Have you ever wondered what you smell when you "smell the roses" in the spring time? What makes a smell is something that is too small to see with your eyeball alone. It is even too small to be seen with a microscope! What you smell are tiny things called odor particles. Millions of them are floating around waiting to be sniffed by your nose!

You smell these odors through your nose which is almost like a huge cave built to smell, moisten, and filter the air you breathe. As you breathe in, the air enters through your nostrils which contain tiny little hairs that filter all kinds of things trying to enter your nose, even bugs! These little hairs are called cilia and you can pretend that they sweep all the dirt out of the nasal cavity, which is the big place the air passes through on it's way to the lungs. After passing through the nasal cavity, the air passes through a thick layer of mucous to the olfactory bulb. There the smells are recognized because each smell molecule fits into a nerve cell like a lock and key. Then the cells send signals along your olfactory nerve to the brain. At the brain, they are interpreted as those sweet smelling flowers or that moldy cheese.

Our sense of smell is connected really well to our memory. For instance, the smell of popcorn can remind you of being at the movies with a friend or the smell of tar can remind you of riding in a car to the beach

CHOOSING YOUR SIGNATURE SCENT

The power of scent is undeniable. Even animals live according to scent, using scents to mark territory and choose a mate. So it is no wonder that a person's scent can be incredibly powerful; it can even trigger physical and psychological changes in humans. As you may have learned from your mother and grandmother, perfume is more than a great sensory addition to an outfit. A perfect scent will enable you to leave your own mark on someone. With the fragrance industry so overcrowded, we are here to help you pick your very own signature perfume that will make you memorable...

Choosing: The strength of scents varies with the percentage of essential oils and how much they are diluted. Perfume bases are 78% to 95% denatured ethyl alcohol, and essential oils make up the rest of the scent. Scents are broken up into the following categories according to strength of scent: Perfume is the most expensive, and is made up of about 22% of essential oils. Eau de Parfum is the next in line and is 15-22% essential oils. Finally, Eau de Toilette is 8-15% of essential oils, and Eau de Cologne is about 4% essential oils.

Do not automatically buy one of the most popular women's perfumes just because it is in style. Choosing a perfume that is right for you means taking into account several factors, including your individual personality. Perfumes are generally divided into five categories, and to choose the category that fits you best, ask yourself questions like these: Are you drawn to the smells of the ocean or do you love the smell of a flower garden? Do people call you mysterious or are you an outgoing, open book? Do you want your perfume to convey power or the girl next door? Determine the scents that have the biggest impact on you and look for them in a perfume.

Woodsy: Earthy, refreshing and energetic, these are great for causal, everyday wear.

Fruity: Great for warm weather. These are fruity, spicy and tropical.

Floral: Always a classic. Floral perfumes are feminine and romantic.

Oceanic: These have a modern smell that uses synthetic elements to evoke the smells of the beach.

Orientals: Spicy and sexy. These scents are dominated by notes of musk, vanilla or heavy flowers.

When buying perfume, keep in mind these perfume tips, too. While the bottle or packaging may draw you to a certain perfume, do not let it be a deciding factor. And just because your favourite model or celebrity endorses it, it does not mean that you will like it. Great perfumes might not come in great bottles. Consider the season, too. It is probably not the best idea to wear a heavy perfume in the summer when you sweat a lot and the scent tends to smell stronger. Lighter scents, are better for hot weather. But in dry season the dry air tends to evaporate scents, so feel free to spritz on a heavy fragrance such as Calvin Klein's Euphoria.

Every fragrance has three perfume notes - top, middle and base.

The top note is what you smell right after application (mostly alcohol) and lasts for one minute.

The body of the perfume is the middle note, which is acquired 5 to 30 minutes after application.

The base note is how the scent smells after mixing with your skin and body, and is produced two hours after application.

These three perfume notes are the reason why you should not purchase perfumes simply because they smelled lovely on someone else. Everyone's skin will react differently with a perfume, producing middle and base notes unique to individual body chemistry. At the perfume counter, spray the perfume directly onto your skin rather than on the sample cardboards, and do not smell it directly from the bottle. After you have spritzed yourself, wait 30 seconds to smell the scent so that you do not get a whiff primarily of alcohol. Like wine, perfume needs some time to breathe and open up. If you are still unsure what perfume is best after spraying 10 different types, ask for a sample to take home. Once you find the perfect scent, go back and make the purchase. Also, ask the perfume salesperson for coffee beans, not to munch on, but to smell in between each perfume to neutralize the smells. That way, you will smell each individual smell, not a mixture of smells.

How to wear perfume: To make the most of your signature scent, you have to know how to wear perfume. It is not a matter of dousing yourself, but rather using just enough to know that it is there and that it is making an impact. Only you and those closest in proximity to you (generally within one foot) should be able to smell you. It is more intoxicating when a man or woman walks by you and leaves a slight trace of a wonderful scent rather than making you gag on an overpowering fragrance. Apply the perfume to your pulse points, such as your neck, wrist, cleavage, and the folds of your elbow and knees.

Never rub the scent in. Walking into a scent is also effective or try lightly spraying your hairbrush with perfume to give your hair a scented shower. Do not be afraid to switch up your scents every once in a while according to season, occasion or mood. While you make your signature perfume your own after years of wearing it, there are too many beautiful perfumes on the market to never mix it up. You can always go from a day perfume to a night perfume, too.

Now that you have found your perfect signature perfume that complements who you are and what your style is, wear just enough for people to say "Wow, she smelled great," after leaving a room, and make it all yours.

Source: Yemisi Abah

Perfume vs Eau de Parfum (EDP) vs Eau de Toilette (EDT) vs Eau de Cologne (EDC)The differences are simply a matter of the amount or concentration of oils in the fragrance.These oils are called "juice." The highest concentration of "juice" is in perfume (or parfum). Next would be Eau de Parfum, then Eau de Toilette, and finally Eau de Cologne. Actually, Eau de Toilette and Eau de Cologne are generally interchangeable, particularly in Men's fragrances. After Shave has the least amount of oils. The higher the concentration of "juice" the longer your fragrance will last, and the less you need to apply. Why do some fragrances seem to last much longer than others?

People with dry skin usually find their fragrance holding time shorter than those with oily skin because oily skin has more natural moisture to hold in the fragrance. PH levels (amount of acidity in our skin) also varies slightly from person to person. Our individual levels of PH will determine how each ingredient in a fragrance will react. How can I make my scent last longer?

Fragrance lasts longer on some people than on others because of differences in our skin (oily or dry) and in our PH levels. To achieve a longer effect, try layering your fragrance. Using the fragrance bath gel, (if the company offers one), then the moisturizer or powder, and then the Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum or Eau de Cologne, will usually have a longer lasting effect. Also, apply your fragrance low on the body, as well as behind your ears and on your neck, so that the scent rises and you won't lose it as quickly. A light spray on the hair can last all day. What is the difference between a splash and a spray?

There is absolutely no difference in the fragrance. The difference is in the application only. However, a spray bottle, being ostensibly sealed all the time, may actually have a longer shelf life. Making the decision between spray and splash is entirely a matter of personal preference. Why does fragrance contain alcohol?

Alcohol makes the fragrance emanate from your skin. Without alcohol, you would be the only person who knew you were wearing any fragrance at all. What do fragrance notes refer to?

Fragrances are comprised of many different scents, these scents are called "notes." · Top notes are very light and last just a few minutes (5-10 minutes). · Middle notes become apparent in about 15 minutes after application. These can last up to an hour or more. · Bottom notes are the heavier ingredients. These last the longest, usually for several hours. How can I keep my fragrance from going bad?

Keep all fragrance in a cool, dry area, and away from windows as sunlight can unbalance the various ingredients. An opened bottle should be kept in its box to insure a longer shelf life. How can I keep my fragrance from going bad?

Keep all fragrance in a cool, dry area, and away from windows as sunlight can unbalance the various ingredients. An opened bottle should be kept in its box to insure a longer shelf life. Why does a fragrance last longer on some people?

People with light skin have a tendency towards dry skin, and fragrances are basically oils that will be absorbed by the skin like moisturizers. To help your fragrance last longer use a matching body lotion or unscented body lotion to apply to pulse points before applying your fragrance. Why do fragrances smell differently on different people?

Body chemistry, diet and age affect fragrances on their skin. Also, fragrance consists of many essential oils. Certain essential oils have affinity to our skin, and they may be absorbed while other may not. This creates an imbalance on the skin and accounts for the difference. How should I or where should I apply fragrance?

Fragrance should be applied to pulse points. This is where the blood vessels are closest to the skin giving off more heat and acting like mini fragrance pumps. Pulse points are the wrist, behind the ear, crook of the arm and knee, base of the throat. Also, for long lasting fragrance spray at the ankles, it allows the fragrance to blossom up. How should I or where should I apply fragrance?

Fragrances should be kept away from excessive heat or cold, and to avoid evaporation, the cap must be tightly closed to maintain fragrance integrity. Also, do not expose the fragrance for any length of time to sun light.

Are there other uses for a fragrance other than application to the body?

You can put a few drops of your favorite fragrance in a bath or a few drops in the water when washing your lingerie or spray on artificial flowers. How long will a fragrance last on me?

Fragrances are designed to last about 4 hours or so. Some people may notice that a particular fragrance lasts all day but by then it will not smell as it's supposed to. You must re-apply once or twice a day. How long can I keep my fragrance stored?

Fragrances don't last forever. There are certain precautions though that will ensure the quality of the fragrance. Keep the bottle in a dry, dark place. Heat can also destroy a fragrance so keep it from extreme temperatures. Fragrances usually last 3 years from the date they were manufactured.

What is a Tester?

A tester is exactly the same fragrance, size, quantity and quality as a retail fragrance but at a lower price as their packaging is a plain box rather than the retail box. Some bottles also have a tester sticker or have the word tester printed on the bottle. It's a great way to save money on the same retail fragrance!

These are made by the manufacturer to help promote their fragrance. Without testers there would be no way to try a fragrance to see if you will like it and to see if the fragrance lasts on you. All testers are sold unused, with the entire original quantity in the container. If you're purchasing for yourself, or just don't need the box, testers are a great way for you to get the same amount of quality fragrance at an even deeper discount.