-Scent of a Gen Y-er-

My mother used to dismiss it as "taking a French bath", but when it came to perfume, the truth was more that she just has a fickle nose and most scents irritate her. As for me, it took years to be comfortable with the idea of using a scent as part of my basic wardrobe.

In fact, it wasn't until college, during an extended stay with a friend, that I learned that changing your scent can change the way you feel. Years later, I'm still experimenting while still holding on to some beloved favorites.

The first thing to understand about perfume and fragrance in general is that it is divided into four major families, with Fougère encompassing elements of the others:



Traditionally, I've always been in love with the soft Orientals, which include amber and other spiced aromas. But lately, I've been venturing into the ladylike world of florals. The good thing about perfumes, though, is that even if you have a particular favorite, you can still experiment without abandoning what you know works for you.

This is because all perfumes hold three notes- top, middle and base. The definition of those is pretty straight forward. The top note is the first scent you are greeted with, the middle being the heart of the perfume and the base being the longest lasting of the three with a higher molecular weight.



I've never been a fan of Chanel No. 5, the quintessential badge of ladyness. But I'm fair smitten with Chanel's new Chance. Perfumes are just like taste. They react different to differing people depending on that person's body chemistry. Just as I could eat a Scotch bonnet and say "yum" the girl next to me is going to want to hurl.

This is why it's important to try on a new scent in person, rather than just ordering it offline. Also, not just going by the initial result when it's fresh and concentrated is important. Air it out, wear it around a few minutes and then give a whiff. That's when you'll know for sure how the notes will react to your skin.

Most people are going to want to go for an Eau De Toilette, especially someone just starting to venture into perfumes. This is a 4-10% concentration, so you're in a lot less danger of going overboard and seeming like you took that infamous French bath. People don't appreciate having to smell you for an hour after you've left a room and some people have allergies. It's an easy thing to muck up that will take you from class to trash in about two spritzes.

The only other thing to remember is to store your fragrance collection in the dark. Medicine cabinets are honestly a bad idea because of all the excess moisture that can contaminate and degrade your perfume. I've found the best place for mine is a little stand I have set up in my closet. Dry, dark and out of the way works best.