Perfume Gift Set Buying Guide: What to Check Inside the Box

What gift sets usually contain

Sets are usually a main fragrance plus extras. Common arrangements are listed below; the listing should say exactly what is in the box and the size of each item.

• A full-size bottle with a travel spray.
• A bottle with matching body lotion, shower gel or deodorant.
• Several small bottles of different fragrances from one brand, sometimes called a discovery or miniature set.
• A “his and hers” pair of two fragrances.
• A bottle in a presentation box with a bag or case.

Compare the set with the bottle alone

Check the bottle size in millilitres and what else is in the set. Some sets use a smaller bottle than the standard retail size, and some contain items made only for the set. If you want to compare a set with a single bottle, compare the fragrance size and strength type first, and then decide whether the extras are things you want.

Can I gift perfume to a partner or friend?

Yes, and a gift set can lower the risk of choosing one scent that does not suit them. Fragrance is personal, though, so a set with a smaller bottle or several small bottles suits a recipient whose taste you are unsure about. Look at the return terms in case they prefer a different scent, and be aware that some sellers do not accept returns on opened fragrance.

Which perfume combination works best?

There is no best combination. A set of several small bottles lets someone try a few scents; a bottle with a body product gives them a matching scent for different uses. Choose from what the recipient is likely to wear and use, and check what each item is described as being.

Strength, notes and fit with the recipient

The strength names, eau de toilette, eau de parfum and parfum, run roughly from lighter to stronger, but they are a trade convention and brands differ, so compare the stated type for the exact product. Retailers describe a fragrance with top, heart and base notes and a scent family; these are the brand’s descriptions, not measurements. If you know what the recipient already wears, a similar scent family is a reasonable starting point.

Ingredients and sensitivities

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that fragrance ingredients may be listed simply as “fragrance” on a cosmetic label and that some fragrance components can cause allergies or sensitivities in some people. ^[1][2] If the recipient is known to react to fragrance, check the ingredient list of each item in the set and consider a fragrance-free gift instead. ^[2]

A short checklist before you buy

• The listing states what is in the set and the size of each item.
• The strength type is stated for the fragrance.
• You have checked the return terms, including for opened items.
• The set is for the right occasion: a presentation box suits a gift, plain packaging may not.
• You know whether the contents are made only for the set.

Where to look next

Browse the matching category: perfume gift sets.

• Eau de parfum vs eau de toilette
• How to choose a women’s perfume
• How to choose a men’s cologne