How to buy perfume for someone else
Follow our essential guide and you won’t even need a gift receipt
On the surface, trawling the catalog of the best perfumes for women looking for a gift for a loved one seems like a really good idea.
It shows them that a) you know them well and b) you made an effort. Plus, if you get it right, that scent will be one of the most memorable gifts the person will receive.
On the flipside, because of the fragrance Therefore Personally, buying perfume for someone else can be the most dangerous gift you’ll ever buy.
So, how do you avoid giving someone a scent they hate?
Marie Claire Spoke to Michelle Feeney, founder of the award-winning British fragrance brand flower streetFor someone else on how to avoid the pitfalls of fragrance-shopping…
1. Gift someone a research set
‘We all have different emotions and moods every day, so give someone a chance to play around and try the whole collection of scents before choosing a perfume that fits their individual personality.
We have created Floral Street Discovery Fragrance Gift Set Eight 1.5ml bottles to enable people to do the same. The scent is often distinct on the blotter so it needs to be worn on the skin to be fully appreciated.
A mini bottle lets you experience a variety of scents, making sure you’re choosing the right one.’
Floral Street Discovery Fragrance Gift Set, £14, John Lewis
buy It Now
2. Choose a fragrance that contains high quality essential oils
‘Skin type, sebum production, hormones and the pH balance of our skin can all affect the way we smell.
These factors also play a role in how long a fragrance lasts. When buying perfume for someone else, choose a higher perfume oil level for maximum strength and longevity.
Eau de Parfums can boast up to 20% – certainly all our floral street fragrances do – while Eau de Toilettes contain only 5-10%.’
3. VAnila or soft flowers are a safe bet
‘If you’re choosing for someone who finds big, heady floral scents overpowering or just not right for them, choose a soft one centered around sweet peony or delicate rose.
Vanilla can also be a favorite scent and studies have shown that it reduces stress and anxiety, as well as being considered relaxing and warming.’
4. Focus on the person’s character or lifestyle
‘Similar words can be used to describe a scent and one’s personality or mood: delicate or bold; Focused or energetic or even quirky or rebellious.
Use this as a guide for your scent selection, and also think about their personal preferences.
If they like spicy food, for example, they might like something made with saffron or cayenne pepper (try Floral Street Black Lotus Eau de Parfum). Someone who enjoys long country walks may smell green, wild.’
Floral Street Black Lotus Eau de Parfum, £58, John Lewis
buy It Now
5. When in doubt, go for popular and durable
‘More and more people are recognizing that we need to be more mindful of our impact on the planet.
Therefore, choose fragrances that are sustainably or responsibly sourced as well as packaging that is recyclable, reusable or biodegradable. When I launched Floral Street two years ago it was at the heart of our brand.
Bestsellers are also a safe bet because chances are, if they’ve smelled it on someone else and liked it, they might be more open to trying it for themselves.’
