13 yo DD has asked for a bottle of Dior perfume for Christmas.....

[BaconAndAvocado]

.......to which I replied a firm No.

I’ve bought her a bottle of Nina Ricci. A third of the price.

One of my friends however didn’t think there was anything wrong in this.

To me, she’s far too young for something like this.

Like most of her friends, she does wear a bit of make up but obviously nothing high end.

Thoughts?

I think it's Christmas and if you can afford it I realy don't see the problem.

@BarbedButterfly not the point at all but I totally read your comment as you bought a 1 year old expensive perfume at first! I was thinking now that IS odd

I got a Dior perfume when I was 13.

Getting an alternative/cheaper version of something she wants (perfume) is pointless.

It’s her first scent - sounds like she has great taste! Make sure she will wear it though. Does she wear cheaper perfumes at the mo?

Sounds like you’ve got a Dd with good taste! I don’t buy alternative versions of things anymore as I realised unwanted cheaper gifts are a waste of money. In general, it’s better to have fewer things but better quality.

I always buy my girls samples first, then they can build a scent wardrobe, loads of sites out there, try before you blind buy a full bottle, what smells good on one can smell like paint stripper on others.

My parents bought me Chanel at 15 (I didn't ask for it and wasn't interested in makeup or anything like that). I still wear it (not the same bottle😆) 30yrs later. Not sure how much Dior is but would think it would be okay. I don't like makeup on a 13year old but I think nice perfume is fine.

Trouble is what will they have to look forward to, to aspire to, if they only have the best from the get go? We wore grotty perfume and cosmetics, if we wanted the good stuff we worked to buy it ourselves. When you’d worked your ass off for so little cash you thought twice about frittering it on high end non- essentials. It was a powerful incentive to work hard and do well at school.

Should have not got perfume rather than some random one you've decided on.

I'd have got one of those miniature sets so she can try a few (including the dior she wants). If I couldn't afford the one she wanted

Or a gift voucher she could put towards it

I don’t think age is relevant. If you can afford it and it’s what she wants then I don’t see a problem with it. Lots of the dior perfumes are lovely. If she has actually smelled it and knows she likes it then I don’t think she’s too young.

I think brands are a big thing for teenagers, in a much bigger way than when we were kids, but they don’t really understand how much things cost.

Depends on the child I guess. 30 years ago I was far more in to brands than dd is currently. I remember being obsessed with CK perfumes and using all my birthday and Xmas money to buy a Versace jacket, and what was the brand where the logo was Velcro attached - my friend borrowed that jacket and lost the logo 🙈. Jumpers were the sweatshirt company or Benetton, jeans were Levi's or miss sixty. Dd gets her things from H&M, primark and shein.

Even if she no longer wants the Dior, I'd swap the Nina ricci. It's definitely typically for more mature tastes and definitely nice to have your own scent not that of your mums. A cheaper more modern one maybe like ted baker or Jimmy chop or similar if she's decided she doesn't want to waste budget on high end

Tell her it may smell like cat piss. My dear mum bought me some, duty free, on her first ever holiday abroad. People wouldn't sit next to me on the bus.

Did she want THAT smell, or the name Dior? Either way, your substitution won't be welcome.

Fwiw I had Poison (Dior) for my 12th birthday, if it were something she really wanted I'd hope you'd get it if it were in budget.

(However I now see she's changed her mind so good call it seems!)

@Confusedteacher

My 13 year old DD has asked for a Vivienne Westwood necklace When I stopped laughing, I then explained that the ones I had seen were at least £80 and that if that was what she really wanted it would pretty much be her only present. So we’ve compromised that I’m going to find a cheaper one in that style.

I think brands are a big thing for teenagers, in a much bigger way than when we were kids, but they don’t really understand how much things cost.

I don’t think teen obsession with brands is anything new. CKOne came out when I was in Year 8 in the mid-90s and everyone was obsessed with it.

I would say it was fine for a 13 year old if you can afford it.

I think it would be a nice pre Christmas thing to do to go to a big department store and try loads of perfumes together.

But she is going to, rightly, be mighty annoyed with the wrong perfume.

Either buy her the one she wants or don't get her perfume

If it’s a main present then why not? If it was an Xbox etc what would you do? However whatever you decide take her with you cause Dior doesn’t last on my skin very long, so I see them as pointless. Also if you both go you can rule out with the cards. Just take a pen lol

Like others I'm not sure what your issue is. It can't be to try to get her not to buy designer because you are offering her another designer. If its cost then fair enough. Presents mean to me getting something you wouldn't normally get. And getting something you think the person wants. My teen got miss dior perfume for her birthday it's a fashion thing. We try to install good values in but ultimately she may chose to be a designer person. That's up to her. We have a budget and get the kids to rank their wish list. They have to make decisions on what they want most which I think is healthy. DS got 1 present last year. A ridiculously over priced pair of trainers. But it was his choice. He's said he is not doing that this year!

@MargotEmin

If its Miss Dior I think that's a rather lovely gift for a 13 year old, a nice fresh inoffensive scent - but only if you can afford it though.

I know there are some real noses on here, can anyone recommend a nice dupe that might come in a bit cheaper? I can't think off the top of my head..

Perfume Parlour do some great scents that smell identical to the designer brands and some of them even last longer too!

@Madamesosostris

Trouble is what will they have to look forward to, to aspire to, if they only have the best from the get go? We wore grotty perfume and cosmetics, if we wanted the good stuff we worked to buy it ourselves. When you’d worked your ass off for so little cash you thought twice about frittering it on high end non- essentials. It was a powerful incentive to work hard and do well at school.

Dior perfume is mid-range, not the best.

It’s perfume for goodness sake. If that’s what she likes and you can afford it why wouldn’t you get her that? I’d be miffed with Nina Ricci instead.

Buy her a perfume from next much cheaper and smell really good

Crikey! My DDs have been spraying mine since they could reach my dressing table! They’re 13 & 11 and still do …. But not ‘the premiums’ they know which they are and only get to use them on special occasions for luck. They use body shop perfumes and seem happy enough with them …

Kids know far too much about brands now through social media. I didn’t even know what Dior was at 13 and just had a bottle of impulse body spray like the rest of my friends! Focus on the budget and make her save for it.