WHAT-TO-DO - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - JAN 2008
New scents on the scene Finding your fragrances WHAT-TO-DO - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - JAN 2008
Buying perfume is simple. Dab some on, give it a sniff and if you like it buy it, right? Wrong. There are too many great perfumes out there to choose, in this way, the one or two that ae perfect for you.
"You have so many new launches coming in at the same time," says Claudine Butler, perfume and cosmetics buyer for John Bull. "You basically have to come in and say what kinds of fragrances you like. Once you tell the sales associate, tey can show you from there."
There's lots to think about. For instance, a perfume may smell just right for a regular day at the office, but it won't do at all for an evening out. A lighter scent is generally preferred for daylight hours while a heavier sent is better when the sun goes down.
According to Butler, women should own three or more perfumes, "one for daytime wear, one for the evening and one for special occasions."
The same applies to men and their colognes, although "men can probably get awy with two," Butler says, adding that some men's colognes can be worn on all occasions.
Scents of all sorts To whittle down the multitude, it's helpful to know that perfumes fall into seven distinct categories: floral, oriental, citrus, chypre, leather,fougère and woody.
Florals are the most popular and are known for their feminine and romantic tones. Three subcategories fall under floral-floral green which is accented by iris or galbanum; fruity floral includes cassis, pineapple, apricot, peach or appe scents; and floral fresh with hyacinth, lily of the valley and orange blossom. Omnia Amethyste by Bulgari and Daisy by Marc Jacobs are two floral examples.
Oriental perfumes, the heaviest of scents, are also popular but care must be taken when wearing hem. "If the scent is too heavy or too oriental, people tend to stay away from that," says Butler.
Oriental amber, with a citrus or vanilla base, and oriental spicy, with hints of clove, mace or cinnamon, are among the most chosen scents. Examples includ L Lamb by Gwen Stefani and Délices Eau Fruitée by Cartier.
Citrus is favoured by sports-minded and energetic women who want a light scent typical of citrus fruits, such as lemon, lime and orange. Light Blue by Dolce &?Gabbana is an example.
Chypre i an elegant fragrance that includes touches of wood, moss, fruits and floral notes. Leather, a masculine scent, includes aromatic wood, tobacco and honey. Fougère, another masculine scent, features notes of woods mixed with herbs. Woody is a natural scentwith forest aromas such as sandalwood and patchouli.
Wearing it well "Putting on the right amount of perfume can sometimes be difficult to gauge," says Butler, who recommends spraying it into the air first then walking into the mist. "Be sure to close yur eyes first," she warns.
Butler says perfume should be applied to pulse points-behind the wrists and knees, however some formerly favoured locations should be avoided. "The base of the neck is not promoted so much anymore," she says, explaining that itcan be an allergy prone area for those with sensitive skin and could damage jewellery worn around the neck. Behind the ears is another sensitive area, says Butler.
As most perfume buyers know, the same fragrance will change from person to person as all sents react with your individual body chemistry.
But you may not know that cooler temperatures help a perfume last longer, and that warmer temperatures can change the aroma.
Thus, says Butler, you may want to keep your scents in the fridge if you live i, or visit warmer climes, such as The Bahamas.
HOME >
New Providence
MAIN PAGE >
New Providence
FEATURES >
New Providence
FEATURE STORY
