Perfumes, colognes, and fragrances in general make perfect gifts. The hard part is selecting the right one, because unlike flowers - that vary with the season, shape, or scent - fragrances have an unique formula that stays the same for the life of the product.
You never want to buy a perfume as a gift on your first date - your first choice would be flowers. You really have to know a person before you present a perfume as a gift to them. There's a little spying to be done - through conversation, talking to a friend who knows, or any other subtle means - in order to pinpoint the favorite fragrance of the intended person - unless you know the person for a long time (spouse, old friends, close family, etc.)
Fragrances are part of fashion industry. The final touch to dressing up is applying a fragrance. You may not afford to buy a designer garment but you will for sure a designer perfume. With so many designers coming up with new lines every year is becoming more and more difficult to stick to one product. While you would try new scents to keep up with the times, your heart still aches for that discontinued fragrance you cannot find anymore.