Thinking About Giving a Fragrance as a Gift For the Holidays? Read This First

At the end of the day, every gift is somewhat of a risk, so you can either choose a widely beloved cult favorite (Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium, $124, is a safe bet) or look at what they already wear and stick within the same scent family. "Think about the category of fragrance you know they like — is it floral, citrus, gourmand? — and explore from there," said Levy.

And maybe keep the receipt. . . you know, just in case.