Friend has bought me a perfume that I don't like. What to do?

[MirandaGoshawk]

Birthday last week. She bought me a bottle of Jo Malone cologne and I opened it next day, so didn't try it in front of her. I knew it wasn't for me and DH complained and asked me to wash it off. So, do I tell her I love it and have her wonder why I never wear it? Offer it back to her? It can't be exchanged because there's some missing now.

Yes, just list it on eBay, then use the money to buy a perfume you DO like!

I'm pretty sure that I know which department store she would have got it from (her Dd works there and she gets a discount). But I haven't got a receipt

And they wouldn’t take it back once opened and sprayed even with a receipt but pp are right, expensive perfumes- even if slightly used- go for not much off their full price on ebay.

Wow, yes, I've had a look. Thanks! Maybe I'll try to exchange it and if no good then leave it a bit and put it on ebay.

Re DH - just to be clear, I only mentioned that he didn't like it to show that it wasn't just me. If I loved it I'd wear it! I had a pair of gold shoes that he hated and I wore them to death .

I got a present recently of hand cream from jo Malone. I tried to exchange and they said have got very strict and they will only exchange with receipt. You could chance it.

I'd sell it on.

That’s my favourite perfume so YABU to not love it I wore it on my wedding day. They will likely exchange it for you. Happy Birthday for last week!

Maybe her daughter gave it to her and she passed it on to you because she didn't like it.

I would tell her that youre really sorry and its a truly lovely gift, but it doesnt work on your skin and with such an expensive gift, you really dont want it to go to waste.
Perfumes can be like that. They can be lovely on one person and smell completly different on someone else.
Jo Malone is really expensive, so hopefully she can sell it on.

It's possible that she got it from her DD.

She knows I like going blackberry-picking - she must've assumed I'd like the scent. Good job she knows I don't like bananas!

Thank you Branleuse. That is diplomatic.

This is a very expensive gift. I absolutely love Jo Malone and that scent in particular.

However, even if I didn't like it there is no way I would give it back to her. I think that's really rude! I'd pass it on to one of my DDs or other female friend or relative. Failing that I'd keep it to perfume drawers and/or spray in the general direction of my hair (so I could wash it out) when I meet my friend. Why disappoint or offend a friend?

Why do people keep saying shops will exchange an opened, used (however slightly) bottle of perfume? Of course they won’t.

I agree it would be so rude to tell her you don't like it. I would be upset if someone did that to me.
Sell it discreetly or give it away. Maybe get a cheap dupe to wear occasionally when you see her (think superdrug do good ones), probably wont be as pungent.

Jo malone is designed to be blended with other scents, I have red currant and oak which on its own smells a bit cheap.... but blended with myrrh and tonka smells incredible

I was coming on to the thread to suggest Ebay, I've sold Jo Malone fragrances there and you get decent money for them.

For any JM fans who love 'Lime Basil and Mandarin', (I love that one too), try the Superdrug version, it's not lasting but it smells EXACTLY like the Jo Malone version. I've tried the other Superdrug fragrances but they not comparable and I wouldn't bother.