How to Buy Perfume as a Gift

Courtesy of Tom FordAnne-Marie Guarnieri, Allure magazine

Happy holidays, my friends! Have you finished all your shopping yet? Yes? Then you can stop reading now. No? OK, let's talk. Look, I know sweet FA about this year's coolest gadgets, hottest games, glitziest trinkets, and what the kids are into, generally. But what I do know is fragrance, and should you wish to give it as a present and aren't really sure how to go about it, here are a few important things to remember before you head off to your local fragrance counter:

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If the recipient is a woman: Consider buying her a fragrance that matches her personal style. Look for fragrances by fashion designers whose clothes she admires.

If the recipient is a man: Does he love the scent you wear? Consider buying him the pour homme version. They're generally meant to compliment each other. Easy, peasy.

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If you want to buy a hostess gift: Pick a scent that represents a shared memory. Connect it with a vacation you've shared or a place you've wanted to visit together. And in the card, be sure to spell it out just to make sure they get the sentiment.

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If you want the most bang for your buck: A fragrance sampler! These are great for those who have commitment issues, like to try a bunch of things, are frequent travelers, or generally like to mix it up.

Click here for even more fragrance gift ideas!