Cologne As A Gift: A Risky Undertaking

While cologne can be a great gift for some, it can be a risky choice. Fragrances are highly personal, and what smells amazing to one person might be horrid to another. Gifting cologne can be seen as an intimate gesture, and it may send the wrong message if you're not careful. There's also the risk that the recipient will feel obliged to wear it to please you, even if they dislike it. In some cultures, it's considered bad luck to gift cologne or perfume without receiving a coin in return. So, if you're thinking of buying cologne as a gift, it might be wise to consider the context, your relationship with the recipient, and their personal preferences.

You don't know their tastes

Even if you know the person you are buying for reasonably well, you may not know their tastes when it comes to cologne. People's fragrance tastes vary widely, and it is just as likely that you will give them a scent they hate as one they love.

If you are both into cologne and have shared your favourite scents with each other, then great! But for most people, it is a bit of a minefield. If you don't know someone well enough to be sure they won't be offended, put off, or unsettled by a gift of cologne, then you don't know them well enough to gift them cologne.

You can try to mitigate the risk by studying the person's existing fragrance collection to see what they already like. But this isn't a foolproof strategy. They may be looking to branch out and don't like what they currently wear. They may have a particular scent they like for their home but wouldn't want to wear it themselves.

If you are going to take the risk, it is a good idea to be prepared for the possibility that they won't like it. Make sure they know that you won't be offended if they want to return or exchange it for something else.

The Perils of Getting it Wrong

If the recipient doesn't like the cologne you've given them, they are faced with the problem of what to do with it. It is too expensive to just give away, and regifting it is tricky, especially if the original receiver didn't like it. It will take up space, and the recipient will feel guilty about not using it. They may feel obliged to wear it when they see you, which is a big commitment, especially if they don't like it.

Allergies and Sensitivities

You never know if someone will have an allergic reaction to a cologne, and it is an uncomfortable risk to take. Many people dislike fragrance and find it headache-inducing or distracting. They might not want to wear it, but they also might not want to offend you by not using your gift.

They Might Just Not Want Any

Plenty of people don't wear cologne most days, and if they haven't worn it in the time you've known them, they probably won't start now just because of your gift. According to one source, in 2020, only 27% of women and 21% of men used perfumes and colognes several times per week.

The Bottom Line

Giving cologne as a gift can be done, but it requires careful thought and consideration. If you don't know the person's tastes, it is probably best to avoid it.

It's hard to get rid of

Why not to get cologne as a gift: It's hard to get rid of

Even if you know the person you're giving cologne to is a fragrance enthusiast, there's still a high chance that they won't like the scent you choose. If they don't, they're faced with the challenge of what to do with it.

Donating

It feels wrong to drop off an expensive bottle of cologne at a charity shop.

Regifting

Regifting the cologne to someone else is risky. The new receiver might not like the scent either, and the fact that the cologne was initially regifted might be considered offensive.

Selling or swapping

Selling the cologne online is a hassle. It requires setting up an account, taking pictures, writing descriptions, and waiting for an offer. Swapping the cologne requires being established in the fragrance community.

Keeping it

Letting the unwanted cologne sit on a shelf, taking up space, feels like a waste.

The bottom line

The prospect of receiving fragrance as a gift is nerve-wracking, even for fragrance enthusiasts. If you're going to buy cologne as a gift, it's best to know the receiver's tastes very well.

Takes up precious space

Gifting cologne can be a tricky business. While it may seem like a perfect, quintessential luxury gift, it can be a bad idea for several reasons. One of the main reasons is that it takes up precious space. Unlike a necklace or a sweater, a bottle of cologne is not flat, small, or easy to fold up and put away. It demands room on a vanity or in a bathroom cabinet, and its fragile nature means it needs to be handled and stored with care.

If the recipient isn't a huge cologne enthusiast with their own dedicated storage space, finding a place to put the bottle can be annoying, especially if it's not a scent they particularly like or reach for often. It will likely end up taking up valuable space on top of their chest of drawers, becoming a constant reminder of an unwanted gift.

Even if the cologne is something they like, finding a place to store it can be challenging. A bottle of cologne is not something that can be easily tucked away in a drawer or hidden at the back of a closet. It needs to be stored somewhere accessible, taking up precious space in their home.

Additionally, if the recipient already has a favourite cologne, your gift may end up being relegated to the back of a cabinet, taking up space that could be used for something else. It's important to consider the recipient's needs and preferences before gifting them something that may end up being more of a burden than a pleasure.

Furthermore, if the recipient doesn't like the cologne, they are faced with the challenge of what to do with it. They might feel guilty about throwing it away, and regifting it comes with its own set of challenges and potential pitfalls. Selling or swapping it online can be a hassle, and the thought of the bottle taking up space in their home until they find a buyer or trader can be frustrating.

So, while cologne may seem like a luxurious and convenient gift, it's important to consider the potential space issues it may cause for the recipient. It's always better to choose a gift that aligns with their interests and won't end up becoming a source of clutter and frustration.

Pretending to like it is exhausting

Why Pretending to Like a Gift of Cologne Is Exhausting

Pretending to like a gift is always challenging, but this is especially true when it comes to fragrance. Fragrance is deeply personal, and it can be challenging to find a scent that someone else will enjoy. It's a risky business, and the likelihood of giving someone a scent they hate is just as high as that of giving them one they love.

When you receive a gift of cologne, you may feel pressured to try it on immediately, especially if the giver is eager for you to do so. This can be awkward and uncomfortable if you don't like the scent. You may feel obligated to wear the cologne in front of the giver, even if you don't like it, to show your appreciation for the gift. This can be a challenging situation, as you don't want to hurt the giver's feelings, but you also don't want to be disingenuous.

Additionally, you may feel unsure about what to do with the cologne if you don't like it. You might not want to regift it, as it was a personal gift, and you may not want to throw it away or return it. This can leave you feeling stuck with a gift you don't want and the exhausting task of pretending to like it.

The social expectations around receiving a gift of cologne can be complex and vary depending on the relationship with the giver. For example, you might feel more obligated to wear the cologne if it's from a close friend or family member. You might also feel the need to continue wearing it each time you see the giver, so they know you appreciate the gift. This can be a challenging situation, as you want to maintain your authenticity while also being grateful for the gift.

Furthermore, fragrance is often seen as a luxury item, and the price tag can add to the pressure of pretending to like it. You might feel guilty or ungrateful if you don't appreciate the gift, especially if it was expensive. The pressure to reciprocate with an equally thoughtful or expensive gift in the future can also be exhausting.

To avoid this exhausting situation, it's essential to be thoughtful and considerate when giving gifts, especially when it comes to something as personal as fragrance. While it's okay to take a risk and gift cologne if you know the person well and their fragrance preferences, it might be better to opt for a different gift if you're unsure. This way, you can avoid putting the recipient in the awkward position of pretending to like something they don't, and they won't have to go through the hassle of trying to get rid of an unwanted gift.

Allergies and sensitivities exist

Even if the recipient doesn't have any allergies or sensitivities, perhaps their mother, boyfriend, or cat can't stand a certain scent. Or maybe they feel deeply uncomfortable with the brand that produces the perfume for social or political reasons. For instance, some people are uncomfortable with the Chanel brand because of Coco Chanel's Nazi past.

Additionally, there might be other considerations at play that you've never thought of. For example, the receiver may feel strongly about the company's carbon emissions or political donations.

It's essential to be mindful of these possibilities and choose a gift that won't trigger any allergies, sensitivities, or discomfort for the recipient.

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