The fragrance industry does the bulk of its business around Christmas, mainly because that is one of the few times a year than unwilling shoppers are forced down the perfume aisles of department stores around the world in an attempt to somehow find the right fragrance gift for a loved one. Even people who love perfume and can nose their way around a perfume department blindfolded can feel your pain. Buying perfume is not easy and there are actually several factors you don't even know yet that are conspiring to make it even more difficult. Rule Five is smell the coffee. Most perfume counters have little net bags of coffee beans hidden away. Ask for one if you want. It's to clear the nostrils during episodes of nose fatigue. The idea is that you take a whiff of coffee and you can go on to the next scent.
If you know the brand perfume, skip this step. But if you don't, think of whether the person would want a floral scent (or something very modern right now, the fruity floral, which are for the trendy, the young, and those burdened by their own tragic hipness), a fresh scent (which is kind of like soap, very mild, and popular with people who are or imagine they are under 18), an Oriental or spicy scent (these are heavier and for mature women; I would even say they are old lady scents except I wear them. Let's just say they are much more complicated, denser perfumes that are very sophisticated. Here's a way to look at it. I am certain that Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton wear fruity florals and fresh scents exclusively.
If you know the brand perfume, skip this step. But if you don't, think of whether the person would want a floral scent (or something very modern right now, the fruity floral, which are for the trendy, the young, and those burdened by their own tragic hipness), a fresh scent (which is kind of like soap, very mild, and popular with people who are or imagine they are under 18), an Oriental or spicy scent (these are heavier and for mature women; I would even say they are old lady scents except I wear them. Let's just say they are much more complicated, denser perfumes that are very sophisticated. Here's a way to look at it. I am certain that Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton wear fruity florals and fresh scents exclusively.
It's an unusual scent made by French perfumer Thierry Mugler and it's very popular in the U.S. This is one of the great "secrets" of the perfume industry, known by perfumistas and men and women of fragrance, but not widely known to newcomers to the fragrance department. If you're buying perfume for somebody only marginally more knowledgeable than you are (or less knowledgeable), go for Angel and tell that person that this perfume is the best-seller in the country that is most famous for savvy perfume consumption.
Rule Eight is that fragrance products differ. Perfume is the strongest stuff and not that commonly sold. You are likely to be offered eau-de-parfum or eau-de-toilet (which also goes by the unfortunate name of toilet water), of which eau-de-parfum is the stronger and the more suitable for gifting. Sprays, colognes, and eau-de-toilet are lighter fare, best for people who don't mind touching up their fragrance often and also suitable for younger people. People who know perfume want eau-de-parfum or perfume.
Rule Nine is don't be impressed when your sales person speaks French. It's the language of perfume. Eau-de-parfum is pronounced oh-duh-par-fahm where the m sound on the last syllable is only suggested. Perfume is actually correctly called both parfum and perfume in America, so your salesperson may say par-fahm. Many scents have French names. Givenchy (which by the way makes an extraordinary floral scent that just about everybody likes called Very Iressistable) is pronounced jhee-vun-shee. Say it, it's fun.
Rule Eight is that fragrance products differ. Perfume is the strongest stuff and not that commonly sold. You are likely to be offered eau-de-parfum or eau-de-toilet (which also goes by the unfortunate name of toilet water), of which eau-de-parfum is the stronger and the more suitable for gifting. Sprays, colognes, and eau-de-toilet are lighter fare, best for people who don't mind touching up their fragrance often and also suitable for younger people. People who know perfume want eau-de-parfum or perfume.
Rule Nine is don't be impressed when your sales person speaks French. It's the language of perfume. Eau-de-parfum is pronounced oh-duh-par-fahm where the m sound on the last syllable is only suggested. Perfume is actually correctly called both parfum and perfume in America, so your salesperson may say par-fahm. Many scents have French names. Givenchy (which by the way makes an extraordinary floral scent that just about everybody likes called Very Iressistable) is pronounced jhee-vun-shee. Say it, it's fun.
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