How To Choose A Perfume For Someone Else
By Emmanuelle Moeglin, Founder & Perfumer · Classically trained at ISIPCA, 20 years in fragrance
With so many fragrances to choose from, picking one for someone else feels daunting. It is not impossible. Here are five tips to land on a scent they will actually wear, and for the full gift edit see our ultimate gift guide.
1. Find out what they already wear
Hunt through their collection, or simply ask, and note the fragrance family their favourites fall into: citrus, woody, floral and so on. Two or three favourites are enough to map their scent profile. A Discovery Set is a low-risk way to let them try several families in one box before committing to a full bottle.
2. Match their personality
Be logical about it. A bold, expressive person can carry rich amber, heady white florals, spice and woody gourmands. Someone more understated, or who rarely wears perfume, will be happier in soft florals, gentle ambers, clean musks and fresh citrus. Gift the scent that fits the person, not the loudest bottle on the shelf.
Gift the scent that fits the person, not the loudest bottle on the shelf.
3. Choose with your nose, not the brand
A famous name is no guarantee it suits them. Trust your nose, and bring the story with it: why you chose it, the place it reminded you of, the note that felt like them. That personal thread is often what wins someone over. If you would rather they decide, a Creation Set lets them blend and choose for themselves.
4. Look beyond the perfume bottle
If a spray feels too risky, scent comes in gentler formats: candles, room sprays for bed linen, soaps, bath oils and hand creams. They carry the same mood with none of the pressure of committing someone to a signature fragrance.
The surest way to get it right is to let them create their own.
5. Gift a perfume experience
The surest way to get it right is to let them create their own. Gift a Luxe Blending Experience with one of our Blending Masters, a Blending Discovery Session in the boutique, or the Creation Set Olfactory Library to play perfumer at home. Whichever they choose, they leave with a fragrance no one else wears, and a clearer sense of what they love.
Shopping for the festive season? See how to gift fragrance this Christmas for specific bottle recommendations by scent preference.
Let them choose with a Discovery Set →
Frequently asked questions about choosing a perfume for someone
▾ How do I choose a perfume for someone else?
Start from what they already wear and the fragrance family it sits in, match the scent to their personality, and when in doubt give a Discovery Set or a blending experience so they can choose.
▾ What if I do not know what scents they like?
Give them options. A Discovery Set lets them explore several families, and a Creation Set or blending experience lets them build their own, so you are not guessing.
▾ Is it risky to buy someone a signature perfume?
A little, because scent is personal. Lower the risk with versatile notes like citrus or soft amber, or sidestep it entirely with a set or an experience.
▾ What is a good fragrance gift that is not a perfume?
Candles, room sprays, scented bath oils and hand creams all carry a mood without committing the recipient to one signature scent.
▾ Are blending experiences a good gift?
Yes. They are memorable and personal, and the recipient leaves with a bespoke bottle they made themselves, ideal for the person who has everything.
▾ Where can I see EPC gift ideas by budget or type?
Our ultimate gift guide is organised by the kind of person you are shopping for, from the curious explorer to the passionate perfumer.
