Choosing your fragrance according to the seasons:

Perfume is a very personal and individual thing. One person’s favourite is another person’s headache. Some women and men have a favourite perfume they wear year in the year out. However there are so many beautiful perfumes on the market that by sticking to the same one they are denying themselves a multitude of beautiful perfumes.

Choosing the fragrance you wear is the same in many ways as the selections you make for your clothing. Making your choice according to the seasons allows the fragrance you wear to bear more of a compliment.

Follow these tips for choosing the best scent for the time of year you are thinking about.

You most likely can think of a scent that reminds you of each part of the year. Think about how the rain smells in the late hot days of summer or how the wood smoke smells outdoors in the evening. The fragrance you choose should remind you of the season best to wear it.

SPRING

The spring is generally evokes images of newborn kittens and the bright green grass. You might think about dandelions blooming in your yard. All of these images have in common a light and new feeling. The fragrance you wear in the spring should also be light and flowery as well. Consider how honeysuckles smell in warm spring air when choosing scents for this time of year.

Spring - Women:

Burberry London                Flower by Kenzo

                       

Spring - Men:

CK Obsession                   Van Cleef & Arpels 

                   

SUMMER

Most people wear less clothing in the summer. This is the best time to wear lighter scents because you have more skin exposed to put it. However, keep in mind that hot weather can cause you to sweat more. Choose unscented deodorants and lotions to prevent the interruption of your perfume. In hotter temperatures, you might consider placing some of your fragrance on your clothing to prevent the loss of it due to sweating.

Summer - Women:

Flower Kenzo La Cologne               L'eau D'issey

                       

Summer - Men:

Prada Infusion                      L'eau D'issey

                        

AUTUMN

The late summer brings along with it the craving for autumn. Autumn might make you think about pumpkin pie or the warm colors of the leaves on trees. This is the time of year to wear wool sweaters and flannel shirts, so choosing a slightly stronger fragrance is a good idea. The thicker your clothing, the harder it is for a scent to pass through it.

Autumn - Women:

Versace Bright Crystal                Carolina Herrera

                            

Autumn - Men:

Versace Pour Homme                       212 Men

                            

WINTER

Spicy, musky scents are the best choices for the fall and winter months. These are the times of year for cuddling and sitting in front of the fire. Think about how you would like to smell when close to the one you love. Warm, sensual scents are the perfect choice for cold weather.

Winter - Women:

212 Sexy Women              Ange ou Demon Le Secret

                          

Winter - Men:

Eau de Lacoste Rouge               Le Male Terrible

                               

No matter what scent you choose to wear, making sure it is the one most compatible with your body and natural scent is important. Take your time to learn which one works best for you by testing several brands.

10 Cool Facts About Scent & Smell

We all have a sense of smell, and we all use it constantly, whether we realize it or not. Scents and smell are two of the most important yet often overlooked elements of everyday experience. Want to learn a few truly amazing facts about the things your nose knows? Then just keep reading.

1. Everyone has a unique "smellprint": 

No two people smell things the same way because each of us has scent blind spots, meaning specific odors we can't pick up on. So that room spray that smells like cupcakes to you and like creamed corn to your friend? You're both right.

                                                                    

2. You really can smell fear:  

Study shows people can unconsciously detect fear by smelling pheromone released in sweat. You can also smell happiness and sexual arousal, as long as the person you're smelling is a close romantic partner.

3. Women generally have stronger senses of smell than men: 

On standard tests of smelling ability – including odour detection, discrimination and identification – women consistently score significantly higher than men. One researcher has claimed that the superior olfactory ability of females is evident even in newborn babies.

So it's not surprising that you know the milk's gone bad long before your guy roommate does.

4. Good smells make you happier: 

Smelling a fragrance you perceive as pleasant has a profoundly positive effect on your mood. So if you love vanilla, keeping a little scented oil on your desk can help lift you when you're down. The same goes for citrus, jasmine, or any other scent that makes you feel contented.

5. There are fewer scents than you think: 

Some researchers hypothesize that there are only seven primary odors: musky, putrid, pungent, camphoraceous (like mothballs), ethereal (like dry cleaning fluid), floral, and minty.

6. Pregnant women's weird food cravings may be because of their senses of smell: 

Because your nose is hypersensitive when you're enceinte, you develop an abnormal sense of taste, leading to bizarre cravings like pickles and ice cream.

7. You actually smell with your brain: 

Not your nose, as you might assume. You can feel the smell by your nose, but it is really interpreted by your brain.

8. Scents can cue memories: 

Most of your scent memories, however, come from the first decade of your life, unlike visual or other sensorial memory types.

9. Men can smell when women are ovulating: 

Both sexes can smell whether other people have major histocompatability complexes (MHCs) different from their own. This is interesting because mating with someone whose MHC is not too like your own creates offspring with hardier immune systems.

10. Humans have 350 functional olfactory receptor genes: 

Mice have 1,300.

How to find a perfume that is right for you!

Finding a perfume that is just right for you can feel like an overwhelming task. Given the thousands of fragrances on the market, it may seem easier just to stick with what you've always known.   

Overall, yes, it can be overwhelming to find the right fragrance. The perfume you wear is a personal choice; it's not like the clothes you borrow from your best friend. The fragrance your best friend wears might not work with your particular body chemistry.

Besides, fragrance is a very personal choice. People will remember you for it. They will compliment you on it. They will ask what you're wearing. You'll wear it on first dates or for your wedding.

If you arm yourself with proper knowledge, then shopping for the right fragrance won't be such a daunting task.

Let's get started:

Fragrances are categorized according to notes, accords or other characteristics that define their overall similarities. More often than not, we tend to lean toward a particular fragrance family -- whether we know it or not.

FRAGRANCE FAMILIES

Fresh:  Fragrances categorized as fresh often include "green" notes, like fresh-cut grass, the smell of spring in the air, light citruses and airy notes. If you have an outdoorsy personality, a fragrance with fresh notes might be best for you.

Floral:  Probably the most popular of all fragrance categories, floral scents encompass a wide range of blooms, from a single rose petal to a medley of floral bouquets. Floral scents may include notes of jasmine, carnation, gardenia, orange blossom, rose, lily of the valley, tuberose ... you name it. Floral scents can be powdery or sweet, depending on their combinations. If you enjoy the scent of a particular flower, maybe you should try fragrances that include notes of that flower.

Oriental:  Just like its name suggests, the Oriental fragrance group is comprised of notes that are rich, bold and overall exotic. Notes like amber and vanilla are oftentimes present in the oriental group. Oriental fragrances lean toward the "heavier" side and are more sensual fragrances, ideal for nighttime wear or romantic occasions.

Woods (or Chypre):   This fragrance group consists of your aromatic wood and moss notes -- sandalwood, cedarwood, oak. Patchouli is sometimes present, as is vetiver and pine. Many masculine fragrances fall into this category, given the richness of woody scents.

FRAGRANCE PERSONALITY

Outdoorsy or sporty:   If you live by a who-needs-makeup philosophy and your idea of weekend fun is camping in the great outdoors, you may prefer a fresh, citrus fragrance. Citrus fragrances are invigorating and light, unlike orientals which tend to command a room. Your personality type doesn't want the fragrance to stand out, rather complement your personality. You may lean toward unisex and green, herbacious fragrances as well.

Examples with Links:

Elegant:   Maybe your weekends are lined up with black-tie dinner parties, and fragrance is much more than an afterthought. Oriental fragrances may be the best option for you. Rich and oppulent, these fragrances stand out and linger for hours. You may prefer a floral oriental (orange flower, vanilla) or a woody oriental (sandalwood, patchouli and spice).

Examples with Links:

Girl-Next-Door:   You have that certain Jennifer Aniston appeal; a little shy, a little sexy, but overall the girl he (or she) takes home to Mom. Fresh, clean scents are ideal as are woody floral. The latter might seem slightly more masculine, but woody notes can really bring out a shy girl's sex appeal.

Examples with Links:

All-American Guy:   You're athletic, handsome and playful. Your fragrance must be able to stand up to the challenge, but not overwhelm the room. Fresh, water scents are great options, as are light woods.

Examples with Links:

Sophisticated and Modern Man: You keep up with the latest clothing trends and prefer your fitted trousers to Euro-shoes to jeans anyday. A touch of classic goes a long way. Fresh, crisp fragrances are perfect for you. Throw in some sweet florals and you've got a winner.

Examples with Links: