Beauty Tips and Tricks

Is it His or Hers? When Fragrances Can Be For Men or Women

Fragrances are a multi-billion dollar industry. People love perfumes. They like scents in everything they use. In our society, we use perfumes in almost every product we make. Perfumes are in our soap and our cleaning products. We use perfumes to freshen our air, our bodies, and our pets. We cannot escape these scents in our society. People have used perfumes for thousands of years for a number of different reasons. In recent years, perfumes have become less expensive. As a result, more and more people are able to purchase them in a variety of products. Different fragrances, though, smell different on individuals, no matter what product the fragrance appears in. Fragrances are marketed to both men and women, but sometimes fragrances can be for both men and women.

The most important factor in choosing any fragrance, whether for a man or a woman, is to ensure that it works with your body chemistry. Fragrances begin their job when they are applied to your skin. As you body heat begins to kick in, the odor molecules rise off of your skin and hit your nose. Perfumes smell various ways on different people because of the serious difference in body chemistry for each person. There are a number of different factors that go into deciding how a particular fragrance might smell on you. These factors include, but are not limited to, diet, acid balance, medication, skin oil, pigmentation, mood, and environmental factors. For example, if you have oily skin, your fragrance is going to be far more intense, and it is going to last longer than it might on someone with dry skin. Similarly, if you are on a high fat diet, your fragrance will be more powerful. The first step to deciding if you can wear your significant other’s fragrance is to make sure it works with your body. You can do this by testing it. While you are testing, try to make it a rule not to use more than three test fragrances at a time. Apply the fragrance directly to your skin. Your wrist is a good place to start. Wait for a few seconds after you have applied it, and then smell it. If you want to try another, use the other wrist. If you’d like to deal with a third, try the inside of your elbow. Once you have chosen a scent that works for you, be sure to apply it correctly. Start your fragrance ritual with an eau de parfum of the fragrance you have chosen. Gently spray this from your shoulders to your feet. Top it off with some actual perfume added to a few pulse points. Some popular pulse points are wrists, behind the ears, the crook of your elbow, the base of your throat, behind your knees, and inside your ankles.

In order to choose the right unisex fragrance, your body chemistry is the first tier of importance, but a good hint as to whether it would work in the first place might be the perfume category it falls under. Both men’s and women’s fragrances have a number of different categories. Fortunately for those who want to try to cross perfume gender boundaries, the fragrances have a few categories in common. One of these is citrus. Citrus scents tend to be light and fresh. They are often composed of things like bergamot, orange, lemon, petitgrain, and mandarin. These scents work well with energetic, sporty types. They work best in the summer, and they could be used for either day or evening wear. More feminine citrus scents are usually combined with flowers or fruits. More masculine citrus scents are usually combined with woods and spices. Another category the two fragrances have in common is chypre. Chypre is based on woody, mossy, flowery scents combined with leather and fruits. These are elegant, classical fragrances that tend to be dry, not sweet. These work very well as unisex fragrances. Another great unisex category is the Orientals. These are usually a combination of spices, wood essences, and vanilla. People who enjoy these fragrances usually enjoy mystery and sensual experiences. These are great for an evening out. They are also the heaviest of all of the fragrance categories.

Both men’s and women’s fragrances have other categories, and many fragrances that don’t fit within these typically unisex categories would work for either.

Seductive Smells – What Drives a Man Wild?

Smell is the sensory input that works fastest to create emotional responses. This has been suggested in numerous commercials for perfumes and bath oils and it’s not just marketing hype; the right scent used in the right way will not only attract a man it will give him amorous ideas.

So what is the right scent and what is the right way to use it? There is no one answer but there are some good bets; fruit and flower scents seem to work best but sandalwood and jasmine run a close second in the race to evoke a sensual mood. Following are some more specific ideas on applying this aromatic advice to your bedroom.

Fruit and Flowers! Weaken that man’s defenses with fruit and flower scents; why that combination works is a mystery . . . but it does. Perhaps its the allure of the mental images that are brought on by that combination of fruit and flowers — the tropical island . . . the rain forest . . . the settings that suggest adventure and get a man’s blood flowing.

So a strong suggestion is to turn your bedroom into a tropical paradise. Here are some ideas:

Try using essential oils, popularized by aromatherapy. Two or three drops of orange or some other citrus oil in a warmer or in a light bulb ring on the bedroom lamp will do it — don’t overdo it, subtle is the word! You can also use juice squeezed from the rind of an orange or grapefruit.

Have a vase of flowers in warm water next to the bed. The warm water will bring out the maximum scent from flowers that have a naturally strong scent . . . flowers like gardenias or lilies.

Burn a scented candle (orange or jasmine) in the room.

Put a light coating of an essential fruit or flower oil right on the light bulb in the nightstand lamp (naturally, you’ll do this when the bulb is cold). When the light is turned on the oil will send it’s scent to all corners of the bedroom.

Clean hair! Another scent that drives men wild is the smell of clean hair. Wash your hair with your favorite shampoo and be sure to blow-dry your hair just before joining him in the bedroom for a snuggle; blow-drying will intensify the scent of your clean hair.

Thank you Dr. Pavlov! It’s a stimulus/response thing right from that high-school psychology text. Find a scent that your man especially likes and use it only in the bedroom or just before a special evening. The object is to get him to identify that scent with the beautiful, erotic times you spend together so that, when he smells it, it will invoke the proper memories (and the proper response) at the proper times. The scent must be something special . . . reserved exclusively for intimate moment or seduction.

A not so quick soak! Showers are great and quick but not very romantic. Take a bath with lavender, chamomile and sage scents; use a few drops of all three essential oils in a hot tub. Just soak for a while . . . and invite some special company to soak with you! This combination of hot water and these oils will relax more than invigorate, but what better way to get rid of the tensions that can spoil intimate moments.

Scented satin sheets! Sprinkle some dusting powder on your sheets to make them piquant and silky; better yet, scented satin sheets might just make him loose all his inhibitions.

Does his scent send you? There are a great many men’s fragrances on the market but there are many men who reach some type of psychological barrier after they apply their Old Spice aftershave. If that’s your man: go shopping for a man’s fragrance that turns your legs to jelly.

The next step is rather sneaky but it may be worth it: put some of that men’s cologne on your hands and affectionately stroke his cheeks. Tell him how great he smells and then show him just how wild that scent can make you. Its not exactly Pavlovian but its a good bet that, you’ll get a response to your stimulus and that he’ll be using that particular cologne on a regular basis.

The Mood Invoking Power of Perfumes and Fragrances

Perfumes have been around since civilization itself began. In the early years, they were typically associated with religious ceremonies. However, as time moved on, as time reach ancient Egypt, people began adorning their bodies with various fragrances. The connection to fragrance is a psychological one. Fragrances work on levels that we cannot even consciously process. They have fascinating effects on the mind. Women have scents that make them feel attractive; make them feel like themselves, or one that they see as having a positive effect on others. Fragrances are a powerful stimulant to the mind as the memories locked away in our subconscious levels. Fragrances can help wake us up or soothe us to sleep. Scientific studies show there is a close relationship between the scent and the emotional side of our brains. Perfumes are, essentially, emotion in a bottle. They can convey hundreds of different combinations of moods and feelings.

In very general terms, people who act certain ways like certain kinds of scents. For example, those who enjoy a sense of young peacefulness, tranquility, and solitude like oriental perfumes for their heavy sweetness. Those who are both active and optimistic about the prospects of life enjoy hyacinth, lily of the valley, and freesia for their fresh, spring-based scents. People who seem grounded or able to deal with life on a deeper level like scents that have a powdery, flower base to them. Extroverts, who like activity, change, and spontaneous decisions like fruity floral fragrances including those that are pineapple, raspberry, black currant, or peach based. People who need a sense of order and security in order to function like floral oriental perfumes for their earthy, sweet notes. People who have a sense of emotional stability combined with an extroverted personality like scents like oak moss with bergamot.

If people with certain personality bases like certain scents, it can be extrapolated that certain scents invoke certain moods or feelings. Our moods and feelings are on a constantly evolving basis in our minds. We have very unstable, unpredictable patterns in our minds, and, interestingly enough, scientific studies show that fragrances can evoke some moods and feelings in a way other stimuli cannot. For example, the scent vanilla can make one feel a sensuality he or she was previously unaware of. It can unleash hidden, yet strong emotions that resonate throughout the entire body. A scent like sandalwood can invoke warm, seductive feelings that were previously unrecognized by the individual. Patchouli is a forceful scent. It creates profound feelings. It is often associated with earthy tasks. Myrhh induces an overall feeling of courage. It creates a metal strength where there was none. Jasmine is the great scent of passion. It can induce erotic thoughts in even the toughest person. Benzoin is great for opening deep emotional wells. It can penetrate thick walls of emotions that have long since been fortified many times over. Ylang ylang stimulates the body. It opens the senses to new, previously unfelt experiences. Bergamot, like jasmine, can produce erotic thoughts, but it also has the power of persuasion with it.

Researchers have identified seven basic scent categories that can invoke varying moods. The first category is floriental scents. These offer romantic, dream-based moods that are often idealistic in nature. They create emotional places where feelings can serve as a master, not just a guide. Another category is aldehyic-floral scents. These tend to project a classical, elegant, or cultured mood. They can evoke feelings of wealth, power, and freedom. Oriental scents are the third category. These offer introspection, sensitivity, and reflection as their base moods. These can evoke a deep, spiritual understanding and intense relationship bonds. An additional category is fruity-floral scents. These project a carefree, playful, and cheerful mood. These fragrances create curiosity and an openness to change that would not ordinarily exist without them. Another category is powdery-aldehydic scents. These scents offer an independent, unconventional, and unfettered mood. These scents offer an artistic freedom. The sixth category is fresh green floral scents. These project a dynamic, active, and extroverted mood. These scents invoke feelings of risk and the exhilaration that goes with that risk. The final scent category is chypre scents. These fragrances project professional, pragmatic, and self-assured moods. These are no nonsense scents that offer a feeling of practicality.

Scents can be powerful tools to very subjective minds.

Why Perfume is packaged with Other Complimentary Products

When was the last time you bought or received a perfume or other fragrance in a stand-alone bottle or package? It has probably been a while, hasn’t it? Do you wonder why that is? Stop and really think about why you don’t go out and buy just the bottle of perfume or cologne by itself or why any fragrance gift comes packaged with other products. Is buying a stand-alone package too expensive? Or maybe, it is because they don’t sell it in a bottle or package that suits your needs; it could be either too small of a package or one that is just too large that you are sure you will never finish the fragrance.

No matter what the reason is, more and more perfumes and fragrances are packaged with complimentary products. The reason for this type of packaging is all about money. There are so many perfumes and fragrances out on the market these days that retailers try and fight for your business by offering complimentary products as part of your perfume or fragrance package. Think about the major holidays where perfumes and fragrances are given as gifts –Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas. You will see various print ads as well as television commercial touting a certain fragrance with complimentary products and even “free” gifts with a purchase.

It is all a matter of psychology for the customer and greed for the retailer. People see all these complimentary products for just the price of the perfume or fragrance and they jump on it. In their minds, they are getting a great deal on some really cool products without having to pay extra for it. For retailers, they see those complimentary products as a marketing tool to hook you in as a customer, hopefully a repeat customer. And guess what? It works. Think about it. You buy or receive a perfume or fragrance as part of a gift basket that has complimentary products included. You absolutely love the scent and greatly enjoy the perfume and lotions and bath gel or whatever else is a part of the gift basket. Now you are hooked. So what happens when you run out of a particular product in that gift basket? You go out buy another product! The perfume retailer has now made you into a repeat customer.

So what exactly are these complimentary products to your perfume or fragrances? These could be any number of products. The most popular items that accompany your perfume are body lotions and fragrance powder in a matching scent to your perfume. Other complimentary products could include bubble bath, shower gel, bar soaps, aromatherapy oils and even candles and incense. These products are touted as giving you a totally scented experience with your favorite perfume or fragrance.

Obviously, these complimentary products make a lot of scents and sense from both a business and personal standpoint. Personally, people want to enjoy the scent of their perfume or fragrance all day. What better way to do that than through the layering of scented products? Washing with shower gel provides a wonderful light base for your scent. From there, an after bath body lotion can keep your skin soft and it also provides a wonderful base for a fragrant powder of perfume application. Through product layering, you can extend the length of your scent.

From a business standpoint, these complimentary products pay off in increased market share and profits. It is actually a clever move to build up a repeat business as well as allow customers to try their products without denting their pocketbook. Through some creative packaging, these gift sets that feature your perfume with complimentary products can sometimes be collector’s items and well sought after. Perhaps the perfume manufacturer created a limited edition perfume bottle that is available only through the purchase of a gift set. This boosts the popularity of the product and almost guarantees a sell-out.

As long as there are thousands of perfumes and fragrances to choose from, there will always be those gift sets with complimentary products. Take advantage of those products and enjoy trying out products that you normally might not have bought. Who knows? Thanks to that creative marketing ploy of complimentary products, you may just find a new favorite.

How to Choose Your Signature Perfume or Fragrance

The choice of one’s perfume says a lot about one’s personality, lifestyle and way of thinking. And it also makes quite an impact on other people as well. Long after you leave a room you want your fragrance to linger on, as if in remembrance of you and your strong presence. It was famous perfumer Jean Guerlain who said, “Perfume is the most intense form of memory.” A fragrance is so many things. It is art, it is emotion, it is romance, it is energy, it is intimacy and it is empowerment. Perfume tells a story all its own. For all of these reasons choosing a signature fragrance or perfume is so very essential to a woman’s sense of self. Today’s fragrance market is booming with over 20,000 fragrances for perfume lovers to choose from. So how does one decide on a signature fragrance? Read on …

The first thing you need to do is decide on what specific mood it is you are attempting to create. Once you decide on that then you have completed the first important step. Fragrances can be broken down into three loosely based groups. These groups include classic, delicate and sensual.

If you are not sure exactly what fragrance you are seeking then go for a classic scent. Classic scents are the tried-and-true, old standbys of perfumes. But there is nothing dull or boring about these authentic fragrances! Classic perfumes are like the classic black dress or pair of pearl earrings that should be staples of any woman’s wardrobe. A classic fragrance matches everything. It is perfect with every outfit, every pair of shoes, for every season of the year and for every occasion, whether it be business, social or casual. Chanel No. 5 is one of the classiest and most timeless scents around. This perfume combines ming, rose and jasmine and is a favorite of women all across the globe- from Canada to the United States and from Europe to Asia and everywhere in between. Chanel No. 5 is truly a sophisticated and elegant choice for a classic scent. Another classic fragrance worth considering is Oscar which contains just the right blend of Bulgarian rose, amber, jasmine and mirth. This is a grown up perfume that is ideal for black tie galas.

The second group is the delicate fragrances and as their name suggests, these are very soft and feminine and hard not to fall in love with! Two of the most popular delicate fragrances on the market today are L’Air Du Temps and Premier Jour. L’Air Du Temps first appeared on the scene in 1948 and creator Nina Ricci made a hit with her delicate scent that consists of carnation and gardenia and smaller but no less important ingredients jasmine, rose and sandalwood. This perfume has often been described as being a “garden of delights.” Another well-known fragrance of Nina Ricci’s is called Premier Jour and this very ultra modern fragrance of the 21st century is based on a note of sugared almond and is very pleasing to the senses.

The third group is the sensual group and it is very bold, self confident and passionate. Sensual calls to mind two signature fragrances right away, Opium and Chance by Chanel. Opium first appeared on the fragrance front in 1977 and it has been exceptionally popular ever since. This perfume is thought to be sultry and magical with its blend of carnation, jasmine, lily of the valley, mandarin, amber and vanilla. One of Chanel’s latest fragrances, Chance, is spirited not to mention edgy, and boosts a feeling of enthusiasm and optimism. This perfume is sure to delight any woman with its sensual pleasures. The scent is made up of citrus notes, jasmine, pink pepper and white musk.

When shopping for your signature perfume you should remember that your choice of fragrance should complement everything about you, from your looks to your personality to your specific lifestyle. How a perfume smells on somebody has a lot to do with his or her body chemistry, as body chemistry is a very individual entity. The same scent on one woman will smell differently on another. That is why it is so essential to make a determination about perfume based on how it smells on your skin, not on someone else’s. Be aware that fragrances after they are applied to the skin change their smell slightly so be patient and give it time to decide if it is suitable for you and especially if you want to make it your signature fragrance. A signature fragrance is very unique- make yours speak for you!

Fu-Fu Fever – Fragrance Figures into Many Products

Fragrances are all around. If you take the time to examine the environment around you, you may well notice that they are, in fact, a part of most everything you do. The world has gone fragrance mad, and there is no sign of slowing down. Where are fragrances showing up now? It is hard to know exactly where to begin, but consider some of the more popular places that we don’t always acknowledge.

Consider cars. We have become so obsessed with fragrances and aromatherapy, that a vehicle seems almost incomplete without some sort of scent to it. It might be scented oil drizzled into the rugs of the car to make it smell new, like strawberry, or with a hint of vanilla after an oil change. It may also be a scented piece hung from the rear view mirror in the front seat. There is such an obsession with fragrance now that it is not enough to simply rid the car of bad odors, but it must also get its own new fragrance to replace that odor. Combine that with the bath soaps and perfume scents you bring each time you get into your car and it becomes a chamber of scents, odors, and fragrances; it is a fragrance cocktail.

Bath products are another. There was a time, believe it or not, when soap really just smelled like soap. Not only are soaps scented now with fragrances and perfumes, but even the type of soap you use will determine the scent. There are bath oils, body lotions, and bar soaps just to get you started. Each has its own set of fragrances and perfumes included in it. If that is not enough, there is your shampoo which may be one fragrance while your conditioner is another. Once you have cleaned your body with a scented soap or body wash and washed your hair with a scented shampoo and conditioner, you can still wash your face with a face wash that has its own fragrance. The hard part is not finding fragrances in bath products, but in trying to make sure they all compliment each other sufficiently.

To find the next fragrance product, you will have to go no further than the bath mat as you step out of your perfumed shower experience. Lotions have become an absolute hub of fragrance. The idea of lotions and fragrance, in fact, has become so big that they are now often used instead of actual perfume or cologne. Lotions can be purchased with pretty much any scent that is available for aromatherapy now; you need only walk down the aisle containing lotion at your local convenience store to see just how many there are.

Then there are candles. It may seem obvious that candles would be fragrance induced, but they have become so to such a degree that it is difficult to even know how many there are. You may buy them yourself or get them as gifts, but the problem comes in making sure you only burn candles that compliment each other. Like with any time you use a scent, it is really just important that you pay attention to what it is that each fragrance induces as far as a reaction. Work with themes and don’t just start lighting candles of varying scents without paying attention to what goes together.

Fragrance is everywhere. By the time you get up in the morning and take your shower with scented soap, wash your hair with scented shampoo and treat it wish scented conditioner, and treat your skin with a fragranced lotion you are already well on your way to fragrance saturation. However, then you might crawl into your car for work where there is vanilla, pine, or new car fragrance either sprayed or being wafted through the car via a hanging decorative fragrance emitter of some sort. That doesn’t even take into account the candles that are likely all over your home that you have purchased and gotten as gifts, each with its own fragrance to add to the cocktail of fragrance in your and everyone else’s lives. Since we know fragrance is everywhere, it is important to at least make sure they all compliment one another. Take a few extra moments in your day to ensure that what you wear, what you clean with, and what you burn all have some relation in terms of theme or compliment and you will be in control of this fragrance rich society in which we live.

Easy Tips to Find Your Fragrance Online

The World Wide Web opened up so many opportunities for retailers to really expand their position in the marketplace. In fact, some retailers only have “storefronts” on the internet. This means that the retailer is not spending money on overhead, salary for extra employees or even rent expenses. These web retailers often will pass those costs savings on to their internet customers. Therefore, you can often find great prices for items you want on the internet.

For those of you who enjoy buying and wearing perfume, but hate jockeying for position at the fragrance counters at department stores, buying your fragrance online makes sense. There is no more fighting traffic to drive to the store or playing chicken in the parking lot with other cars trying to get a parking place. You don’t have to deal with rude people or indifferent salespeople either. All the customer service you need is at your fingertips, thanks to your computer keyboard and the internet.

Of course, with the convenience of shopping online anytime day or night, there are some things to consider before embarking on your quest to purchase a fragrance on the internet. First of all, when you shop online, there are drawbacks. You cannot hold or inspect the item in person. Many people don’t feel comfortable not having that level of control in their purchase. When you are browsing through online stores to look for a fragrance, keep in mind that you will only be able to see what the product is packaged in and read a brief description of the scent. If you have no clue what you are going to buy, purchasing a fragrance online is not our best option.

There is one way around this dilemma. Go to the department store’s fragrance counter. Yep, you have to negotiate traffic and parking lots to test some fragrances. Make your one-time trip to the department store and test various fragrances. Narrow down to your favorite choices and ask to take a few perfume samples home. For a few days, try the different scents and choose your favorite that you want to purchase. Once you have made a decision, then you can make an order online for your fragrance.

Once you do have a specific fragrance you are looking for, it is time to find the best perfume website to purchase your scent. This is probably the hardest part of the process. Why, you may ask? The reason is that practically anyone with an understanding of the internet can throw a website together and claim they are an online store. It is up to you to ensure that the web retailer is legitimate, especially since you will likely have to part with a credit card number to pay for the purchase.

So how do you know a web retailer is legitimate? There are several ways to discover that information. First, ask your friends and co-workers if they have ever purchased fragrances online and what their experiences were. Another way is to look on the ordering page of the web retailer’s website and look for the Better Business Bureau logo. This nonprofit organization that safeguards consumers against bogus companies also has some governing power on the internet. When businesses are members of the Better Business Bureau, they have to go through financial inspections and provide various accounting information. Of course, not all legitimate web retailers are members of the Better Business Bureau. However, you can still you the Better Business Bureau as a resource. Check up on the company you are interested in buying from and see if there have been any negative reports on them.

Cash on Delivery (COD) is a rare choice these days, but smaller web retailers who have yet to establish a real internet presence may offer this option to you. With COD, you are not out any money until you receive the product via the mail or parcel delivery service. This choice may offer you that peace of mind you need when purchasing online. One final way to feel comfortable buying your fragrance online is to visit the perfume manufacturer’s website. Buying straight from the source virtually certifies that you will not be gypped on the sale. Prices for your fragrance may be a little higher with this option, but you can consciously know your purchase is guaranteed. It takes a little effort, but your pocketbook will thank you when you purchase through the internet.

Introducing Seasonal Scents into your Beauty Regime

Just as the change of seasons brings with it changes in fashion, skincare, and makeup colors so too does it have an influence on perfume choices. It’s smart and can be fun to introduce seasonal scents into your beauty regime. As the temperature changes with the seasons so should the scent you choose to wear. Let’s take a closer look at seasonal scents.

The blustery cold of winter causes the molecules in scents to be less volatile which simply means that a quick spritz will go the furthest during this season. During the long windy and snow filled days of winter look for a scent that is heavy, spicy, aromatic and contains ginger and sandalwood. The need to reapply a fragrance of this sort is often not necessary during the wintertime. When it comes to fragrance, think heady, wild, exotic, voluptuous, passionate and oh so sensual for the winter months. The best fragrances for the cold climate are the oriental fragrances that contain amber, rich vanilla wisps and strong notes of musk. Choosing a fragrance with sweet woody notes such as rosewood intermingled with smoky incense is also a good bet for chilly weather temperatures as it has a lasting effect. Three excellent choices for winter fragrances include the timeless Chanel No. 5 (which is made from aldehydes of ylang ylang, woody vetiver and jasmine), Cinnabar by Estee Lauder and Opium by Yves Saint Laurent.

Spring is the season of renewal and new life. Flowers are blossoming, grass is growing and the air is alive with new beginnings. Spring is considered to be the season of “garden delights” and for this reason we naturally are drawn to scents that are both sweet and fresh. Reach for floral scents in the springtime that make you come alive. Delicate and dewy scents that contain honeysuckle, freesia, lilac, violet and wild rose are springtime winners as are heady and lush fragrances that contain the ingredients gardenia, jasmine, jonquil and lily. For the season of colorful pastels some fragrance suggestions are Wisteria by Chantecaille which contains a soft, elegant combination of freesia, orange blossom and dewy green accents; Mimosa pour Moi which is delicately floral but with a touch of the exotic in the form of blackcurrant, green notes and violet; Dolce

Scents of Smell Can Be Psychological

The fragrance market did more than ten billion dollars in sales last year. They managed to make such a record profit for a number of reasons. First, we like to smell good. We are convinced that unless we buy scented products in every aspect of our lives, we will not fit in with the societal norms. More than that, though, fragrances work on levels that we cannot even consciously process. They have odd effects on the mind. Women have scents that make them feel attractive; make them feel like themselves, or one that they see as having a positive effect on others. Fragrances are a powerful stimulant to the mind as the memories locked away in our subconscious levels. Fragrances can help wake us up or soothe us to sleep. Scientific studies show there is a close relationship between the scent and the emotional side of our brains.

People with particular characteristics can be matched with certain fragrance categories. Our sense of smell depends, more than any one of our other five senses, on a connection with those other sensory preceptors. As a result, our choice in fragrances is determined by both our psychological and emotional needs. Fragrance can give us the chance to emphasize our moods and feelings. It can even help us to project new moods and feelings in our minds. Our moods constantly evolve, but at the core, we tend to have a dominance that comes through in things like our choice of fragrance. For example, active women who are generally optimistic about life and its prospects like fresh or spring-like scents. Things like hyacinth, lily of the valley, and freesia are common with this group of people. Young women, or those who remain young in spirit long after their bodies have aged, and those who tend to enjoy solitude and peace enjoy scents with a heavy sweetness like oriental perfumes. Women who like order and security in their lives tend to enjoy perfumes that contain both earthy and sweet notes like floral oriental perfumes. Women who are extroverted by nature, that is to say those who enjoy spontaneity, activity, and change enjoy fresher floral fragrances with hints of fruits like pineapple, raspberry, black currant, and peach. Mature women who are grounded in the ways of the world typically use perfumes that have a powdery flower scent to them. Women who are both emotionally stable and extroverted like fragrances that would combine something like oak moss with bergamot.

One set of research suggests that there are seven basic fragrance categories, each of which matches certain moods. The first category is aldehyic-floral scents. These tend to project a classical, elegant, or cultured mood. Women who fit into this category tend to be wealthy and powerful. They do not consider themselves slaves to fashion, and they are free to explore society as they see it. They enjoy both elegance and exclusivity from others who they do not perceive to fit in their social circles. They are usually appreciative of culture in any form. The second category is floriental scents. These offer romantic, dream-based scents that are often idealistic in nature. Women who fit within this category are usually very emotionally sensitive. They do not see life from a rational point of view, and they rarely have a sober outlook on the world as a whole. They allow their feelings to control them. Their moods dictate the course of their lives. They use their emotions to guide them from one place to the next.

Oriental scents are the third category. These offer introspection, sensitivity, and reflection as their base moods. Women who tend to enjoy these fragrances have a deep understanding of themselves. They connect with their spiritual side on a much deeper level. They have intense relationships everywhere they go. They despise anything they see as superficial from relationships to mundane daily duties. They are their own best company, and they are typically at peace with themselves. The fourth category is powdery-aldehydic scents. These scents offer an independent, unconventional, and unfettered mood. Women who like scents in this category are both highly individualized and seriously artistic. They use only themselves as a guide to their own lives. They demand to be free and unattached on all levels of life. The fifth category is fruity-floral scents. These project a carefree, playful, and cheerful mood. Women who enjoy these fragrances are open to change. They are curious and love life for all of its new experiences. The sixth category is fresh green floral scents. These project a dynamic, active, and extroverted mood. Women who enjoy these scents like risks. They show initiative on all levels of life. The final scent category is chypre scents. These fragrances project professional, pragmatic, and self-assured moods. Women who prefer these scents are practical and uncomplicated. They accept responsibility in all facets of their lives.

Fragrances can reveal many things about who we are. They can give us a connection, on a very different level, to a number of different things.

Perfumed Beauty Products: Too Much of a Good Thing?

These days, it is all about whether you have any scents or not, at least in the beauty products arena. Something that is pleasing to your sense of smell can be great, but when does it become too much of a good thing? Luckily, it is in the nose of the beholder. Each person’s preference regarding scents and aromas is different and because there are a plethora of products on the beauty market these days, you can pick and choose whatever you want.

Beauty creams, powders, lotions, bar soaps, bubble bath, shower gel, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and body sprays all have fragrances infused in them. Sure, you can get them without any smell if you have allergy problems, but for the most part, many of these products have some sort of scent. Thanks to the popularity of retail stores that specialize in bath and body items, these scented products are in demand.

Obviously many people like these perfumed beauty products, otherwise we would not be assaulted every so often by someone who, it seems, bathed in a certain scent. You may wonder, “Do they even know they smell really strong?” This is an instance where you can have too much of a good thing. They either truly have no idea that their smell is overpowering or perhaps they thought that the scents would dissipate after a length of time. Normally, that would be the case. However, it is possible to be overwhelming when using one scent in a variety of products.

Perhaps your favorite scent for your beauty products is vanilla. Washing your hair with a vanilla shampoo and conditioner would only give your tresses a light scent that would fade within the day. But what if you decided to use the shower gel or bar soap for your bath? The vanilla scent would stay on your skin for a while and be subtle. There are no worries about overpowering smells there. But then, let’s add a facial cream and body lotion scented in vanilla. Lotions are thicker and absorb into the skin to keep it feeling soft and supple. The scent also tends to linger a bit longer than the shower gels or bar soap. Still, all in all, this would not be overpowering, noticeable yes, but not overpowering.

Now, let’s add a dusting of vanilla scented body powder as well as a body spray. This is the point where the usually warm, comfortable smells of vanilla can start to overpower. As you can tell, each scented beauty product on its own, does not have the power to be overwhelming to the people around you, nor does adding a few of the same scented products to your beauty regime. It’s adding them all together that tips the balance from lightly scented to heavily unbearable.

Another reason that scented products can be overwhelming is that these scents are everywhere. Dryer sheets, laundry detergents, potpourri, cleaning products, linen sprays … it is no wonder that more and more people hit that olfactory sensory overload. Another thing that comes into play is a heavy hand at the helm of the sprayer. Some people just do not have a sensitive enough nose to detect when they have put on too much fragrance. Unfortunately, these people do not seem to notice it on themselves, but the people around them definitely can tell.

If you do happen to notice that the aroma wafting from you is a wee bit strong, there are a few things you can do to tone it down. First of all, you can use an unscented baby wipe and gently glide it down on the parts of your body that has the most fragrance. Usually dabbing the pulse points with the wipe will cut down on the overpowering scent. However, if you sprayed cologne or perfume all over your body, including the hair, you need to take a little more drastic measures. Dissolve some baking soda in a little water and mix it in a sprayer bottle. Lightly mist this mixture into the air, and then walk into the cloud and let it settle onto your body and hair. This will absorb some of the overwhelming smell from your fragrance.

When in doubt about whether or not you are an overwhelming odorous presence, ask a friend for guidance. Don’t use every scented product known to man in your beauty regime. You only need a few to really make your presence known without overpowering everyone around you. Remember, less is more!