Giving perfume as a gift: by occasion

First: what do they already wear?

Sneak a look at the bottle in the bathroom or on the bedside table. The same scent almost always hits the mark. Do check the version: an eau de toilette and an eau de parfum with the same name often smell slightly different. Photograph the label.

Not sure?

Look at the person's style. Sporty and always outdoors? Fresh scents are often a good fit. Polished and classic? Think floral or woody. If they like sweet and warm, gourmand or amber usually suits them better.

Safe choices when you don't know their taste:

• a well-known fresh or floral scent that many people recognise;
• a gift set with a smaller bottle and body lotion or shower gel;
• a smaller bottle, so it's no disaster if the scent isn't quite right;
• a set of minis, so they can choose for themselves (see the guide to testers, minis and sets).

For more on finding someone's taste, read how to choose a perfume.

Dates by country

Perfume is a seasonal gift. These are the main dates in the six countries Eaulie covers:

For her

Floral and fresh scents go down well with many women. Dior J'adore Eau de Parfum is a big, sunny bouquet of flowers. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette is lighter and fresher, nice for daytime. Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum pairs lavender with orange blossom and feels a little warmer. Lancôme Idôle Eau de Toilette is a clean, fresh rose.

More ideas in our list of gifts for her and among women's perfumes.

For him

Fresh, aromatic and woody scents are a safe bet for men. Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum is fresh and peppery. Armani Acqua di Giò Eau de Toilette smells of citrus and sea. Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette is fresh and woody and works at the office and at the weekend. If he likes warm and spicy-sweet, Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette is a well-known choice.

Also see our list of gifts for him and the men's perfumes.

St Nicholas and Christmas

December is the busiest month for perfume. In the Netherlands Sinterklaas brings presents on 5 December, in Belgium on 6 December. In Germany, Denmark and Sweden, Christmas presents are mostly opened on Christmas Eve; in the Netherlands, Belgium and France usually on the 25th, or on the evening before.

Gift sets are often in the shops from October. Think of the Lancôme La Vie est Belle gift set with eau de parfum, a travel spray and body lotion, or the Hugo Boss Boss Bottled gift set with eau de toilette and shower gel. More sets in popular gift sets.

Black Friday and ordering in time

Around Black Friday, at the end of November, there are often perfume promotions. Always compare for yourself: a promotion isn't automatically the lowest price. In December deliveries often take longer and popular sets sometimes sell out. So order in early December rather than the last week.

Wrapping, returns and gift receipts

Leave the film on the box. A sealed bottle can usually still be exchanged or returned; an opened one usually can't, for hygiene reasons. Online, in the EU you generally have 14 days to withdraw from the purchase, counted from delivery. If you buy in November, that period may have ended before the holidays. Some shops extend their return period in December: check before you order. In a shop, ask for a gift receipt without the price, so the recipient can exchange it themselves.

Valentine's Day

On 14 February it can be romantic. A warm, floral or sweet scent fits well, or the scent you both associate with something. A mini or travel spray is a sweet extra with a card.

You can also choose a scent to share. Calvin Klein CK One Eau de Toilette is fresh and light. Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne smells salty and mineral. Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning Eau de Toilette brings clean laundry to mind. More under unisex and in our list of unisex scents.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day 2027 is 9 May in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Denmark, and 30 May in France and Sweden. In Antwerp many people celebrate it on 15 August. A gift set of her usual scent is a classic. For something new, go for a floral scent or a smaller bottle. Special sets often appear around Mother's Day, such as the Chanel Coco Mademoiselle set with a bottle and four small travel sprays.

Father's Day

The dates differ a lot by country (see the table above): from Ascension Day in Germany to November in Sweden, where the next one is 8 November 2026. In Denmark it shares 5 June with Constitution Day. A scent he wears every day is a safe choice. A set with shower gel, such as the Paco Rabanne 1 Million gift set, makes it complete. If he never wears perfume, start with something fresh and light in a smaller bottle.

Birthday

For a birthday you can choose more personally. Think of the season: something fresh and light in summer, something warmer in winter. A smaller bottle is a good way to let someone try something new.

By budget

• Smaller bottle: 30 or 50 ml is enough to get to know a scent properly.
• Eau de toilette instead of eau de parfum: the EDT of the same scent is often cheaper. It smells lighter and usually lasts a bit less long. More in EDT or EDP.
• Gift set: you often get a bottle plus body care, nicely packed.
• Minis: a set of small bottles lets someone try several scents.

Always compare the price per 100 ml. A 30 ml bottle usually costs more per 100 ml than a 100 ml bottle. On Eaulie you can compare sizes per 100 ml.

Common mistakes

• Giving your own taste. What you love isn't necessarily what they love. Start from the recipient.
• Buying the wrong version. Sauvage eau de toilette and Sauvage eau de parfum are not the same. Check the label.
• Going straight for a huge bottle. With a new scent, a smaller bottle is safer.
• Taking the film off. Then it can almost never be exchanged.
• Ordering late in December. Delivery takes longer and sets sell out.