from the perfumes samples you have given them, so it’s more of a “shared choice”: you choose the brand, they pick the perfume. Of course again, based on your prior detective work, try to choose brands that will correspond to the person you are gifting this to. If they are keen on nature or the environment, consider a sample set from a company that puts the emphasis on that. If they are artistic and dramatic, find a brand whose communication and marketing reflect that.
WHERE TO BUY PERFUME
6. If you have time, nothing replaces going to a perfume store to sample some fragrances and get expert advice. I would try to avoid airport duty free shops and big chain stores like Sephora because it’s not the ideal setting to try perfumes and their selection generally skews mass pleasing and commercial. But if this is your only option and you know a good sales rep there, give it a go.
Ideally you want to find a perfume store that has a wide selection of brands and can give you advice based on the information you can provide them on the person (see article on perfume and travelling for some perfume shop recommendations). They should be willing to give you samples to help you decide if you really like a scent, so ask. It’s a big investment, better take your time…
AND FINALLY BUDGET
Perfume is expensive. It just is. Even if you choose more commercial brands, you are unlikely nowadays to spend less than 70/80 eur for 100 ml bottle of perfume, if they are not discounted. We can discuss some other time why that is, what you are actually paying for when you buy perfume and whether some brands are over charging, but that’s the reality. For niche brands you are likely to pay at least 110 eur for a smaller bottle of perfume (30 or more often 50 ml) and generally the price is likely to be anything north of 140/150 eur.
So it’s important to set a budget ahead of time to avoid being pressured into buying something out of your budget and to communicate this clearly to the sales rep to allow him/her to guide you accordingly.
Happy shopping!
