Gift of Scent: Choosing the Perfect Holiday Fragrance for Her
Christmas is right around the corner. And there’s no more a popular gift for women than that of fragrances and perfumes. Whether she’s the love of your life, your newly dating, or its mom or a good friend, fragrances are always a charming option. But selecting the right fragrance for a woman is easier said than done.
Fear not, we’re here to help.
You got two choices:
Read this blog and better understand how to pick that perfect scent she’ll love.
Skip the blog, grab her a perfume gift set that she’s also sure to love.
Identifying Her Scent
So let’s begin by helping you figure out how to identify what scents she likes. Understanding what scent profiles she likes and dislikes is the rather obvious starting point. Believe it or not, it’s easier to figure out than you think. There’s a number of subtle hints everywhere you turn so long as you know where to look.
There are many scent profiles when it comes to women’s fragrances. There’s floral, fruity, spicy, woody, and even earthy. There’s gourmand perfumes, which are more desert like. A girl may love desert, but she may not want to smell like it.
The starting point is to pay attention to any perfumes she currently wears and categorize them. Often, this means spying the bottles which rest on her dresser drawer, or bathroom shelf. You’ll gain the most insight by observing these fragrances. If you need to, take a picture of them and then Google them and find out what type of fragrances they are. If you find out they are all floral, well, you have your holiday marching orders. Some women have a versatile profile of different types of fragrances, which speaks more to adventure. This can sometimes mean they like trying new things, hence, you can be a bit creative.
You can also glean her scent profile by scents she appreciates in every day life. For example, does she often comment on how much she loves the smell of a pie baking? You can even bring up smells unrelated to perfumes. For example, mention how much you love the smell of a spice such as cinnamon and gauge her reaction. Try to open the conversation up to scents.
If she’s wearing a perfume, compliment it and ask what the fragrance is.
There’s also body lotions which often have a fragrance.
Breaking Down Scent Categories
Once you have an idea of which scents she likes, you now need to check off which scent categories you should shop under. Here’s a short list of the major ones.
- Floral: Describe floral scents as typically being light, romantic, and feminine, reminiscent of a bouquet of fresh flowers.
- Fruity: Explain fruity fragrances as often being playful, vibrant, and sweet, evoking the aroma of fresh fruits.
- Spicy: Describe spicy scents as warm, inviting, and exotic, often featuring notes like cinnamon, pepper, and ginger.
- Woody: Explain woody fragrances as being grounded, earthy, and natural, often with a base of sandalwood, cedar, or patchouli.
Now, it’s important to remember that the holidays mainly occur in December, which for us, is Winter. This can make a difference. If you give her something more floral and flowery, she may not wear it until Spring. That’s just something to keep in mind. Most perfume reviews will recommend seasonal preferences on perfumes. It’s not a hard and fast rule, though. Many women wear “spring” perfumes in Winter.
Personality and Lifestyle
Now that you know what type of scents she likes and you have a scent category narrowed down, it’s time to think deeper into who she is. Remember, a fragrance is an extension of the personality.
Is she adventurous and outgoing or more reserved and introspective? Active lifestyles might prefer fresher scents, while a more contemplative person might lean towards complex, layered fragrances.
This is probably your most difficult portion. It’s not easy to pair a perfume with a personality, so don’t feel bad if you second guess yourself. Always remember, it is the thought that ultimately counts.
Appropriateness
So there’s who she is, which we covered above, and also who she is to you, which we’re talking about now.
Is she a friend? Your mom? Your lover? Did you just meet and you’re courting her? Secret admirer?
We’re not suggesting you stress and overthink. But some perfumes may speak more to romance than others. In perfume reviews, look for descriptors such as “sensual” and “sexy.” Those can help you better understand the intent of the fragrance. But again, don’t worry, you can’t go wrong.
A Few Holiday Perfume Recommendations
We’re not going to leave you totally hanging. Here’s a short list of a few holiday perfumes to consider if you’re struggling. Just remember to keep everything we explained above in mind.
Guerlain – Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum
A sophisticated combination of lavender, jasmine, sandalwood, and vanilla. This one is for the woman who exudes modern femininity. Try a Mon Guerlain sample.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian – Grand Soir
A rich and opulent scent with notes of amber, vanilla, and tonka bean exude a celebratory nature of the holiday season. This fragrance is like a warm embrace, exuding luxury and warmth. Try a Grand Soir sample.
Jo Malone London – Orange Bitters
A delightful blend of sweet and bitter orange layered over a base of sensuous sandalwood and amber. This fragrance captures the essence of Christmas with its citrusy, warm, and inviting aroma. While we don’t currently have Orange Bitters samples in stock, we do have lots more Jo Malone samples.
Final Notes
Ultimately, shopping for a perfume for that special woman in your life isn’t that complicated. If you’re really concerned, try perfume samples so she get’s a variety. So long as you keep in mind that it’s about her, you’ll be fine.