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?

My 14 year old wants Miss Dior and I will be buying it for her.

It's nothing to do with sexualising children. My DD wants it because she wants to smell nice, the same as she takes a shower to be clean or brushes her hair so it's tidy. She likes to be well presented.

I think as a special treat/gift for Christmas then a Dior perfume (or a similar one she likes) is fine. She’ll presumably take care of it, wear it to feel special and grown up so why not? Also ones along the lines of Miss Dior are pretty and suitable for that age.

Perfume is personal in choice and what smells nice on you (as opposed to what smells different on someone else) so you shouldn’t have just got her another cheaper brand because it’s perfume.

I don’t think I was really into perfume at 13 and if so it was White Musk etc but I had a friend at 14 who loved Poison which I hated.

Unless it is the price that is the issue, I can't see any problem with this. My daughter is 9 and loves perfume, has a few of her own and sometimes uses mine

Unless it is the price that is the issue, I can't see any problem with this. My daughter is 9 and loves perfume, has a few of her own and sometimes uses mine

@Woohooforwine

If she’s smelt it and loves it YABU, if she has never tried it and wants it just because it’s Dior YANBU.

This is why she's asked for it, because of the name. I don't own a Dior perfume although I guess she could have tried one at a friend's house.

Oh bless her. Why was it a firm no? Is it the price? Did she have a say in the brand you did buy? I get it if you can't afford it, of course and sure at 13 you had that conversation about cost of presents and budget. However, are there options to help her save up or earn the difference? I have a lovely vision of a 13 year old having her first designer item and cherishing this bottle of perfume!

Unless money is the issue I'd have bought it for her because it's what she wants

If you could afford it, I’d have bought it, personally.

Does it matter if it’s because of the name? Dior is a classic, timeless and well made perfume - I’d much rather have my kid wafting around the house smelling of Dior than a migraine inducing Versace Blue Jeans, Impulse bodyspray or whatever they use at 13 nowadays.

* This is why she's asked for it, because of the name.*

Of course this is the case!!! But that’s what buying presents for teens sometimes means.

Accepting it isn’t “sensible” but knowing they will love it anyway

Maybe you could take her somewhere to test perfumes? Then she can chose which she likes best, maybe blindfold her so she can’t see the names on the bottles? 🤣

She might have tried it in a store?
If that’s the one she wants then getting another random one seems bizarre.
It’s either you are too young so no perfume or her her one she wants assuming it’s in budget. 13 isn’t too young for perfume in my view.

What’s the issue OP

Money?

Or the odd belief that NR is a more acceptable smell to buy for your daughter?

How is this any different than my 13 year old asking for a PS5? At least your gift isn’t going to cost £500 (I’m assuming?) how much is the bottle and how much do you normally spend?

If she wants it just because of the name then let her have it and if she gets bored of it and wants another perfume then you can tell her to save up for it etc. She wants to presumably be like her friends who have it so wants to fit in.

At this age (and surprised not sooner) of course she’ll be testing you re fitting in, styles etc. I got my mum constantly wanting me to dress a certain way (black or navy and preferably French looking) and one time I bought trendy shorts and a white top was immediately castigated by my mum for it being tarty (it wasn’t) and my best friend blamed for influencing me to buy it.

I’ve only got boys. All they want is tech. I’d give ANYTHING to have a daughter who wanted perfume. How lovely. You’re so lucky.

I used to wear Miss Dior Mademoiselle all through my teens. My dad was always the one to get me a new bottle so I wouldn’t run out. I never thought I was being unreasonable?

I don’t see the harm. I would suggest eau de toilette as it is lighter than perfume, otherwise just show her how to use a tiny amount or she may go overboard with it.

I bought my DD13 a ‘good’ perfume last Christmas and she loved it and used it sparingly as it retained its scent much longer than her usual bottles. There’s no point in buying a cheaper one she doesn’t actually like - false economy.

I'd get it for her if you can afford to. No point getting someone a present just for the sake of getting one and because its cheap. If its all you can afford then that fair enough, but if you can afford to get her a Dior then get her one.

Did you ever as a child have the experience of being bought a pale imitation of a thing you asked for and feeling hurt and still having to smile and show gratitude?

Don't do it.

If you CAN afford the one she asked for, stop being really weird and stingy to her, you HAVE reached the "perfume stage" she's a teenager.

Sorry @lucked I mean why would one be appropriate and another not?

I am not up on dior so don't understand this.

Just get her something else entirely if you are determined to disappoint her.

Imagine her looking at the tiny Bix, getting very excited, and then.... The look of sadness on her face.
Are you ok with that?

@Darkpheonix

Sorry *@lucked* I mean why would one be appropriate and another not?

I am not up on dior so don't understand this.

There is nothing to understand

Unless it’s financial, there is no logic whatsoever

If she hasn't smelled it, wouldn't you take her somewhere to test it?

Or if it's too expensive tell her that and get her to chose another she likes?

Just buying a random perfume is really mean - she might hate the smell of it.

Ditto @EineReiseDurchDieZeit…

YABVVU.

Nothing worse as a child than your parent buying you a ‘version’ of what you asked for. I hated it; and never used the ‘alternative’.

Doesn’t matter that it’s a brand. That’s what she wants. Black Friday deals mean they’ll be some good bargains too.