Now Women vs Au Soleil: Which Rave Perfume Is Better for Gifting in Penang?

If you're hunting for a perfume gift in Penang and you've decided on Rave, you've probably landed on two options: Now Women and Au Soleil. Both are 100ml EDPs from the same brand, but they carry completely different moods. One is sweet and playful, the other is bright and easy-going. Here's how to figure out which one belongs under that wrapping paper.

Now Women: the sweet, fruity one for her

Now Women is a women's EDP built around a Fruity, White Floral and Gourmand profile. It opens juicy, with red fruits and orange at the top. The heart softens things up with marshmallow, jasmine and lily-of-the-valley, and the base settles into vanilla, moss and musk.

So if the person you're buying for loves sweet, feminine scents with a bit of fruit in them, this one ticks that box. It's also pretty flexible in terms of when it can be worn. Its occasions list covers casual, formal, everyday and special occasions, which makes it a nice gift for someone who wants one bottle that can move between work, weekends and dinners out without feeling out of place.

Au Soleil: the bright one for anyone

Au Soleil is a unisex EDP with a Floral Fruity profile. It opens with citrus, fresh herbs and light fruity touches, moves into soft florals and smooth woods, and finishes on musk, warm woods and soft sweetness. The store describes it as clean and uplifting, and its scent profile is rooted in sunny, warm days, which fits Penang weather just fine.

Because it's unisex, this is the bottle you reach for when you're not sure what the person likes, or when you're buying for someone whose taste you don't know well. Its occasions list is very practical too: daily wear, office, casual and gym. If your gift recipient is someone who just wants something easy to throw on before heading out the door, Au Soleil fits that life.

So which one do you gift?

It honestly comes down to who's receiving it.

• Gift it to a woman who likes sweet scents: Now Women. The marshmallow, vanilla and red fruits make it the warmer, more playful pick of the two.
• Buying for anyone else, or you're not sure of their taste: Au Soleil. Unisex, fresh-leaning and built around daily, office and casual wear, so it's hard to go wrong.
• Gifting someone who's active or always out and about: Au Soleil again, since gym and daily wear are right there on its occasions list.
• Gifting for a special occasion or something a bit dressier: Now Women, which covers formal and special occasions in its list.

One more thing worth thinking about: both bottles are 100ml, so neither one is a travel-size afterthought. Whoever opens either of these is getting a proper full bottle.

My take? If the gift is clearly for a woman and you know she enjoys sweet, fruity florals, Now Women is the more personal choice. If you're standing in the shop second-guessing yourself, Au Soleil is the safer bet because it works for almost anyone and slots easily into everyday life in Penang's heat. Either way, you're gifting a proper 100ml EDP from Rave, so you're on solid ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which one is the safer gift if I don't know the person's taste?

Au Soleil. It's unisex, and its occasions list covers daily wear, office, casual and gym, so it suits almost anyone. Now Women is made for women.

Are both of these full-size bottles?

Yes, both Now Women and Au Soleil are 100ml Eau de Parfum bottles from Rave.

Which one suits someone who works in an office?

Au Soleil lists office and daily wear among its occasions. Now Women leans more towards casual, formal, everyday and special occasions instead.