Can you give perfume as a gift?

Coco

My delightful friend Edwina works as a flight attendant so spends a disproportionate amount of time in airport duty free shops around the world. As a result, she usually comes home with perfume and make-up for all her friends and family.

For my 21st (longer ago than I care to admit), she bought me the beautiful Burberry Brit fragrance, which I still adore.

So from the hundreds of fragrances to choose from, how did she know I would like that one?

Well she knew that I liked vanilla so she narrowed it down to fragrances with vanilla in them and then yes, it as a bit of luck that paid off.
However, if you want to be sure you get it right, you could always…

1. Think about what sort of person you’re buying for. Is she romantic? Try Dior J’Adore. Fashiony? Go for a perfume by a top designer like Tom Ford or Marc Jacobs. Athletic? Try Cool Water by Davidoff.

2. If you already know a perfume she wears and loves, look what’s new to that scent category and go for one of those. OR go for an update of a classic. Eg if she loves Chanel No. 5, try the newbie Chanel Eau Premiere.

3. If you’re really stuck, go for the best sellers. The top five women’s fragrances sold at American department stores are:

• Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
• Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue
• Estee Lauder Beautiful
• Chanel No. 5
• Donna Karan Cashmere Mist

4. And if you’re buying for your bloke? Your safest bet is a woodsy or clean scent, like Black Code by Armani.

Love,
Spicy