As you may know, I have a special love of fragrance—particularly how it can define us as individuals and influence our moods in the moment.
If you too share my love of perfume, please enjoy this article by guest blogger Ivana Vitali of Aesthetic News (www.aestheticnews.co.uk) It outlines some helpful tips to take the guesswork out of buying a gift like fragrance for someone special in your life.
Perfumes have long remained a favorite when it comes to giving someone we love a present. It doesn’t matter if they are a woman or a man; everyone loves a delicate scent that shares something extra about their personality.
What is it about fragrance that makes it such a timeless and intimate gift? It’s hard to explain, but the magic of scent lies in that “mystery” feature that it gives us.
In general, perfumes are not cheap, which is why we give them on important occasions. If we are going to spend a considerable amount of money on a potentially awesome present, it’s important to do it right. There are many things to take into consideration when choosing the right fragrance for our beloved, whether they are a friend, life partner, or a relative.
1) Consider the Purpose: When will it be worn?
Many times, fragrances are designed based on the different periods of the day. For instance, lighter scents areusually worn during daytime, while more intense ones are used for the evening.
Think about the person who is getting the fragrance–does it seem like he or she will use it during the evening?
Does he or she have occasions like dinners or meetings?
If you’re choosing for your partner, you might want to give them a night fragrance, to signal sensuality and romance.
2) Consider Personality Style: Floral or Fruity?
Ask yourself this question if you’re giving th e fragrance to a woman (even if you’re thinking of yourself!). Women who love floral perfumes are quite “girly” in their tastes. According to the stereotypes, they are sweet, shy and very feminine. Give a floral perfume to this kind of girl and she’ll love it for sure.
On the other hand, fruity scents are perhaps a little “wilder” or young-at-heart. This target is often into rock music, outdoor activities and sports. They are good fun and have a sense of humor.
3) Consider the Perfume’s Image: Match the Image to the Individual
Check out the overall image of the product 
to see if it suits the “message” you want to send to theother person or the message that resonates with best with him or her.
For instance, “Miss Dior Cherie” is clearly addressed to young girls (as pre-teenagers and teenagers) who are very feminine. In the same way, male fragrances may be addressed at the classy, sporty, young, or elderly men, among other possibilities. You’ll notice what the target is by simply checking out the package, the name, or the advertisements.
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Let’s have some fun with this! Leave a comment below with any additional suggestions you have for choosing a fragrance for a loved one. Or share a specific fragrance you’ve chosen for another and why.
Ivana is an online wr
iter with an interest for fashion, languages, and travelling. She has written for a variety of websites on different topics such as http://www.hijosyredes.com/2012/05/08/compania-allergan-alerta-sobre-el-peligro-tratamientos-esteticos/
If you’d like some tips for figuring out how to choose your own unique Signature Fragrance, check out How to Select a Signature Fragrance.
This one’s harder…consider the effect of body chemistry. It has such a profound effect on the perfume’s character after it’s worn. And it’s quite hard to discern in advance. It may well be worth talking to someone particularly close to the recipient to determine if certain perfumes are known to misbehave for him or her.
As for mine…one of the Bouquets by Penhaligon’s of London. Either Blenheim or Hammam, depending on my mood.
Take care,
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Yes that is such a good point! Thank you for contributing this valuable tip here. And thank you for sharing your personal suggestions–it’s always so helpful to have a male perspective on fragrance. I will have to check out both of those, since I’ve never heard of either before, but really love the names! 🙂
~Christina
I have never given anyone a new fragrance,I always have given them what they have been using. I will have to give this a chance and see if I am successful.It is an expensive mistake if they don’t like it.
Hi Beverly,
Yes it is a very intimate gift and it does require a great deal of careful thought… When I have been gifted fragrance, I am always delighted at the the thoughtfulness put in to perceiving my “energy” and what I would like. And I put the same amount of thoughtfulness into gifting fragrance to others–you could say it requires using your intuition! If you don’t feel comfortable spending a lot of money for designer fragrance you could always try gifting an essential oil blend which is more affordable and actually healthier.
~Christina
Enjoyed reading your article although I don’t personally wear perfume myself. Over the years I became overly sensitive to the scents so have chosen to forgo wearing it or buying it for others. My advice for most is a little goes a long way, don’t overdo it when applying it.
Thank you, Diane Marie, that is a good point. A lot of synthetic perfumes do contain irritating ingredients, so we do always have to be mindful of those around us.
~Christina
I consider choosing perfumes/fragrances as equal to choosing wine 🙂 As Ivana mentions it, it all depends on the period of the day and also, for me, the season of the year. I learned from early years how my mother’s last touch of personal care was a touch of quality perfume/Eau de Toilette. She kept the habit well into her nursing home days, where she was admired by the caring staff for her meticulous daily routine. Considering the other person’s preference is a must when choosing a fragrance as a gift. I have found that a basic organic brand like “Lush” is a good one to wear when being around those sensitive to perfumes. Your article provides practical insight into perfume use.
Hi Delmy,
I completely agree–my mother always has to have her perfume and make-up on too 🙂 Thank you for mentioning Lush’s fragrances. They are a great alternative for someone who wants to gift an all-natural, high quality, but less expensive fragrance.
~Christina
Love that you brought in the art of perfumes into this week’s post. I have a sensitive sniffer and I love when someone has just enough of a personal perfume that mixes well with their chemistry that makes me guess if they are wearing perfume or if it their true essence shining through!
Thanks Suzanne! I’ve never thought of doing that, but I think it’s a great idea. I notice that in myself, perfume smells differently on me than it does in the bottle and different than it does on other people, so maybe it’s a little of both? It’s a fun thing to wonder!
~Christina
This is such a nice article and I can relate to lots of things being said in it. Like, for example, I always buy different perfumes for every season and for different occasions! Buying perfume for women is sometimes harder than buying them men, I think.