Buying Someone Scented Products

[Disney_Love]

Whether it be lotions, perfumes, fragrances, candles etc I find that these scents are almost personal and difficult to buy for. I know a few people who would try out a scented product than pass it along to someone else because they liked it and thought that the person who they were passing the scent to would like it as well. I find that buying lotions or any scented product for someone is difficult unless you really, really know them.

What do you all think? Do you stay away from buying someone scented products or are you pretty good at guessing if a person would like a scent or not?

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I buy scented gifts for people if I know it is a scent that they like. I learned my lesson after buying a coworker a Yankee Candle with a vanilla scent. She flat out told me that she hates the smell of vanilla and asked for the receipt on the spot. She then exchanged the candle for one that she liked.

I'm fine receiving soaps, lotions, and candles in any scents from people, but I am very particular about my perfume.

 

[crz4mm2]

SOme people will use/wear any kind of scent. Some are VERY particular and sensitive.
I would only buy if I knew the person would love/use it....

 

[Christine]

I don't do it unless I know, for a fact, that a person likes things from certain stores. Like my SIL loves ANYTHING from Bath and Body Works so I'm safe with her.

Other people are very particular so I don't do it.

And there there's people like me who cannot tolerate any scented product at all.

 

[maslex]

If I know that I'm buying someone a scented gift, I try to find out ahead of time what they like and don't like (whether it be from a family member or by asking them in a subtle way)

I don't think I would just go to Yankee Candle or Bath & Body Works and buy some random scented items.

I know from personal experience that the scents that I like in a Yankee candle are NOT the ones that some of my family and friends like. I tend to like the food smells, especially apple, spices, etc. However, I despise Vanilla or Coconut!!! I remember when I was first dating my DH, his friends mom used to always buy me the same gift each year (for about 3-4 yrs) It was a gift pack of vanilla scented lotion, body spray, body wash and powder. Even though I appreciated her gift, I could never use it and I felt bad letting her know. So I was glad when we all decided not to buy anything for each other anymore.

I am also not one for flower-y smells, don't like pine, don't like the Christmas type scents, etc.

So I will usually buy only something for them if I KNOW they like it!!!

 

[Carly_Roach]

My trick for buying friends and family anything scented is to sneak a peek at what they already have. I see which bottles they have on their dresser or medicine cabinet are 1/2 full or less and go with a gift that way.

This is true of me and most of the women (and men) I know: perfume or cologne bottles that are nearly full are almost always those that are rarely used because they find the scent disagreeable but don't want to throw the gift out for fear that someone will notice it missing from our collections. This idea also applies to scented candles, bath oil, lotion, etc, etc, etc.

I don't buy scented anything for acquaintances or people I barely know. And ettiquette dictates that I never buy scents for men except my immediate family.

 

[minkydog]

I don't like scents and I don't buy them for others.Same goes for candles. DH can't tolerate scents of any kind. I especially dislike pretty much everything at Bath & Body Works. SIL loves that stuff and gives it freely. I am always gracious about it, of course, but i regift every bit of it. Or I give it to the thrift store. I'm sure someone out there is thrilled to get it, just not me.

 

[SandrA9810]

The only time I've recieved scented products or given it, is when it's specifically stated. I absolutely love nature/food scents. Don't give me flowery yucky stuff.

My aunt buys me the Woodwick candles at work since she gets a discount, and we have opposite tastes in smells, but I tell her which ones I like the most. I used to have a box of bath and lotion stuff that sat under the sink, never did want to use the stuff.

 

[Disney_Love]

If I know that I'm buying someone a scented gift, I try to find out ahead of time what they like and don't like (whether it be from a family member or by asking them in a subtle way)

I don't think I would just go to Yankee Candle or Bath & Body Works and buy some random scented items.

I know from personal experience that the scents that I like in a Yankee candle are NOT the ones that some of my family and friends like. I tend to like the food smells, especially apple, spices, etc. However, I despise Vanilla or Coconut!!! I remember when I was first dating my DH, his friends mom used to always buy me the same gift each year (for about 3-4 yrs) It was a gift pack of vanilla scented lotion, body spray, body wash and powder. Even though I appreciated her gift, I could never use it and I felt bad letting her know. So I was glad when we all decided not to buy anything for each other anymore.

I am also not one for flower-y smells, don't like pine, don't like the Christmas type scents, etc.

So I will usually buy only something for them if I KNOW they like it!!!

Someone did that for a friend of mine and the scents that they picked out were not their type at all, especially since they don't like scents. The person who bought it for them thought that they would like the scent. It was from B&BW.

If I know that someone likes a particular store like BBW, I would get them something from there. I've thought about getting gift cards for stores with scented products before but someone told me that it is informal to do so.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

BBW is wonderful about exchanging stuff. I love getting scented stuff as gifts and most of my female friends do, too. I know that if I pick out the wrong scent, they can exchange it.

I never really thought about NOT doing it. I frequently get it as a gift as well, even from people who don't know me well enough to know that I like such things.

 

[design_mom]

I don't know. I don't wear scented lotions (I seem to have a sensitivity to many), but I guess I sort of see scented lotions or scented candles as a generic gift for a woman. I have received many.

If someone gave me scented items, I would think that they don't know me well, but I wouldn't be offended... and it has never occurred to me that a choice of scent would be "too personal" for someone to give. I guess I kind of receive it in the same way I'd receive a bottle of wine as a gift.... I don't drink wine, or know anything about wine, but a lot of people bring it as a hostess gift, etc.

If someone I know well (who knows I don't drink wine or wear scents) gave me that sort of gift, I'd probably think it was odd. But if it's an acquaintance, then I just say 'thanks' and think that it was a nice gesture.

 

[rie'smom]

Scented products from bath and Body Works trigger a bad allergic reaction for me. So do most scented products. The only ones that don't are expensive fragrances. I have not been able to find out why this is except that maybe it's a fixative???

 

[dyna]

My asthma is triggered by scents that do not agree with me so no I never buy anyone smelly stuff as a gift....Most products that are marked scent free or hypoallergenic are worse than the real thing too so I never go that route either.

 

[indimom]

Add to all of this that some scents "change" when combined with your personal body chemistry.

I'm very cautious about buying scented lotions, purfumes or colognes. Even for myself. I won't buy if I can't try it on first.

I learned that lesson way back in college - that fantastic perfume didn't smell the same on me as it did on my good friend.

 

[Disney_Love]

I know that some people would buy a scented product that they liked such as a perfume for their friend. A couple people have done this for me, and it was very nice of them however like others have said sometimes what smells nice on one person might not work with another person.