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?

Teenagers are bombarded with brands via social media so it's really hard to escape from. DD (17) has over the last 4 years developed a taste for makeup brands etc which are hugely expensive. She has probably spent more on makeup/mud masks/face packs/general beauty products in 4 years than I have in my entire life . She had been wearing the same perfume since she was 11 and fancied a change so we went everywhere trying them out and her favourite was probably the most expensive I've known at over £100 a bottle but she loved it and bought it herself. I don't spend any more on her because she has expensive taste, it's her choice to make.

OP

Just a tale to make you think about how much a teenager can like perfume. At a similar age to your DD I was on holiday with family in France and we did a tour of a perfume factory.

I bought myself a bottle of perfume I loved (in a metal bottle so it could be left on a dressing table without spoiling).

I loved that perfume and when it was gone I kept the bottle on display.

A couple of years later my parents were going on holiday to the south of France and I convinced them to visit the same factory to buy the same perfume.

Yep, as a teenager my perfume taste was a perfume that could only be bought from the factory in France.

Is it any wonder my mum was pleased when I discovered Dior.

Re posters questioning how you can get a perfume for £10-15 which I mentioned earlier. I said a miniature.

See attached. I bought this for my closest friend for her birthday, because when we next (covid) get to go to Europe for a weekend you can only take a tiny amount in hand luggage.

I was just pointing out to op that she could've bought her daughter one if she wanted to, she could've spent £10 on a little miniature and then her daughter would know whether she liked it instead of spending £50,£60, £80 on a huge standard bottle.

No-one else buys it for me either, partly because partner of 7yrs has never bought me anything, not even a bunch of flowers and because I can't see the point of perfume.

I didn’t think not liking perfume was ‘sad’, if that’s your taste. But frankly, if you are both short of money and in a relationship with someone who appears not to value or celebrate you at all - well yes, perfume is the least of your worries.

My dd is still happy with Primark bargain bin stuff but if she wanted something more expensive I wouldn't have a problem getting it her for Christmas.

She's old enough to understand there's a budget, if it was within the budget I'd have got it for her, but with an explanation that it'll be a small bottle and she then can't have other things.

My DD18 still doesn't appreciate perfumes and sprays them like a body spray, so she's getting some nice body mists for Christmas instead, three big bottles for less than a 30ml middle of the road priced perfume. But if she'd have asked for a specific perfume I'd have bought it (I checked with her before buying the mists).

I missed the update, definitely return the Nina Ricci she'll never want to be seen with that in her school bag, a Next dupe would be cooler.

If it is about price then Lidl do some brilliant dupes?

At that age stuff they buy themselves in town on a Saturday morning like primark is cool and high end designer brands they ask for at Christmas are cool, but mid range is dangerous territory.

They either want a "haul" or "luxe" blame YouTube and Instagram.

@AntiMaskersAreTwats

My 70 year old mum wears Nina Ricci poor kid

My 95yo Aunt wears that too. It smells lovely, but...not what I'd buy for a13yo

@BaconAndAvocado. I could understand it, if it's a really expensive perfume, it does seem 'too grown up' to spend a LOT of money on perfume for a 13yo. So I'd have chosen something else she asked for, I wouldn't waste money on a perfume you don't know suits her/she likes.

The ninety year old in my family ditched Nina Ricci decades ago … Absolutely loves modern, luxury perfumes (usually sourced from Bloom or Les Senteurs) for Christmas.

Is it because she likes the advert on TV with Natalie Portman ('what would you do for love?'). I think it's Miss Dior. Has your DD actually smelt the perfume /tried a spray of it in store to see how it smells on her skin?

@HarrietsweetHarriet - agreed, I’d take DD into Boots, Superdrug, John Lewis etc to check if it smells nice on her skin before splashing out. They might even be doing a nice gift set where you can get more bang for your buck re gift sets.

I've been wearing dior perfume since that age. Still use it to this day at age 28. Obviously if you can't afford it that's one matter but if it's just about age then that makes no sense.

I think I’m yet to read a thread in here where a child’s request for a expensive present is roundly declined by the posters. Everyone is always jostling to state how they would happily run out and buy the designer goods.

[quote Harmonypuss]**@EyesAsGreenAsAFreshPickledToad* @thisplaceisweird*

It's not sad.

I've not bought a bottle of perfume in well over a decade and have far more important things to spend what little money I have on.

No-one else buys it for me either, partly because partner of 7yrs has never bought me anything, not even a bunch of flowers and because I can't see the point of perfume.[/quote]
Even sadder. It's ok to like nice things.

@FreeBritnee

I think I’m yet to read a thread in here where a child’s request for a expensive present is roundly declined by the posters. Everyone is always jostling to state how they would happily run out and buy the designer goods.

Christmas, for most parents, is about making your kids feel special, there's a magic to it, even when they grow up.

Most posters can see that a young girl asking for a 'special' gift is an opportunity to create a lovely memory, many people on this thread still remember or even wear their first special perfume!

It feels like OP is punishing her daughter for having slightly fancier tastes, and getting her something that is a real let down in comparison, almost to spite her.

What about the brand that smells like it, without the price tag.

Young people are being groomed by the brands behind the influencers which is why this teenager thinks she wants a certain (expensive) brand of perfume. From the OPs posts I don’t think she’s even smelt it!!! She’s been seduced by the online advertising. One of our jobs as parents is to make our children understand that they are being played by a system. To encourage them to have critical thinking and for me, to investigate what’s behind the often outlandish requests for expensive items. Parent your kids. Stop constantly giving into their whims and desires and equip them for life.

@FreeBritnee

Young people are being groomed by the brands behind the influencers which is why this teenager thinks she wants a certain (expensive) brand of perfume. From the OPs posts I don’t think she’s even smelt it!!! She’s been seduced by the online advertising. One of our jobs as parents is to make our children understand that they are being played by a system. To encourage them to have critical thinking and for me, to investigate what’s behind the often outlandish requests for expensive items. Parent your kids. Stop constantly giving into their whims and desires and equip them for life.

30 years ago it was Kangol and a load of others

It’s not a new thing

It doesn’t matter that it’s not ‘new’. It’s capitalism at its worst. They used to get at our kids through the TV and now they’re robbing them (you) through the internet. Give them some life skills and stop guilt buying your kids ridiculous presents.

@FreeBritnee

It doesn’t matter that it’s not ‘new’. It’s capitalism at its worst. They used to get at our kids through the TV and now they’re robbing them (you) through the internet. Give them some life skills and stop guilt buying your kids ridiculous presents.

Nah

I’m 40 and now completely unbothered by brands

At 14…. It was important!

Rite of passage for most. To look back and chuckle how important that silly brand was

@bethclark553 How lovely of you do take the time to do this x

@FreeBritnee

It doesn’t matter that it’s not ‘new’. It’s capitalism at its worst. They used to get at our kids through the TV and now they’re robbing them (you) through the internet. Give them some life skills and stop guilt buying your kids ridiculous presents.

Unbelievable

I have just searched your name

On a thread about “whats your favourite perfume” you say…

* Interested in trying the KK one though. I find celeb perfumes are normally super sweet. Is KK the same?*

And on a thread about lip fillers you say you won’t have again as didn’t like the results.

Not quite so averse to “capitalism” yourself are you?!

And it gets better!

@FreeBritnee

Waffling on about Capitalism

On previous threads

Youve asked what someone thinks about a particular perfume as you find “celeb ones a bit sweet

You’ve had lip filler

And cheek fillers

The hypocrisy!!!