Gift or insult?
By Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (15047)
Ireland
July 27, 2026 8:31am CST
A package arrived at my house today for no reason other than that I ordered it. It contained a small gift for my wife - French soaps as pictured above. How kind of me.
Now I know that she will be pleased, but would I dare offer any other lady on this or any other planet such a gift? Would you? How do you react, ladies, to a gift of soap, no matter how fancy it may be?
Are you one of those paranoid, overly sensitive people who will wonder if the giver is trying to drop you a hint, pointing out in a clumsy way that you smell and could do with a good scrub?
Oh the giving of gifts is fraught with much danger. Sometimes you just have to get on with it and accept that your intentions are likely to be questioned.
Anyway, my wife has nice new soap.
8 people like this
7 responses
@DaddyEvil (176332)
• United States
11h
Yes, I've given gifts like that before... Mom always accepted them in the spirit I was giving them in. I have given soaps to other ladies that would take the gift in good humor, too. I'd bet I could send soaps to @AmbiePam and several other ladies here without them raising an eyebrow at me... You just have to believe in your friends enough and you can get away with almost anything. 
3 people like this
@celticeagle (191823)
• Boise, Idaho
2h
I think earlier in my life I was overly sensitive. Now I over think things. I would probably inquire about it with a comical question. Comedy can soften otherwise hairy situations.
I hope your wife enjoys her soaps.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (78143)
• Philippines
2h
I don't quite remember receiving such a gift but if I ever did, I wouldn't think negatively of it. A gift is a gift and it's just it for me.
1 person likes this
@LooeyVille (59)
• United States
9h
That soap looks lovely. 50 years ago I had an aunt who apparently received a lot of perfume as Christmas gifts, and she questioned, "Do I smell bad or something?"
2 people like this
