Few years ago, a friend wanted to give his special someone a perfume as a gift. He knew I wear different brands of perfume everyday (exagerration ) so he thought he came to the right person. So here are practical tips before you buy perfume as a gift:

My perfumes (L-R): CK in2U HIM, Guess, Kiehl’s Original Musk Blend No. 1

• Get something based on his/her personality. If s/he is the sporty-type, get something for active people. If s/he’s a workaholic, buy something that’s suitable for office. Remember, perfume is something people “wear”, so give something they can wear appropriately for the occasion.

• Consider the age. Is the scent appropriate for his/her age? You don’t want to give your 25-year old hip girlfriend something that a 50-year old woman wears. (no pun intended)

• Size matters. If you’re giving someone a perfume s/he’s never worn before, try the smallest first. You’ll never know if it is right for his/her body chemistry. It’s not really practical to give huge perfume only to be shelved because s/he doesn’t like the scent. Plus, buying small perfume will save you some bucks.

• It’s not for you. This is a common mistake for buyers and sometimes I’m guilty of it, too. We smelled something nice from another friend and we thought the same perfume is going to match our special someone’s taste. Remember, it’s not about what you choose for him/her, it’s about what s/he likes. You’re not the one wearing the perfume anyway. (On a personal note: If you’re thinking of giving me a perfume, DRAKKAR NOIR is not for me )

Once you have decided what to buy, remember to ask the salesperson for promotional perfumes (small vials) so you have ideas if you plan to buy again. If you intend to buy new perfume online and you still haven’t smelled it yet, be sure to check customer reviews first.

By the way, after giving the perfume don’t be shy to ask him/her is s/he’s using it. Get his/her opinion on the scent. It will help you on your future purchase.

Hope this helps. Good luck!