Gifting Fragrance

Buying a fragrance product as a gift can seem like a daunting prospect, but it is a more thoughtful and long-lasting alternative to a bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine. The benefits of home fragrance products are that they can be shared with friends, family and guests. The right room diffuser or scented candle can change the mood and feel of a whole room.

Fragrance is full of significance and meaning. Selecting a perfume is almost like selecting how a person will then be perceived and remembered, and your choice will influence their experiences, atmospheres and memories. It is perhaps no surprise that many people shy away from gifting perfume.

It can also be incredibly hard to know where to start when it comes to shopping for fragrance products. Everyone experiences scent differently – an aroma that someone finds compelling and irresistible might bring up bad memories for another person. With fragrance and memory being so closely intertwined, it is an admittedly risky move to choose a scent as a gift.

Fragrance makes a wonderful gift

First and foremost, fragrance is a unifying force. A pleasant scent is something that everyone enjoys, from parents and partners to siblings and colleagues. There is something to suit absolutely everyone, and it has the potential to bring a smile to anyone’s face. A carefully-chosen scent is an instant mood booster – its close connection with emotion means that a particular scent can brighten someone’s day.

A luxury fragrance product can be an extremely touching gift. It is personal, sentimental and thoughtful. It demonstrates a certain depth of understanding – it shows you have taken the time to thoughtfully consider and muse about what would bring someone joy.

Because scent, memory and emotion are intrinsically linked, a fragrance product truly is a gift for life. The recipient’s future experiences will be woven with and enhanced by their gifted fragrance for years to come.

How to choose the perfect fragrance gift

First things first – don’t be intimidated. Start by doing your research. If you are buying for someone close to you, take a (sneaky) look at the products they currently use to give you some inspiration. Take note of which fragrance family they normally opt for Floral, Oriental, Woody or Fresh.

Pay attention to other ways that they express their personality: the scents they fill their home with, the food they like to cook, the colours they enjoy, and the hobbies they indulge in. All of these elements can help you decide which fragrance will suit their lifestyle the most. For example, if they are active, love spending time in the countryside and love to swim, you could take an educated guess and opt for a Fresh fragrance containing herbal botanicals and light sea salt notes.

Think outside the box

If you are buying for someone you are not as closely familiar with, like a colleague or friend, you can take a slightly different approach. Instead of opting for a bottle of perfume, think outside the box and choose another fragrance product.

Think about where they spend the most time – could you opt for a car diffuser to brighten their commute, or a room spray to enhance their desk space? Other options include candles, diffusers, creams, soaps, body washes or roll-on scents. These products make wonderfully thoughtful gifts, without bordering on being too risky or personal.

The fragrance gifting tick list:

• Take note of their current fragrance – which fragrance family do they prefer?
• Think about their personality, hobbies and favourite products.
• Consider their lifestyle – where do they spend most of their time?

If you are seeking further inspiration to help you make an educated fragrance choice, you can find plenty more insights in our Journal.