01-06-2026

Fragrance Gift Guide: How To Choose Perfume for Someone

This fragrance gift guide will help you pick out the perfect perfume for your loved one and explain why a high-quality scent makes a great gift. 

Key takeaways:

  • Fragrance is a personal, thoughtful gift to give a loved one. 
  • A unisex fragrance like Snif Suganami, a try-before-you-buy program, or a fragrance discovery set is a great way to gift perfume. 

When you’re searching for gifts for a special someone, a signature fragrance can be the ideal choice. 

That said, choosing a fragrance for someone is no easy task. That’s why we’re breaking down the process for you in this guide. You’ll learn why fragrances make great gifts and how to go about choosing so that you get it just right every time.

What Makes Fragrance a Great Gift?

A fragrance is a great gift because it checks all the boxes; it’s personal, thoughtful, elegant, and luxurious in a way that it might be exactly what a loved one wants but never would have bought for themselves. 

Given that there are so many fragrances out there, going through the process of selecting a scent for a special someone shows them that you put time and consideration into picking a fragrance that matches them. 

What’s more, if you find one they love, it’s the kind of gift they’ll use every day, and every time they spritz on their new signature scent, they’ll think of you

How To Choose Perfume for Someone

If you’re sold on the idea of gifting a perfume but don’t know where to start, this section is for you. We’ll take a close look at four different tips and tricks you can use to make sure you find a fragrance that your friend or family member is sure to love. 

Know Their Personality

As you start your search, consider the personality of the person you’re gifting to. If they are more introverted and lowkey, then you’ll want to stick towards earthy, woody fragrances. For people who love to have eyes on them, a bolder scent might do the trick. 

A good place to start is with their wardrobe. Try to pay attention to the kinds of outfits they put together to see what their personal style is like. From there, look for a fragrance that matches the vibe of their style. 

Choose a Discovery or Trial Set

If you can’t narrow down your search to one fragrance, go for a discovery or trial set. Sets like the Snif Bestseller Sample Set give you the opportunity to give a selection of fan-favorite fragrances (in this case, the lineup is Sweet Ash, Tart Deco, Vanilla Vice, and Coco Shimmy).

By gifting a selection of scents, you can help the person you’re shopping for narrow down their fragrance preferences. This is an ideal route if you’re shopping for someone who is still relatively new to the world of perfumes and doesn’t know what their signature scent is yet. 

Go With Something Unisex

Another great rule of thumb to keep in mind is to go for something unisex when you’re choosing a perfume for someone else. At Snif, we believe that all fragrances are made for everyone. 

That said, there are several preconceived ideas around fragrances that give them gendered connotations. 

You can sidestep all of these complications by gifting fragrances like Suganami, Clean Getaway, and Me. These scents would all be understood as unisex and are suitable for anyone. 

Observe Their Space

You can get clues for what type of fragrance a person may like by closely observing their space. 

For example, check out whether or not they have candles or incense in their home. If they do, pay close attention to what scents they gravitate toward. Although the type of fragrance a person might want in their home might not line up exactly with what type of fragrance they would wear, it will help you narrow down the fragrance families they’re drawn to.

Along with their home fragrances, pay attention to any scented skin care or hair care that they use. While these products tend to have less complicated scent profiles than fine fragrances, they can serve as a useful starting point in your search. 

You can also pair the perfume with their favorite body lotion or hand cream so that they get the longest wear and strongest smell out of both products. 

Look for Try Before You Buy Programs

Finally, look for Try Before You Buy programs. These programs make shopping for fragrances online so much easier. 

With our Snif trial (available for most Snif scents), you can select your trial product, wear it for a full week, and then decide whether to keep it or return it. If you’re shopping for someone who is very particular about fragrance, this might be a good way to guarantee you’re getting them a perfume that they love. 

A Gift To Remember

Finding a signature fragrance for a loved one is a difficult task. However, when done right, a perfume from the Snif line can make your friend or family member feel loved and known, and give them a boost of confidence as they walk out the door, all at the same time. 

To make sure you’re giving a perfume that they’ll actually use, stick to more neutral scents and pay attention to the scented products that they already have and love. 

If you’re introducing someone to the world of perfume, consider a trial set or a Try Before You Buy program so that they can begin to determine what notes they’re drawn to and the kinds of perfumes they love. 

FAQs

What types of perfumes are good as a gift?

Generally speaking, neutral, subtle, and unisex scents make the best gifts because they are the most universally liked fragrances and are incredibly versatile. 

If you want to give a bold fragrance as a gift, consider including it in a discovery set or giving someone the option to try it before they fully commit. 

How can I choose a fragrance to give as a gift?

You can choose a fragrance to give as a gift by carefully considering the person you’re shopping for. Take note of the fragrances they use in their home, their personal style, and any other clues you can find to what kind of fragrances they’re drawn to. 

Sources:

What happens in your brain when you give a gift? | American Psychological Association

Dress is a Fundamental Component of Person Perception | NIH 

How Semantically Labeled Scent-Gender Associations Influence the Evaluations of Scent and Texture | NIH 

Beauty is in the nose of the beholder: Fragrance modulates attractiveness, confidence and femininity ratings and neural responses to faces of self and others | ScienceDirect

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