So, mates, here’s the scenario:

You’ve got a special woman you want to buy a gift for. She means the world to you, and you want to prove that to her by giving her the perfect gift; an object that symbolises and captures those feelings of gratitude, affection and love (all those mushy feelings we can’t bring ourselves to vocalise because we are manly-he-men).

What to get her?

It doesn’t matter who that special woman is–a mother, a daughter, or your partner–the point of the gift is to make them feel special and worthy. Save the home-made gifts. You’re not 12 any more. Spend some money. Also, try to stay away from anything too personal or hobby related. That is their business and they can handle their business. Stick with the classics: jewellery, perfume, flowers and sweets. They’ll do the job and make her feel like she matters to you.

Jewellery

For rings I’d go with a white gold sapphire ring but be careful about the alloy. Double, triple-check that the alloy is made with palladium and not nickel, especially if you get the ring from an antique shop (though this isn’t much of a worry any more because nickel is all but gone from white gold in the UK). I personally would stay away from rings for a lover (unless there’s talk of marriage), but for mothers and daughters they will work. Pendants or lockets are a great option for a girlfriend.  You can personalise these as well, which add a little more flare to the gift.

Perfume

Perfume is another classic gift and it will become associated with you every time she wears it. Perfume is a good gift for any special woman in your life, but of course buy brands that are age appropriate. As a quick list, I’d go with Chanel for ages forty and above, Hippy fizz for the younger women in their teens or early twenties and perhaps Thierry Mugler Angel Perfume for twenty-five to late thirties. Actually, I would venture that the angel perfume defies typical age ranges and can probably be worn by most women.

Sweets/Flowers

Consumables are always good, though by nature they don’t have much lasting value.You know what she likes. Buy them. One suggestion I can make that you may not have thought of  is to personalise whatever chocolates or sweets you get. Personalised sweets are a great way to make someone feel special. Besides the card you get her, you can also personalise jars, wrappers or bags of sweets at promotional shops.

A Mini Holiday

Perhaps in the same category as consumables, but a mini holiday can create a memory that can last a long time. You can pay for a spa break and some much needed pampering for her. Another option would be to plan a day out at her favourite restaurants and spending time doing her favourite activities. You can also take her down nostalgia lane, or plan a time of childish excitement. Buy the right accessories like skateboards, rollerblades, or even try those striker free motion scooters and get actively silly with it. The point is to create a holiday environment, a break from the regular, where it is only you and her and a good time.

You can’t go wrong with the classics, they’re classic for a reason. Anything more and I feel you’re doing too much. Anything more sends a message that you’re trying to accomplish in a gift, what you should be doing regularly in the relationship. Hopefully this list of options helps you in your quest for the perfect gift.

Did you know?

Engagement rings are worn on the fourth finger on your left hand because the ancient Greeks believed that finger contained the “vein of love”.

-Jeff H.

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