Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist.
General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.
The best fragrance gift starts with the scents the person already loves, matches how strong they like it, and suits the climate they live in. Get those three things right and you’re most of the way there, even if you’ve never bought perfume for anyone before.
Our beauty advisors help Pacific Fair shoppers choose fragrance gifts every day, and this guide shares the questions they ask at the counter. When you’re ready to browse, see our beauty and fragrance range or come and smell a few in store.
Start with what they already wear
The single most useful clue is a fragrance the person already owns, or one they’ve complimented on someone else. Take a photo of the bottle on their dresser, or note the scent of their favourite body wash or candle. Bring it in and our advisors can suggest similar styles.
If you have no clues at all, think about the person:
- Do they love the beach, a morning swim and linen shirts? Fresh or aquatic scents often suit.
- Do they fill the house with flowers? Try a floral.
- Do they bake, love coffee or have a sweet tooth? A gourmand (think vanilla or caramel notes) may appeal.
- Do they dress up for evenings out? Warm amber or woody scents tend to feel richer.
Fragrance families explained
Most fragrances fit into a few broad families. You don’t need the jargon, but it helps when you’re describing what you want.
- Fresh and citrus: bright, zesty and clean. Easy to wear during the day.
- Aquatic and green: sea-breeze, cut-grass or leafy notes. Light and relaxed.
- Floral: from a single flower to a full bouquet. The biggest and most varied family.
- Fruity: juicy, playful notes like berries or stone fruit, often mixed with florals.
- Gourmand: sweet, edible-smelling notes such as vanilla, caramel or chocolate.
- Amber (sometimes called oriental): warm, spicy and resinous. Often chosen for evenings.
- Woody: sandalwood, cedar and earthy notes. Many unisex fragrances sit here.
A quick “if they like this, try that” guide
| If they like… | Try this type of fragrance |
|---|---|
| Fresh laundry, clean cotton, crisp white shirts | A soft musk or fresh, clean scent |
| Beach days, sea spray, salty air | An aquatic or fresh citrus scent |
| Fresh flowers and gardens | A floral or light fruity-floral |
| Desserts, coffee, vanilla candles | A gourmand |
| Cosy evenings, spice and candlelight | An amber or spicy fragrance |
| Bushwalks, timber, earthy smells | A woody or green scent |
| Minimal, understated style | A light, skin-close scent or a lighter concentration |
Eau de toilette or eau de parfum: what’s the difference?
The concentration tells you roughly how intense a fragrance is and how long it may last.
- Eau de parfum has a higher concentration of fragrance oils. It usually lasts longer and feels richer.
- Eau de toilette is lighter. It often feels fresher and suits daytime or people who don’t like a strong scent.
- Body mists and colognes are lighter again, which makes them nice for a first fragrance or for teenagers.
The same fragrance can smell slightly different in each concentration, so if you know their favourite, stick with the version they already wear.
How to test a fragrance properly
Paper strip first, then skin
Testing strips are handy for narrowing down a shortlist without overloading your nose. Once you have two or three favourites, try the top choice on skin, such as the inside of your wrist. A fragrance develops as it settles. The bright opening notes fade and the heart and base notes come through. Skin chemistry also changes how a scent smells, so what works on a strip may smell different on a person.
Give it time
Walk around the centre, grab a coffee, then smell your wrist again. That settled scent is what the person will live with, so it’s the best guide. Don’t rub your wrists together, and try no more than a few scents on skin at once.
How Gold Coast heat and humidity change fragrance
Our climate plays a big part in how a fragrance behaves. Heat helps fragrance lift off the skin, so a scent can feel stronger in the first hour on a warm day. In humid weather, heavy, sweet scents can feel cloying. For someone who lives here year-round, or a visitor heading to the theme parks in summer, lighter fresh, citrus or aquatic styles are often more comfortable by day. Save richer amber and gourmand scents for air-conditioned evenings or cooler months.
A tip from our advisors: fragrance lasts longer on moisturised skin, and it’s best stored away from heat and sunlight. So a hot car or a sunny bathroom windowsill isn’t ideal.
Gift ideas for every budget
You don’t need to spend big to give something thoughtful. Our advisors can suggest options to suit your budget:
- Small treats: travel sprays, rollerballs, body mists and scented body lotions. Great for stocking stuffers, Kris Kringle and teachers.
- Mid-range: smaller bottles of eau de toilette or eau de parfum, or a scented bath and body set.
- Something special: a full-size eau de parfum or a luxury gift set.
Gift sets
Gift sets often pair a fragrance with a matching body lotion, shower gel or travel spray, and they come ready to wrap. They’re especially popular in the lead-up to Christmas, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. What’s available changes with the season, so ask us what’s in store.
Still unsure? Try a gift card
If you really can’t decide, ask us about gift cards, so they can choose for themselves with help from our advisors.
A note on fragrance sensitivity and allergy
Some people are sensitive to fragrance. Perfumes, on their own or added to cosmetics, moisturisers and sunscreens, can cause allergic contact dermatitis in some people. This shows up as a red, itchy rash, sometimes a day or so after contact. Strong scents and perfumes can also be a trigger for some people with asthma.
If the person has sensitive skin, eczema, asthma or a known fragrance allergy, consider a fragrance-free pampering gift instead. Our advisors can also suggest fragrance-free options from our skincare range. If a rash is widespread, painful, getting worse or comes with feeling unwell or a fever, see a GP.
Wrapping it up
When you’re ready, pop in and our beauty advisors will help you shortlist, test and choose.
Sources
This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.
Talk to our pharmacists at Pacific Fair
Pop in, no appointment needed. We’re on the ground floor of Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach, open 7 days and until 9pm on Thursdays.