Gift Exchange FIL

scott&kim

So my FIL and his wife are organizing a gift exchange and evidently obvious that at least 50% of the exchangers really don't care to go through the motions.  We would rather just get together and visit and forego the $20 gift exchange but anyway.

I got my FIL in the rotation this year and he emails me his wish list which consists of "cologne or surprise me".

Perhaps I'm the odd one out but I am really particular about the cologne I wear and that being said it is department store quality (not incredibly high-end by any means but still well above the $20 threshold).  But now, I'm supposed to go out and selection a $20 cologne for my FIL to wear.

I just think the scent you wear around on yourself is a personal choice or one a wife would select not something you ask your DIL to pick out unless of course you give her the particular brands you like.

Where can I even get a $20 bottle of cologne that won't make a person break out?

Is this odd? 

saraelizabeth28

I would first ask your DH about what kind of cologne FIL wears.  If he doesn't know, maybe ask MIL?

If it is outside the cost range.... then go with something else.

To me it just sounds like he is trying to be easy and I think you might be reading too much into it.

mysticl

In my experience cologne/perfume are very impersonal gifts that people use as fall backs when they don't know what else to get someone.  It really kind of reads like you don't want to get him something and are trying to make an excuse not to.  He did say you could surprise him so if you are really that uncomfortable buy him something else. 

PnkBride

Go to Wal-mart and get him a gift set of some older stuff (Tommy, Curve, etc.).  They have plenty of it at reasonable prices this time of year.

Sloane99

I don't think it's odd at all to get your FIL cologne, it's not like it's underwear or anything. My Grandmother-in-law buys all the grandkids perfume/cologne every year for Christmas, I think it's a great gift and she has fun picking out new scents for all of us.

Belichick

Try Bath & Body Works.  Their men's colognes are all in the $20 range & should be decent.

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=4271807&cp=3311423&view=all

vjcjenn1

I've seen little sampler backs be like 19.00

Sue_sue

Old Spice!

casmgn

No, it's not odd.

It's not odd to be particular about the scent you wear, and it's not odd to not be particular about it. And as others have already mentioned, it should not be that difficult to find a decent quality cologne for $20.

justmarried2010

If he said surprise him, I'd go with that! I'm sure you can think of something a little more fun than cologne that he would enjoy. He may not be too particular about what cologne he wears... so its not odd that he suggested that, but.... its really easy to pick a bad one (esp under $20) and do you really want to smell that mistake each time you see him?

SueBear

First of all, you should act like an adult.  If you don't want to do the gift exchange, just say "sorry, FIL, I'm not interested in the gift exchange this year," instead of doing it and complaining!  (or have DH say "wife and I won't put our names in," or "I'll do it,  but wife is not participating.")

Kohl's is having some good sales on cologne.

DH and I are particular about our cologne -- but not all people are!

MyHeart=MyHome

You think cologne's a very personal thing.  He doesn't.  He's probably not very picky.  Buy him cologne.

breannek.ot

I guess I'm in trouble then. I bought my dad a bottle of stetson aftershave this year.  Again.  Because he wears it and usually needs it around Christmas time, so if I'm needing a "filler" gift for him I call up my mom and ask her what his Stetson supply looks like.  BTW: $17 @ Walmart.