By Felicity Lightbody

Now the chances are, although you may have smelled her favorite on her, you have no idea what it’s called. It gets worse as its her birthday and you are looking on-line to get a good price but have left it to the last moment. There will be no judgment from me that’s just the way you men do things!

Women will tend to favor a particular scent type but will more than likely have several scents, from different ranges, to go with the mood she is in and the activity. Women tend to have the everyday favorite they wear to be crisp and lighter and then the more sensual heavier smells they wear for seduction and romance but they will also have favorites to wear for special occasions, such as meals out and family parties.

This may initially confuse you, but the smells she wears for you will be the special ones, the smells for work and the gym are her every day ones. So you have a bit of a problem! Think really hard about how she smells, not the “I’ve just got out the shower” smell that’ll be her shampoo, but the “we’re making the effort to go out smell”. What does it smell like?

If you think its Floral, Flowery or Sweet then “Pleasures’ by Estee Lauder is a very sweet smelling perfume that is floral and reflects a woman’s needs to experience the softer things in life. It was launched in 1996, as is for the modern woman, to rejuvenate her in any situation.

Floral but Sharp or Oceanic then I would recommend trying “Dune’ by Christian Dior. Dune is a sweet fragrance that has sharp aspect too and if your girlfriend likes something floral but with a little kick. Dune bring a sense of serenity and well being because of the mixture of the floral and sharp, Dior is an expensive brand and although it may not be her exact favorite she may just have found her new one!

Musky, Earthy or Oriental then Emporio by Armani is one of the best examples of sexy spicy scent, it was launched in 1998 but is an instant classic, especially with the male counterpart also available. This feminine scent possesses a blend of all things oriental, jasmine fruits and heliotrope and then an infusion of cedar, vanilla and musk to complement.

Sharp, Sweet or Citrus then Citrus is growing in popularity as it is fresh and light and has an uplifting element, sometime chosen as more of a daily wear perfume because it is so light. Lancome O De Lancome is a light and serene perfume and was launched in 1969, it is youthful and fun and very modern.

Modern then a classic scent of Chanel No 5 is the perfect gift for any woman who wants to get a new signature scent and for any man wanting to really impress his loved one. She will know the name and know just how much you have spent and be thrilled by having such a special and expensive bottle. She will probably only wear it once a year because it will be so precious to her.

Men are often challenged in some cases even overwhelmed at selecting a proper fragrance. What should I buy aftershave, cologne, Eau de toilette? Contrary, to what some men believe, it is not that difficult to select the proper fragrance, once you understand each fragrance’s function and your personal needs. Often times, you may need more than one type of fragrance as your daily needs will vary.

To get started, you must understand the differences between cologne, Eau De Toilette (EDT) and aftershave. No, it is not all the same, even though it may appear both cologne and aftershave have a similar fragrance in the bottle, in reality there is a difference. Aftershave is designed to use after a man shaves. Aftershave, closes the pores and may offer an intense sensation after its application. Not to worry, this is the result of the aftershave closing the user’s pores.

Always remember, cologne’s scent is always stronger, and last longer than aftershave. Cologne is used as a fragrance to give a person a pleasant scent. The term EDT is a common term used in Europe, where cologne is a more commonly used here in the states. Thus, cologne and EDT are the same.

Next, you must understand that a fragrance is composed of many layers of scents. These scents are broken down into groups of scents known as top notes middle notes, and bottom or base notes. Top notes are usually light spices, fruity, citrus or minty scents that disappear after about ten minutes after application. Middle notes are usually middle spices vanilla, cinnamon, woodsy, and heavier citrus scents such as grapefruit or orange that last for about an hour. Lastly, the fragrance contains bottom or base notes. This is the “mature” fragrance, the scent that you will be known for after you leave the room. The bottom or base notes are composed of stronger scents: long-lasting leathers, woods, tobacco, and heavy spices such as peppers and cloves.

Lastly, it is time to select the fragrance that you need. Never buy a fragrance after just smelling the fragrance on someone or just smelling a sample sprayed on a scent card. The reason behind this is two fold. First, the scent changes after it matures. Second, and more importantly, all fragrances do not smell the same on all people! The smell created from fragrances is a result of a basic chemical reaction between an individual and the fragrance once it is applied. Since each person has different body chemistry, when the fragrance is applied, the reaction or “scent” may be slightly different than someone else who wears the same fragrance.

So how do I buy the right fragrance? Smell the fragrances on smell cards, once you determine that you may like a fragrance lightly apply it to a pulse point your wrist, neck or chest. Smell it in intervals, of ten, sixty, and ninety minutes. This is done to smell the fragrance in different stages of its reaction with your body’s chemistry. If the scent is one that you like and one that you would wear than purchase it either at the store or on the internet. You may chose to purchase both an aftershave, and cologne as your needs, and desired strength of fragrance may change based on what your particular needs are for the day.