Recommend a ladies perfume?

[Arkansas]

Mother's Day coming up, and I'd really like to get the wife something nice. Was thinking about a nice perfume.
She's 45, doesn't like Obsession. DOES like the wen stuff I got her from saint charles shave.
I can go to kohl's and smell stuff all day long and never decide.
That's all I've got.
Please help with a name brand parfum I can grab at a local dept store.

Thanks.

 

[john parker]

Chanel #5 edp is nice, and seems to be universally popular. Also is in the top five for women's perfume.

 

[Featherweight]

Whatever you get, make sure you like it. +1 on Chanel No. 5.
Fendi Donna is also great, but you can only get it online now. Good woody, slightly leathery, floral perfume that's actually one of those secret unisex deals.

 

[StylinLA]

Channel No. 5 is certainly a classic, but I advise caution. YMMV, but in my experience it's really hard to "surprise" a woman with a scent.

Every woman I've known has been super finicky about their perfumes. I tried buying for my ex-wife a couple of times and it met with little success. A big thank you. A kiss on the cheek. And then it sat unused in the bathroom. Buying her something I knew she liked was better received than a kiss on the cheek.

Plus, they can overthink the gift... "why did he pick this one? does a woman at work wear this? did an ex girlfriend wear this? what's wrong with the scent I like? yada yada yada...." Sorry to go on a bit, but my azz has been burned by trying to surprise women more than a few times trying to gift them with perfume. A woman I used to work with and then dated gave me a long lecture about it. It freaks a lot of them out.

Turn the tables and imagine your wife surprising you with JPG Le Male because an SA said men really like it.

Here's my suggestion...go to The Perfumed Court and check out some of sampling bundles. They sell packages that contain small samples of several different scents.

You could also go to your nearest cologne counter, find a woman SA, describe what you can about what you know about your wife's likes and dislikes and work the SA over for several samples-- full bottle to be purchased pending wife's testing and approval. The other benefit of getting several samples, you get to vote on them too when she tries them out. If you can get a fair number of different scents, it makes it a thoughtful and fun little project for both of you. (Getting back to my ex wife, the perfume she loved smelled like RAID to me. I'm just full of advice now. Live and learn).

If you find a nice woman SA, she will well understand your reluctance to spring an untried bottle on your wife.

I'm a fume head and women's frags are intimidating to me. I think very few men are adept at picking a scent that a woman will love. I'll never try it again.

 

[Desdinova]

any of the Hugo Boss women's fragrances are nice.

 

[bob.e]

most perfumes are like the "Veg" in as much as the scent picks the person and it is the hardest thing to pick a fragrence for a woman as they mix with her chemistry to create something that may not be what you smell from the bottle. I'd say jewelry is a better bet just my humble opinion

 

[azmark]

Vera Wang!

 

[BCatl]

Ysatis by Givenchy. A great perfume.

 

[N_Architect]

Fully agree with StylinLA.

One approach I've used in the past (with my sister, as I am not married) was to ask her what type of scent she liked: sweet, fruity, etc. although I understand this is too generic.

The Acqua di Parma ladies perfume (Iris) is a very nice choice. I would also avoid all mainstream options (too common, I always look for something nice, special and unusual if possible). However, people's opinions vary greatly and it is up to you to discover what she is wearing already, what she may like (but does not have) at the moment and make your gift choice accordingly.

 

[Chuck Norris]

Fully agree with StylinLA.

+1. Frags are so personal. The Perfumed Court samplers sound like a great and very unique gift. I would rather someone give me a sampler pack to play around with than get stuck with one thing i didn't care for.

 

[john parker]

Arkansas, StylinLA's suggestion about trying a group of samples from Perfumed Court is a great approach before shelling out for a full bottle of something your wife may not really like. May I also suggest going to the Basenotes site to get some ideas on different aromas that may appeal; perhaps get your wife involved in that search as well if that doesn't lose the suprise element you may be looking for. Make it an adventure! But, because even the Perfumed Court can become expensive (why did I get five samples when she only likes the one?), perhaps go with your wife to the department stores to sample fragrances for free there. My wife and I do that. When it comes to buying, there are a number of reputable on-line sites that sell for significantly less than your department store. Fragrance.net, Scentiments, Scented Monkey and BeautyEncounter come immediately to mind. If I may opine a bit, do not go to ebay - too dangerous when it comes to fragrances.

 

[The Nid Hog]

All these suggestions are great. I don't think that it'll prevent you from buying something for your wife--it just means that you have to do your research. If I'm thinking of getting my wife something, I steer her to the fragrance section at Saks or just watch her when we're out. I make a mental note of what she likes and then, when an occasion for a present comes up, I have a pretty good idea for what to get. So far, so good. The same has worked with my older daughter. However, I avoid getting my wife something that I think that she'd like (meaning that I'd like her to wear). Never works.

 

[southernmail]

Chanel #5 or Estee Lauder Beautiful.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Acqua di Parma Iris Noble or Acqua di Parma Magnolia Noble are fantastic. Very clean, fresh and elegant without being over powering. Can very easily be dressed up or down. It smells like a beautiful Italian woman!!

 

[Featherweight]

All these suggestions are great. I don't think that it'll prevent you from buying something for your wife--it just means that you have to do your research. If I'm thinking of getting my wife something, I steer her to the fragrance section at Saks or just watch her when we're out. I make a mental note of what she likes and then, when an occasion for a present comes up, I have a pretty good idea for what to get. So far, so good. The same has worked with my older daughter. However, I avoid getting my wife something that I think that she'd like (meaning that I'd like her to wear). Never works.

Great advice I think . . . the only thing is, if your wife likes a fragrance that you dislike, it could get ugly later!

 

[StylinLA]

All these suggestions are great. I don't think that it'll prevent you from buying something for your wife--it just means that you have to do your research. If I'm thinking of getting my wife something, I steer her to the fragrance section at Saks or just watch her when we're out. I make a mental note of what she likes and then, when an occasion for a present comes up, I have a pretty good idea for what to get. So far, so good. The same has worked with my older daughter. However, I avoid getting my wife something that I think that she'd like (meaning that I'd like her to wear). Never works.

Sounds like you were in recon or intelligence.

 

[Arkansas]

Great ideas from everyone.

I have the worst luck with fragrances.
My wife is willing to wear whatever I like, but I can't seem to make a good decision unless I buy a full bottle, and test it over time.
Same issue with men's cologne.

I went to Kohl's the other day, and I liked something called Coco Mademoiselle. Do any of you fellows like it?

 

[StylinLA]

I think it's a fairly new scent and anything from Chanel is usually pretty good. But screw our opinions - you ain't giving it to us. I presume it is Coco Madmoiselle from Chanel. Below is link to the Basenotes reviews of it. It seems pretty well thought of.

http://www.basenotes.net/ID10210637.html

 

[The Nid Hog]

Sounds like you were in recon or intelligence.

Nah--just lessons learned after much trial and error.

If you're in a Chanel buying mood, No. 19 is pretty nice. My wife has dropped a few hints about how much she likes it, so I'll probably nab a bottle one of these days and stash it away.

 

[john parker]

74% of the ladies reviewing it on Makeupalley said they would buy it again!