Perfume belongs to the category of “gifts” par excellence. Every year, millions of fragrances are handed out as gifts on many different occasions. Still, the choice of perfume, which may sometimes look accidental, always has a hidden meaning. Christmas is the most symbolic of these occasions; it’s when we think of more significant gifts or even smaller presents for different types of people we care about or admire. Thanks to its versatile characteristics and strong expressive capacities, perfume is a perfect Christmas gift regardless of who it is for.
The symbolic value of perfume
The most important thing to remember is the symbology of perfumes: we can affirm that all perfumery, both artistic and mass production, is characterized by symbols that, when juxtaposed, create an actual language. Just like the more popular “Language of flowers” (and it is no coincidence that these were and still are among the most loved raw materials in perfumery), a perfume transmits a message that the lucky recipient can interpret thanks to a code that is becoming ever more popular.
This guide will help you choose a perfume as a gift and understand what the gift giver wants to say or even allow us to see yourself through the gift giver’s eyes.
Perfume as a gift for him or her: what’s the difference?
I have often spoken of the “gender” of perfumes. Usually, perfumes are divided into fragrances, “for him” or “for her,” into male and female perfumes. This distinction may help those who don’t know much about perfumery choose a particular brand or type of scent. Still, this generalization may trivialize the choice: remember that the right fragrance for someone is what they like or could like, regardless of its gender label.
Do not let this simplistic and banal distinction guide you, and remember that a floral fragrance can be perfect for a man, and a woody one can be perfect for a woman. The writing on the label should not direct your choice, which should be based on the personality of the person you are getting the gift for.
Once the concept we just spoke about is clear, you are free to be inspired. The first question you should ask yourself is now: how well do I know this person?
If the answer is “quite well, " your choice can be sentimental.
Could you explain what I mean? Perfume has the magic power of triggering long-term memory and bringing memories that we thought were lost to the mind.
If you want to surprise someone you spent some good times with, choose a fragrance that can remind them of those events. It could be a specific perfume (maybe the one you or they were wearing) or a perfume that reminds you of a place or atmosphere (such as a perfume that reminds you of your Christmas holidays thanks to notes of vanilla and tonka bean.
And to make it more personal, you can add a note that explains the choice and tells a few anecdotes involving you.
The receiver will fall in love with the perfume, even if they don’t know it, thanks to its ability to re-evoke that moment, making them travel back in time!
If the person you are choosing the perfume for is a connoisseur or, more simply, already has one or a couple of favorite perfumes, you will not succeed if you choose a scent similar to the one they love, as it will always feel to them, regardless of its quality, as a copy of the other one.
Now that you know that perfume is a very appreciated present, has communicative solid abilities, and knows the basics of its language, you only need to deal with the olfactory pyramid and be guided by inspiration. One last tip: the topic of perfume is used in all artistic areas; once you have chosen the perfect one for him or her, try making your gift more original by adding a quote from a poem or a work of art that may remind it. It will make it unforgettable!