How it works: the Aveda free b-day gift offer.

A while ago, I posted an offer for a free birthday club at Aveda - you sign up, and they send you a postcard near your b-day good for a free Pure-fume customized product worth up to $25. Mine dutifully arrived a week or so ago, and I cashed it in this weekend. In case you're curious, I thought I'd tell you how it went.

I went to the Aveda store at U-Village, our schmancy open-air mall, and as soon as we walked in, a carefully groomed young man greeted us with cups of fancy licorice tea. I showed him my postcard and asked how it worked, and he took me over to a little set-up in the corner, where I was supposed to sit quietly in a chair and go through 12 different essential oil fragrances, breathing deeply whenever he instructed me to do so and saying "Yes" or "No" to each one. The "Yeses" went into a finalist round, and from there I narrowed it down until I had one I liked. I ended up with #12, a mint-eucalyptus-orange scent that coincidentally just so happened to be his favorite, too. What are the odds?

They ask you what you would use most (body wash, lotion, or body mist) and I chose body wash, so he dripped some into a bottle of unscented wash and shook it up, and presented it to me. I stuck around for a little bit to be polite, and he did keep showing me things and telling me about their products, but not in an excessively pushy way - but I'm not the kind of person who can be shamed into buying a $21 lotion just because I'm getting a freebie. They were actually very nice and service-oriented, and managed to hide their disappointment when I walked out without buying anything, though I do get the feeling that the b-day offer is intended to reward loyal customers (tip: don't be like me and blurt out, "I've never been in this store before!").

I was probably in there for about 15 minutes total, and I'm pretty pleased with my full-size free body wash. If you can put up with the "experience your sensory journey" spa-talk and a medium-hard suggestion sell, then you'll enjoy a very nice free gift from Aveda on your b-day.

More birthday freebies.

Since my own birthday is right around the corner, I thought I'd post another list of birthday freebies out there on the Internets. Lots and lots of free meals, free desserts, free beauty products, free movie rentals, and more! And don't forget, you get free admission to Disneyland on your birthday... I wish I'd known about that one last year, when I actually went on my birthday.

Free Black Angus steak dinner on your b-day.

I don't usually go to chain steakhouses, and I think I've only been to Black Angus once in my life, when I was still a kid but old enough to be horrified by the prices. Luckily, you can get a free dessert when you sign up for their email club and then a free steak dinner on your birthday. It doesn't appear to have any strings attached, but I guess we'll find out in a month or so when my b-day rolls around and my coupon shows up.

Free birthday dinner at Benihana.

When I was a kid, Benihana was my very favorite restaurant of all, and the one that I invariably chose for my birthday dinners (under Grandma Rules, I was also allowed to have whatever I wanted for breakfast = CAKE). I was mesmerized by the magic of the flying chopped meats and flashing knives, the somersaulting condiments and dancing flames. To say nothing of the delicious virgin drinks that came in a novelty mug you could take home!

Now I can recapture the childhood dream of a free birthday dinner at Benihana. Join their email list and you can, too. At the beginning of your birthday month, they'll email you a certificate for a free dinner worth up to $30 (not applicable to tax, tip, and booze). You can use it anytime that month, and it does not appear that it's a BOGO offer or anything. And you can probably even complete your set of novelty panda mugs.

Free Aveda samples, and free $25 product on your b-day!

Aveda is for fancy hair, and now Aveda is for birthdays too. Get a free sample of Color Conserve Strengthening Treatment by going into any Aveda store and mentioning the Shape sample offer.

Then, sign up for the birthday club and get a free product valued at up to $25 on your next birthday! And "custom blended with the aroma of your choice," no less. Now that's fancy.

Free stuff on your birthday.

Birthdays have always been about getting free stuff, but now you don't have to wait for friends or family to do it for you. Read this guide about scoring freebies on your birthday, like Victoria's Secret gift cards, ice cream, pizza, dinners, and sub sandwiches.

Check out this guide for freebies like coupons to DSW, burritos, lots of ice cream, more pizza and sandwiches, and kids' freebies too.

Know of another good birthday freebie or club? Leave it in the comments!