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Before I had children, I had a rather expensive hobby: I was a fragrance collector. I would spend hours reading perfume reviews, drawing up wish lists, and searching the internet for great buys on perfume.
Remember, this was BEFORE the kids came. It was during that blissful season of life when I had time and disposable income. Oh, the good old days! 🙂
At the height of my collecting, I owned 57 bottles of perfume. I would rotate them out weekly, and of course, could never even put a dent in them, year after year. I eventually got a better sense for my own personal scent preferences, and the best cologne for my body, and then began to part ways with much of my collection, which now stands at a super-slim 14 bottles. I have it down to the best of the best, and I simply can’t part with what remains.
When I tell people about my formerly fierce collection and the subsequent culling process I went through to get it down to 14, people assume that everything that remains must be the most expensive bottles. And sure, there are some pricey ones in the lot. There are also some big winners that can easily be found on the shelves of major retailers, like Walmart.
It has been at least 4 years since I have purchased any fragrance for myself or for Tim, and this year I wanted to get him something that smells great but is practical for our current “not-so-disposable” income situation. And while I’m happy to report that I still remember much of what I learned about fragrances and how to select truly magnificent scents, I’ve also learned through experience that a hefty price tag doesn’t make something smell great, and something value priced really can be exceptional.
I chose Curve for Men because it is a scent he hasn’t worn before, but it is one I think he is really going to enjoy wearing. It comes across as fresh and outdoorsy, but not overpowering, which makes it perfect for an office setting. I wouldn’t say that it smells “sexy,” and that makes it a safe choice for men on your shopping list like your younger brother or even your dad.
Curve for Men combines the scents of Douglas Fir, bergamot (similar to an orange), lavender and green leaf. It is crisp and fresh, but not overly bright. I am a big fan of it, and I think that this complex fragrance is bargain priced at Walmart right now. I picked up the gift set, which included a 2.5 oz cologne bottle, some hair/body wash, and a scented deodorant for just under $20. I have easily spent 3 times as much on cologne that didn’t smell half as good as Curve for Men.
Walmart and Walmart.com both have some shockingly awesome selections of celebrity department store quality gift sets available this holiday season. I found myself lingering over the Taylor Swift options. The bottles are so swoon-worthy, and the smells inside them are just fantastic! And if you happen to be shopping for a millineal, please note the free celebrity ringtone offer that is included on the package! I saw them on lots of different sets; they are perfect for the generation that changes their ringtones as often as they change shoes.
Curve for Men is just one of many great Christmas present ideas in the fragrance department at Walmart. You can see some of the other great #scentsavings options in this fabulous digital magazine (and it has a ton of other great ideas for the holidays…definitely worth a scan!).
You can also check out what some other bloggers have found while browsing the fragrance section at Walmart. They have discovered GREAT gifts and really creative ways to give them, too! Poke around at http://scentsavings.com and see what ideas it might help you come up with!
Is perfume or cologne on your shopping or wish list this year? Did you know that Walmart offered such quality fragrances at such reasonable prices?