Giving someone a fragrance when you don't know their taste
,
by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
Perfume is the gift with the highest risk of a bad buy. Here's how to reduce that risk with mini sizes, home fragrances, and candles — and how to read what's on the bottle.
Of all the gifts people give, a fragrance is probably the one most likely to elicit a less-than-enthusiastic response. Not because there's anything wrong with the bottle, but because you're choosing something the other person will wear on their skin all day – based on your taste, not theirs. And unlike a sweater, you can't check their size.
Nevertheless, a huge amount of fragrance is sold in the weeks leading up to Sinterklaas and Christmas, and often for good reason: it's small, it's clearly a gift, and it can be used up. The difference between a successful and an unsuccessful fragrance gift lies primarily in the category you choose, not the brand. Below is how to make that choice.
Why a personal perfume is the trickiest fragrance gift
A perfume worn on someone's skin is closely tied to clothing and appearance. People have strong preferences for these, even if they don't explicitly state them. Three things make it especially difficult:
Fragrance changes on the skin. What smells appealing on a test strip in the store will smell different on someone else. You can't test that in advance for another person.
A full bottle is a long commitment. A 100 ml bottle won't be used up quickly with normal use. If the fragrance isn't liked, it will sit there for years.
Fragrance is linked to habits. Someone who has worn the same scent for ten years rarely deviates from it for a gift.
The conclusion is not that you shouldn't give perfume. It is that you can reduce the risk by either choosing a smaller size or shifting to a fragrance category that isn't worn on the skin.
Four categories, from low to high risk
Category
Risk of a bad buy
When it's suitable
Scented candle or tealight
Low
Someone you barely know, colleagues, housemates, a thank-you gift
Reed diffusers or fragrance oil
Low
Someone who has just moved, or whose interior you know but not their perfume taste
Body mist or body spray
Medium
Teenagers, young adults, or as a lighter introduction to a fragrance line
Eau de parfum in a large size
High
Only if you are certain what fragrance someone wears
Reed diffusers are in the same vein, with one difference: they are continuously active. For these, it's better to choose a more neutral scent than a distinctly sweet one. The luxury reed diffusers Muze of 150 ml, in 2 scents (€12.00) are an example of this size. If you want to start small, a fragrance oil set of 12 x 10 ml (€2.00) is a way to let someone choose what they use themselves.
Small size is the best compromise
If you still want to give something that the other person wears, the size is your most important lever. A small bottle changes the nature of the gift: it's no longer a years-long commitment, but a trial. And if they like it, the recipient will then know what to buy themselves.
One step further: give multiple small fragrances instead of one large one. A 4-pack heart-shaped eau de parfum of 4 x 30 ml (€18.95) lets the recipient choose which one they use most often. That's exactly the information you didn't have.
A product page usually lists three things that tell you something about what you're buying. Use them, they'll save you disappointment.
The designation. Eau de parfum is more concentrated than eau de toilette, and that is more concentrated than a body mist or body spray. For a gift, this primarily means: the lighter the category, the less likely someone is to find the scent too overpowering.
The content in milliliters. Do a quick calculation of price per milliliter before concluding that something is expensive. A 10 ml bottle for €2.95 is not cheaper per milliliter than a 30 ml bottle for €4.95 – but the risk you take is smaller.
The open jar symbol. The number in it, for example 12M, indicates how many months a product is intended to be used after it has been opened. For a gift that won't be opened for six weeks, that's good to know.
What you cannot gather from a description is how something smells on someone's skin. So rely more on the category and size than on the description of scent notes.
Two practical points finally. Store fragrance in a dark place at room temperature, not on the windowsill or in the bathroom near the shower: heat and light make a fragrance change faster than time alone. And for those who want to take a fragrance with them when traveling, a portable mini refillable perfume bottle in black and gold (€4.95) is sufficient – then the large bottle can stay at home.
In short
If you don't know what someone wears, choose something for the home instead of for the skin: a candle, reed diffusers, or fragrance oil. If you still want to give perfume, go for 10 to 30 ml, or for a set with multiple fragrances. Save the large size for people whose bottle you've seen on their bathroom shelf.
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports, and with switches
· 3 min reading time
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports and with switchesYour desk needs three USB devices, but your laptop only has two ports. Or...
Power outages in autumn: emergency supplies you'll actually use
· 2 min reading time
Autumn Power Outages: Emergency Supplies You'll Actually Use October to December. Heating isn't in full swing yet, but the nights are getting long and cold. If a power outage strikes...
Choosing a power bank: capacity, charging speed, and weight compared
· 2 min reading time
Choosing a Power Bank: Capacity, Charging Speed, and Weight Compared Your phone dies when you're out and about. The classic emergency solution is a power bank. But what capacity do...
