The expert's guide to choosing a fragrance for the person you love
Andriana Tsankova at Valley of Roses perfumery. Picture: Larry Cummins
Perfume isn’t just a product. It’s a feeling, a memory, and one of the most personal gifts you can give. When chosen well, that little bottle can become a part of someone’s everyday — or their most special moments.
But choosing that perfect fragrance can be challenging, especially if you want to gift the recipient something new and not a scent they already own.
I spoke to Andriana Tsankova, founder of Valley of Roses, a perfume workshop in Kilkenny, to get her expert advice on how to choose the right fragrance for that special person.
Andriana grew up in Bulgaria, near the famous Valley of Roses, a region just south of the Balkan Mountains, known worldwide for its rose oil production.
“I’ve always loved perfumes, and growing up near the Valley of Roses, I was surrounded by natural perfumes since I was a child,” she says.
“The rose oils would be extracted and exported to France to be used by the biggest perfumers. I thought it was a great thing to be able to create something beautiful for every person.”
When someone comes into the store, the first thing Andriana asks them to think about is the kind of person they are purchasing for.
Are they bold and magnetic, soft and elegant, or calm and grounded?
A confident personality suits richer notes like amber, leather, or spice, while a gentle soul will love something creamy, floral, or powdery.
“Perfume is personality in liquid form,” Andriana says.
When you match the scent to the person’s energy, the gift will feel personal and thoughtful, she says.
Forget marketing words like “Eau de Something Fancy” because perfume is emotional.
It’s about how someone wants to feel, confident, cosy, playful, free.
A zesty citrus scent is like sunshine in a bottle, bright and uplifting, while a rose vanilla blend wraps you in calm comfort and softness.
Valley of Roses is well-known for offering fragrances inspired by designer brands at a fraction of the cost, but when customers visit the store, Andriana encourages them to forget brand names and tell her how they want to feel.
People don’t actually fall in love with perfume notes, she insists, they fall in love with how it makes them feel.
She never starts by asking what perfume someone wears; she asks what mood they love.
Do they want something that gives them confidence, or something that feels soft and comforting?
If they want to stand out, she’ll hand them #543 inspired by Baccarat Rouge, bold, warm, and magnetic.
If they want something elegant and feminine, #582 inspired by Prada Paradoxe hits the mark.
You don’t need a big bottle to make an impression; you need good concentration.
A smaller, well-crafted eau de parfum or perfume extract with a high concentration of oils will last longer and project better than a large bottle of a diluted designer spray.
At Valley of Roses, fragrances are vegan, cruelty-free, and rich in perfume oils, designed to last up to 12 hours on the skin.
One trend Andriana has noticed this Christmas is the rise of unisex fragrances.
Some of their bestsellers this year are completely unisex, rich ambers, woods, and musks that adapt beautifully to any skin.
Elegant, modern, and versatile, they make the ideal gift when you’re unsure of someone’s exact taste.
Scents like #272 Inspired by Sauvage and #429 Inspired by Vanilla Antique are perfect examples – timeless, wearable, and deeply memorable.
Unisex scents work especially well for gifting because they feel confident but not overpowering.
They don’t try to fit into a box — they blend naturally with the person wearing them, making the fragrance feel uniquely theirs.
The most magical part of choosing a perfume gift is understanding that every perfume tells a story. Perfume becomes powerful when it connects to a memory or a moment. Let the recipient know why you chose this scent for them.
“This reminded me of your energy” or “This scent feels like your weekend mood.”
At Valley of Roses, they often help customers craft small gift notes that make their present unforgettable.
When you give perfume, you’re not just giving a bottle, you’re giving a feeling: comfort, strength, joy, or mystery.
The best gifts are the ones that make someone feel seen, and perfume does that better than anything else.
The perfect fragrance isn’t about trends, it’s about identity.
Perfume should never wear you, you should wear it.
When you find the one that feels like your second skin, that’s when it becomes your power scent.
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