Perfume Buying Guide

Every woman has her signature fragrance,  but that doesn't necessarily mean that the same perfume  scent needs to be worn every day.  Though life is often full of consistency, scent does not have to be; allowing a different perfume to be worn for every occasion keeps things interesting.  By understanding the five categories of perfume classification, it's easy to match a scent to a personality and preference.  

Understanding Perfume

Perfume descriptions will often list the tones or notes that they evoke, referring to the smell that evolves and lingers with a spray.   

• Top notes:  These evaporate first, and therefore give off the scent that is perceived immediately.
• Middle notes: They become profound later on and generally make up the main "body" of the perfume.
• Base note:  This is the true basis of the overall scent and is usually not perceived until a half hour or so after the perfume's first application, lingering all day.   

Know that each person has his or her own pH balance and body chemistry, and when these notes mix with that, the smell of the perfume is created.  This is why the same perfume may smell different on different people. 

Fragrance Categories

Though categories can vary and morph, we will break down the major five for you.  Often sub-categories are created by combining two or more categories together, making yet a new scent; however, no matter what the combination, it is beneficial to know about the major notes that each category holds.   Experiment and play with scents that will work for you.  

Floral Floral perfumes  have strong overtones of flowery fragrances and are suitable for all ages and all occasions.  Rose,  jasmine,  and lavender  are popular in these fragrances.    Who should wear it: Anyone who wants to feel pretty and feminine without overpowering.   We love:  Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden  Calvin Klein Escape  Anais Anais by Cacahrel	Fruity Fruity perfumes  usually smell spicy and fresh, giving a youthful feeling.  In the colder weather they can remind you of a warm dessert and in the summer give off a fresh crispness.   Who should wear it: Perfect for women who like classic fragrances but want to add a little bit of flair to it. We love: DKNY Be Delicious  Champagne by Yves Saint Laurent  Cheap and Chic by Moschino	Woody Woody fragrances  feature an earthy tone to them, making them versatile and easy to wear.  Notes such as sandalwood,  patchouli,  and cedar  give off a rich and natural smell.   Who should wear it: This is perfect for the mature woman who wants to smell fresh but maintain an air of sophistication.   We love:   Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker  Chanel No. 19  Givenchy Organza	Greens Green perfumes  capture the essence of the earth's greenery, resembling fresh cut grass or spring flowers.   This makes them very light and suitable for casual wear or a great gift!   Who should wear it:  These scents are usually found in more contemporary perfumes, perfect for younger and sporty personalities.  We love:  Charlie by Revlon  Versace Metal Jeans Women  Diorissimo by Christian Dior	Oriental The strongest of all perfumes, oriental perfumes  evoke sensual overtones and rich undertones, perfect for evening events or special occasions.  They often combine scents like vanilla,  musk,  flowers,  and oriental resins.    Who should wear it:  This perfume is appropriate for all ages, but in a special environment.   We love:  Chance by Chanel  Fendi by Fendi  Estee Lauder's Intuition

Shop by Brand

• Agent Provocateur 
• Aramis 
• Beckham 
• Benetton 
• Britney Spears 
• Burberry 
• Bvlgari 
• Calvin Klein 
• Cartier 
• Carven 
• Chanel 
• Christian Dior 
• Davidoff 
• Diesel 
• Dolce & Gabbana 
• Donna Karan 
• Elizabeth Arden 
• Elizabeth Taylor 
• Escada 
• Estee Lauder 
• FCUK perfume 
• Fendi perfume 
• Giorgio Armani perfume 
• Givenchy perfume 
• Gloria Vanderbilt 
• Gucci 
• Gwen Stefani 
• Hugo Boss 
• Kate Moss 
• La Perla 
• Lacoste 
• Lancome 
• Moschino 
• Oscar de la Renta 
• Paris Hilton 
• Paul Smith 
• Prada 
• Ralph Lauren 
• Sarah Jessica Parker 
• Sean John 
• Stella McCartney 
• Tommy Hilfiger 
• Urban Decay 
• Valentino 
• Vera Wang 
• Versace 

Related Guides

Browse our guides for even more information about perfumes and colognes.

Classic Women's Perfumes	New Perfume and Cologne	Fragrances	Award Winning Fragrance	Fragrance Gifts

External Links

• NowSmellThis: Perfume reviews and fragrance news. 
• Wikipedia: Information about the history of perfume as well as a comparison of natural vs. synthetic perfumes.

Popular Scents

• Jil Sander Sun Eau De Toilette  A classic fragrance first introduced in 1989 and remains popular with women worldwide. Combingin sweet floral tones with amber and vanilla, creates a perfect mix for evening wear and romantic use.
• Armani Code Pour Femme Eau De Parfum  comes in a beautiful bottle to match the delicious scent. With notes of honey, flower, ginger, and sandalwood, a luxurious scent is seductively created.
• CK Be Eau De Toilette  is a unizex fragrance that was first introduced in 1996. It is one of Calvin Klein's most popular scents so far. Perfect for casual use at the office, with deep woody fragrances with juniper, mint, juicy mandarin, lavender and tonka bean.
• Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl Summer  a pleasant mix of fresh summer fruits, with rose, lavender, musk, and bergamot, that also is highly suitable for daytime use.
• Escada Ocean Lounge  - a limited edition from Escada. Fruity overtones with floral undertones for a fresh and modern summer feeling fragrance.
• Burberry Summer For Women  another fruity floral scent that brings together mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, apple, vanilla and moss. Reminiscent of the original Burberry for Women for a more summer feel.
• Ralph Lauren Hot  is what it says... "Hot"! Sexy. Sassy. Fun. Youthful and flirtatious to spice up your summer.