DEAR HARRIETTE: My birthday just passed, and my husband got me a “pricey” perfume that I wanted. I use quotations because upon opening it, I saw that it was a knockoff brand. I don’t think he knows this perfume is not the one I wanted at all because the outside packaging was nearly identical. Should I tell him or just throw the fake perfume out, hoping he won’t notice? -- Fake Gift, Real Sentiment, Detroit
DEAR FAKE GIFT, REAL SENTIMENT: Happy belated birthday! Thank goodness you asked before acting! In this case, it really is the thought that counts. Your husband went out of his way to buy you want you wanted. He may have gone to a place where many fragrances are sold -- at a discount. It is unlikely that he knew he was buying a phony fragrance. I suggest that you suck it up and just keep the fragrance without pointing out the mistake.
If, however, he pays attention to see if you use the fragrance -- and you don’t like its aroma -- you will have to come clean and let him know how much you appreciate his intention, but he got duped. If he buys you fragrance again and it’s a knockoff, you definitely have to tell him.