What perfume would make a good Christmas present?

[Longestnight]

Is there a perfume that you can’t go wrong with as a present? Maybe a gift set with a body lotion. I would want to spend about £50 ish.

I am looking for a perfume for a friend who is early 50s, very young and modern in her ways and fashion sense so something current or new or universally liked.

I have occasionally been given a perfume that I didn’t like and couldn’t wear so I don’t want to make that mistake.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Unless you know what perfume she likes, I wouldn't do this and definitely wouldn't risk £50 on it.

Is there no way you can find out what perfumes she loves?

For me it's just too personal a thing I'd hate for anyone to pick a fragrance for me as I most likely wouldn't like it!

I love the new Gucci flora perfumes.

I love one called by the fireside, it smells like it sounds and a small bottle is around £50

Don't do this. Perfume is so individual. It has taken me many years to find scents that work for me, I'd hate to be gifted others as I know they'd be wasted.

Get a sample set?

I would always avoid buying perfume or jewellery for anyone else without knowing specifically what they want as it's so personal and each fragrance will smell different on each person.
Perhaps a really nice scented candle or high end bath oil instead?

Next do a set with 4/5 perfumes.
It's around £25.
I like all Next perfumes.
I'm early 40's and I know both my older and younger colleagues and family members love a Next perfume.
I'd go with that and buy something to go with the perfume.
A perfume that is around £50 that a lot of my colleagues like is Marc Jacobs Daisy.

Davidov do Cool Water, Waves and their new one. All light daytime perfumes. I've not heard anyone say they did not like them before but they are very popular.

www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/maison-margiela/memory-box/eau-de-toilette-spray/p/60246?gclid=Cj0KCQiA7bucBhCeARIsAIOwr-8gmX5Bm3lRw8d3F1HulsgIeSvOJwsSVpVJZdzsJYiWWC53pdE8J2waAsZMEALw_wcB

I'd get a discovery box. There is no universally safe scent option. At a push I would say most people like Glossier You or Armani She.

I'm particular about the perfume I wear, so unless it was one of two Channel perfumes it would probably be re-gifted. I think perfume is very personal, so it's not something I would try to guess for someone.

Having said that, I actually might use this:

https://www.boots.com/clinique-perfectly-happy-fragrance-gift-set-10320359

I love twilly by hermes, but i generally love all hermes perfume in general.

If you know what she wears maybe go for one from the same brand? Add a sample and the receipt when you hand it over.

I personally think its a lovely gift as i wouldn't buy for myself

Scent library from Penhaligons

I do agree it’s possible to get wrong. Someone bought me Samsara once as I said I liked it on them but I hated it on me!

Abbey Perfumery have some lovely fragrances. You can buy a sample set with a gift card to redeem against a full size bottle. www.abbeyperfumery.co.uk/products/perfume-library?variant=39661057146977

Floral Street do discovery sets

I wear Clinique Happy and only that. Please don't give me perfume unless it's that.

<side eyes unopened Chanel No.5 gift set from boss for last year's Christmas present>

Why buy something for someone else that was a crap present for you? It's such a waste of money. Buy her a gift voucher and say you thought she may like a perfume but wanted her to choose.

Perfume is so so personal. Even if 20 people post on here saying they like something that doesn't mean your friend will. And a perfume can smell so different on someone else. At her age she will know what she likes.

£50 is a lot of money to spend on something that could be totally wrong. You've either got to ask her which one she'd like, or get something else entirely.

My favourite gift to give at the minute are turtle doves wrist warmers. Recycled Cashmere, made in the UK, good for the planet and an excellent gift.

I’ve been gifted perfume three times, hated every one. The sample/discovery sets are a brilliant idea though.

It's too personal. Also, perfumes that I loved before children smell sickly on me now, although I still love them on other people, ie Coco, Coco Mademoiselle, Jean Paul Gautier. Probably best to get her a perfume shop gift voucher.

I'd never buy perfume for somebody unless I knew it was something they already wore. What smells lovely on you or on a tester strip may well smell awful on her. Perhaps stick to body products maybe? Rituals do some lovely gift sets as do The White Company or &OtherStories.

Been given perfume twice for christmas and both times it was regifted to school fate. You wear perfume because you like the smell - no other reason - so if you dont like it there is no use to it at all.

what about hand made soaps? I admit i love these as they are something i can use daily and they just feel lovely and luxurious

The Perfume Society does amazing Discovery Boxes that might help her find one she loves. There's usually about 10 samples or minis and it won't matter too much if she doesn't like some of them. The boxes are about £25 so I'd buy her one of those and some really good soap or a candle like a PP suggested. perfumesociety.org/shop-now/

The only person who has ever got new, untried perfumes spot on for me is (bizarrely) my brother. Echo others, good sample set or something else.