Scent of a Woman

"I recognize your fragrance. You ain't never gotta to say s***." It's rather nice when someone knows you're present just by your scent. Not that you've doused yourself in strong perfume, but your fragrance lingers and reminds that person of everything they love about you. The other day after brunch Taye and I wandered into Nordstrom to peruse the beauty department. I was running out of my favorite everyday perfume, and wanted to try something new. I sprayed one perfume on my wrist, another on my neck, and I found room for one more on the inside of my elbow. Good grief. A few hours later I must've smelled like a baby prostitute with all the different scents on my body. Finding your signature fragrance is like sampling sweets in a candy store. Some may be too sugary, too sour, too rich or too bitter. When you discover the perfect one, you're hooked.

Certain fragrances either turn me on or turn me way off. I don't like something that smells synthetic like it was cooked up in a lab. I enjoy scents that are earthy, floral, and sometimes spicy. Hugo Boss Woman was one of my first ventures into perfume. Let's not talk about how long I've had this particular bottle. The scent is very feminine and airy with a blend of apples, berries, water lilies, and hints of the ocean. This is a wonderful daytime fragrance. Another really nice scent is Cannabis Santal from Fresh. It reminds me of a cup of Earl Grey tea with brown sugar and a slice of lemon. It's tantalizing and comforting. It's slightly masculine, but smells wonderful on women too. This scent is quite captivating and it lingers ever so lightly.

Moving on to richer evening fragrances. I am absolutely obsessed with Tom Ford Black Orchid, well let's be honest... anything Tom Ford. It's an addiction. I fell in love with the fragrance a year or so ago and now it haunts me like a sexy ex-boyfriend that I know isn't good for me, but I want him any way. Black Orchid also has notes of bergamot and citrus with a touch of sandalwood. I like how to body lotion sets on my skin compared to the eau de parfum. Another favorite of mine is L'eau Ambree by Prada. This one may be a little harder to come by, but worth the quest. Rose de mai, vanilla, amber, and patchoulli are what gives this perfume its allure.

If you're kind of up in the air about a few scents, get samples. Perfume will usually smell different on your skin once you get home. You may have fallen in love with it in the store, but a few days later it's just not for you. I'm trying out a couple of new scents myself: diptyque's Eau Duelle and Place Vendome by Boucheron Paris. Both are woodsy but place Vendome is a bit floral while Ea Duelle has hints of vanilla and old world spices. I imagine that both smell a little something like Cleopatra.

The perfect scent for you depends on a number of factors: eau de toilette versus parfum, your own body chemistry, and what other scented products you use on your body. What may smell divine on someone else may not smell the same on you. When you've found something that mixes well with your skin, it's perfection.

Chime in: What's your signature perfume?