'Personal Hygiene' Products Cited By IL Women As Worst Christmas Gifts

ILLINOIS — How about a big ol’ box of deodorized super plus tampons for Christmas? According to a recent survey by DatingAdvice, Illinois women cited personal hygiene products as the most epic fail Christmas gift received from a partner.

There are always going to be some gifts that get received with a polite “Oh honey, you shouldn’t have!” and then hidden away in the basement, never to be seen again, like an ugly vase, or a not-that-funny jokey coffee mug. However, there are some men who just can’t — or won’t — get it right, accidentally buying their partner a gift so awful that they risk entering relationship-ending territory.

DatingAdvice surveyed 3,000 respondents to find out which presents Illinois women have received that would cause them to call time on their relationship. Illinois men, if you want to avoid being single over Christmas or if you’ve been looking for a subtle way to break up, we suggest you read this list.

1. Personal Hygiene Products
Anything that suggests your lady stinks should be avoided, such as mouthwash, deodorant, or feminine hygiene products.

2. Cleaning Supplies or a Vacuum Cleaner

No woman wants to be made to feel as if she’s no more than a mere maid, whose only job it is to clean up around her man or that her housekeeping sucks.

3. A Diet Book or Weight Loss Program Membership

This gift is particularly thoughtless given that Christmas is one of the times of year that people usually eat the most. No one wants to receive a gift that makes them think their partner believes they’ve turned into a tubby butterball, especially after eating one.

4. Last-Minute "Panic Gifts" from Drugstores

Nothing says ‘I literally gave this no thought’ like a generic ‘present’ from Walgreens or CVS. From a random perfume gift set to a cheap, own-brand lipstick, these should be avoided at all costs.

5. Self-Help Books

Unrequested self-help books could be misconstrued that you think something is seriously wrong with your lady love. Yes, many men like to think that they can offer a practical solution to any problem, but this is not the way to do it. Unless your partner is genuinely seeking help for a specific issue — from giving up smoking to getting over the death of a pet — AVOID this at all costs.

6. A Cookbook For Beginners

Want to subtly, or perhaps not so-subtly, tell someone that you don’t like their cooking? Then consider giving them a cookbook, especially one designed for beginners, and particularly if they didn’t put this on their wish list.

7. A Book On Improving Social Skills

There is no quicker way to get on someone’s bad side than by gifting a book that could potentially be seen as a criticism of their personality or decision-making.

8. Fitness Equipment Or Gym Membership

Many of us have weight loss goals set for our New Year’s resolution or plan on taking out a gym membership come 2025. While it may seem like a good idea to cover the cost of this for someone you love, it could also be seen as a big insult. To that end, it's best to steer clear of any fitness related gifts, such as at home gym equipment, gym clothes, or health supplements unless someone specifically requests these.

According to DatingAdvice, the survey also had some other interesting findings; the main thing that partners said was the hardest part about buying gifts for women was: ‘She already has everything’ (28%) — patently not true, just ask her for ideas if you’re stuck. Another 23% lamely said, ‘I have no idea what she likes’ — er, hello, you’re dating her — if you don’t know by now, you never will. Clearly, you’re just not paying attention to her. Another 17% said both ‘She drops hints I can never pick up on’ and ‘She’s impossible to shop for,’ while some men (16%) claimed ‘She has expensive taste.’

The most last-minute gift women have ever received was a gift card with the amount written in pen (42%). Nearly a quarter (22%) said they received a supposedly ‘thoughtful’ IOU, which essentially just says the man couldn’t be bothered. Even worse, 19% gave something they got at the gas station, and most pathetic of all, 17% got a random item from their own closet.

Women can be very forgiving, however, and over a third (38%) said they would put the situation behind them if they got an amazing, surprise, follow-up gift (unlikely, if DatingAdvice’s survey is anything to go by). Tying at 31% was a heartfelt apology (okay, plenty of groveling) and a romantic dinner or similarly sweet gesture.

It’s not like women expect something expensive and unattainable, either; if their partner had to buy a gift on a budget, 28% said they would appreciate something homemade and thoughtful, while 25% would be over the moon with a sincere love letter. Another 20% would love a cozy blanket or candles for relaxing, 15% would be very happy with a subscription for a small indulgence, like coffee or chocolates, and 13% would just love a simple but meaningful piece of jewelry.

Finally, if their partner could have one gift-free Christmas, what they would like to do instead would be spending the entire day together with no distractions (31%), followed by planning a romantic getaway (28%) or cooking an amazing holiday meal (26%). Another 15% said they would want him to write them a love letter or heartfelt card.

Source: DatingAdvice