For the women in our lives

[Shane]

We all love our colognes, regardless of the fragrance house or company that makes the fragrances. However, when shopping for women, buying perfume can be incredibly tricky, be it a gift for your wife/girlfriend or your own mother. What are some scents that the gents on this board consider to be a good fit for women?

[rickshah]

My girlfriend is partial to a few of Floris' offerings including Fleur and Cefiro.

[DirtyDave]

What fits my wife best is one I know she likes. A few favorites are White Linen and Dazzling Silver. She is pretty particular about scents and I have learned it's best to just get her stuff I know she likes, rather than take a chance and buy something new.

[MotoMike]

nuts about Dior's Poison

http://www.myperfumesource.com/WPOISONPAGE.htm

[Hobbesoxon]

Unwanted perfume is a tricky one, as it takes ages to use! My advice would be to ask your girl, rather than spring a perfume-surprise, as it's a high-risk manoeuvre!

Floris Santal and "Obsession for Men" (!) are among my lady's favourites, for example - hard to predict those!


Toodlepip,

Hobebs

[rikrdo]

nuts about Dior's Poison

http://www.myperfumesource.com/WPOISONPAGE.htm

SNAP !
Ive been trying to remember that one for the past few days...:mad:
Thanks a bunch
**************************************************
Dont know if this will help but.....
at Christmastime I bought Lovie a 10 scent sampler from Sephora.
They send you these little decants, you try them and then use the enclosed gift certificate to get the bottle of your choice.
I would never buy a fragrance without smelling it on her first.

[izlat]

My wife wears only one perfume, and has done so for many years. I know she'll love it, but of course there's no surprise - and that's bad.

So, I do think you can try various new ones and put some thought into what may suit her, what may be a nice change, maybe even a little out there (for her specifically) - the thought should be appreciated, and if she doesn't really like it she can exchange it, no?

Cheers
Ivo

ps. Poison suffocates me but it is a very popular women's fragrance, as well as Opium and what not...

[MotoMike]

Oh yeah, and when it comes to explaining why you picked the one you do, I would refrain from saying you smelled it on another woman and liked the way she smelled. And that to find out what it was you naturally had to engage this woman in a conversation. And how she was actually quite accommodating and ......what Honey?.:sosp:

[13th Duke of Wymbourne]

My (& I) wife loves Carolina Herera 212 for women (212 for men is nice as well).

[MotoMike]

ps. Poison suffocates me but it is a very popular women's fragrance, as well as Opium and what not...

ahhh but what a way to go.........

[Isaias]

On her I like the Fragonard's freesia and belle de nuit. Burberry Brit also suits her, as well as Coco Mademoiselle and #19 from chanel.

Fragonard is often overlooked on the forum and they actually produce very good smelling colognes.
I bought their samples for men I liked each one of them. (something that did not happen with T&H and Penhaligons)

[moses]

Yeah, I'm with Hobbes on this one. I would say better never to buy perfume blind as a gift. Unless you REALLY know what smells good on her, AND what she likes. Now, one option, depending on the situation, is something like the Penhaligons library, with a promise to give her a bottle of whichever one she likes best. Otherwise, better either take her shopping for the gift, or think of something else.

-Mo

[Texican]

My wife wears Lily & Spice by Penhaligon's regularly.

On her, I prefer Edwardian Bouquet by Floris.

[Badger Boo]

Speaking from a female perspective, a woman's fragrance is a very personal choice. I would almost put it on the same level as lingerie. :blushing:

I have received perfume from people who did not know my taste that well, and to be honest, I never use them. Always ask what type of fragrances she likes or look at the types of lotions and shower gels she already uses to get an idea.

Personally, I prefer Miss Dior Cherie and Vera Wang's Princess.

[Thomas]

I've bought a number of bottles blind for Mrs. T and predictably, some have been hits and others were misses. Ferragamo for women was a big hit. Cabochard was a huge miss. But, once I got a feel for her preferences I was able to keep it between the ditches. Light Blue was a hit, Be Delicious was a big hit, Chanel Chance was a hit, but then again I'm staying in the same fragrance family - light, somewhat fruity semi-florals.

As it turns out, these get churned out by the armload by each house, and there's a ton of overlap between the houses, so I could pick nearly the same scent each year, just in a different bottle with slightly different notes.

And, she does the same for me. Well, she used to, until my colognes outnumbered hers. I think mine:hers runs around 6:1 or so, not including samples and decants.

[Suzuki]

Yeah, I'm with Hobbes on this one. I would say better never to buy perfume blind as a gift. Unless you REALLY know what smells good on her, AND what she likes. Now, one option, depending on the situation, is something like the Penhaligons library, with a promise to give her a bottle of whichever one she likes best. Otherwise, better either take her shopping for the gift, or think of something else.

-Mo

I agree 100%.

I can pick perfume for my wife because I know what she likes/smells good on her.

The scent library/samples are great - I bought my wife the Penaligons X-mas sampler (4 x 5ml bottles in a great package) and she thought it was great - she likes some scents more than others, but it was a great way to introduce her to the range.

[tony mack]

I keep trying to convince my wife that there is nothing so alluring as the smell of fresh bacon grease on her skin as she serves me breakfast in bed. But she has this foolish notion that she is better served by Guerlain misted on prior to an expensive night on the town. Women are so irrational.

[Dave_D]

I wouldnt blind purchase a perfume for a woman. It would be something like her buying a shaving brush for me without knowing what I like, think I'd use it....?

Maybe, but only if it meant making her happy.

best of luck.

Dave

[Conscientia]

Kenzo Flower
Lacoste Touch of Pink
YSL Babydoll Paris
Ghost (Original)

All smell fantastic. At least in mine and my girlfriends opinions, hehe.

[solloron]

I got my girlfriend Chanel No. 5 and alone and by itself i dont really like it...but when its on her omg...:w00t:

[Suzuki]

I got my girlfriend Chanel No. 5 and alone and by itself i dont really like it...but when its on her omg...:w00t:

If she likes the No. 5, she might also like the Mademoiselle - similar notes, but not quite as heavy.

Having said that, you can't go wrong with the No. 5 - its a classic.

Which brings me to my next point, if I were to buy blind, I would go with a classic, as opposed to something trendy - even if its not quite right for everyday wear, it will likely fit the bill for evenings out.

[theperfectstorm]

Annick Goutal Eau d' Hadrien.

I also suggest something from the Christopher Brosius I Hate Perfume range. They have a lot of wacky and semi-wacky scents like burning leaves and such. Going for something fun and/or whimsical is a good way to diffuse the high expectations that go along with super-serious evening stuff.

[moses]

Having said that, you can't go wrong with the No. 5 - its a classic.

Which brings me to my next point, if I were to buy blind, I would go with a classic, as opposed to something trendy - even if its not quite right for everyday wear, it will likely fit the bill for evenings out.

Even so, I wouldn't.... You never know. My ex couldn't wear Chanel No. 5. Apparently it really just did not work on her. Her mother either, apparently.

-Mo

[Thomas]

Even so, I wouldn't.... You never know. My ex couldn't wear Chanel No. 5. Apparently it really just did not work on her. Her mother either, apparently.

-Mo

I read somewhere that No. 5 fares poorly in blind tests. However, once people know it's No. 5 - they like it much better. This phenomenon is not limited to colognes, either.

[moses]

I read somewhere that No. 5 fares poorly in blind tests. However, once people know it's No. 5 - they like it much better. This phenomenon is not limited to colognes, either.

Who woulda thought.... :wink: