Question:
It shows more thought than a gift card.

Answer:
My girlfriend's gotten me two of them. One blind, one that she became ravenously attached to upon a couple quick sniffs. Hugo Soul was blind, and though it's not really my thing -- The bottle's interesting enough to spruce up the whole visual aesthetic of the collection, and it's actually grown on me enough that I'll wear it occasionally.
Dolce & Gabbanna PH apparently grabbed her by the nostrils and wouldn't let go. I think it's "Okay", personally. I like it, and it has monster longevity on me, but I wouldn't place it on the top of my 'favorite smells' list. Scent is, in my experience, -very- popular with women.
In conclusion; It's all good. If she gets something that doesn't work for you, wear it occasionally for her then go get whatever the *#$& you want for other times.

Answer:
My guess is that girls try to pick something "safe" for their boyfriends, therefore they select the "bland" colognes. A much more thoughtful approach would be a trip to the mall (or whatever outlet of choice) for the two of you, so you can sniff around TOGETHER. Then at the end of the day, when you've picked something up that you like, and she likes the smell of it on you, she can foot the bill as a gift.
ClassyGuy, have you ever told your girlfriend that you don't like the colognes she selects for you? If you haven't said anything, she'll just keep giving you the bland ones not knowing how you really feel. Women aren't mind-readers, ya know . Let her know how you feel about her gifts to you. She'll appreciate your honesty.

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I like CJ's idea, but it's hard to tell someone, "Take me to the mall and buy me a cologne!" I guess it's more advice for you and not her.
I think that most Basenoters would know how to pick out a bottle or two, but scent still is a very personal thing.
I got a bottle of Parfumerie Generale for my friend Caitlin, and she said the funniest thing. 10 minutes after she put it on, she yells "It smells different now!" I calmly said: "That's part of the dry down my dear, the dry down." It was a bottle I wanted myself, but her mom (Who is practically like a mother to me) smelled it and said "You're sharing missy." It was an instant hit. I'm trying to think of something to get her mom for her B-Day too...
- Rich

Answer:
Originally Posted by dimples Since you're a bit of a fragrance connoiseur and if she doesn't get it, then why bother. It's obvious that she hasn't put much thought into the gift. It's time to get a new girlfriend! *lol* That's good advice!
No, seriously, I didn't mean to talk badly about women. And I ALWAYS wear her presents, seriously, I'm 120% greatful for the time, money and thoughts she's putting into it.
Maybe I should have put it differently. Women seem to have a different taste in frags than men when it comes to a man's cologne. She would rather I wear fresh and sweet plus ultra trendy. Which is okay, absolutely.
But, I find it interesting that whenever I put on something with more character that she likes that even more, even though she would never have thought about a scent like that...

Answer:
There are lots of possible reasons:
- She genuinely likes ultra sweet/fresh scents. (D'oh.)
- She liked the topnotes.
- She thinks all men's scents should smell like those ones because they're the most familiar to her.
- She had no idea what you like, so she got something "safe".
- She had no idea what you like, so she got whatever the SA told her was popular.
- She sees perfume as a fashion accessory and intends you to wear something "new" and "fashionable".
- She secretly loathes you and got you something you hate just to mock and annoy you.
- She was hit in the head with a brick earlier in the day.

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Good job Xplo!

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My wife has bought me cologne before, but it's never been of the sweet variety. She prefers woodsy types and absolutely loves the smell of Blenheim Bouquet.

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lol..I often wondered sometimes that when I'm with the wife and we're smelling colognes and I get a wide eyed reaction to 2 of them and she's like, "Yea,, it's alright I guess," I'm thinking to mysef, " She's pickin out the "safe" stuff for me!" Another words..she doesn't want a GREAT "Pheremonal" type cologne so I could wear it all around or something. lmao. Who knows?
I do believe its a different thing when your married, dating, and or single. When your wife picks out a cologne SHE likes it may be what I mentioned above OR....it may be something that she REALLY likes for you to wear just for her ya know?
When your single...it's no holds barrred! You wear what gets you the MOST compliments. If you have a girlffirend I think its the same way...you should try to get your own cologne...tell her what you like...like 5 of them and those 5 can be a XMas present and B-day presents. But you and you alone should pick out your favorites and SHE can pick out 1 or 2 of what SHE wants you to wear.
A great example is my situation. My wife LOVES... HUGO..by Hugo Boss..now I think it's strong as hell and heavy! I wear it once in a while and I'd rather prefer Selection from Boss which is new. So I take the wife to the Cologne stores w/ me and let her smell the NEW lines that are out..after Selection I'm done w/ Boss unless something extravagant comes out from them.
I'll wear 2 at the most of a cologne I'm not fond of BUT she loves and the rest of the colognes I get a little feed off of her but in the end I make that top 10 list and there my gift list that I want.
Its such an individual taste type of thing that you would really have to take a massive poll of people and find out what the top 5 are.

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I agree: it's really hard to pick fragrance for someone unless you know for sure what they like, but if someone has spent the time and money trying to pick for you, then you should appreciate that they care enough about you to do that.
Originally Posted by thisbekevinn I think it's so sweet to someone to give a fragrance to you no matter what it is! It shows they took the time to sniff around and consider what you like and spend that much money. It's so sweet no matter the fragrance, it makes me feel loved and I always put that fragrance on when I know I'm gonna be around them
You should just feel special, atleast you didn't get a ugly tie or something!