In the spring/summer, most of us like to do a few things to pamper ourselves to prepare for the new season of warmth, freedom and fun. Whatever you choose to do to celebrate the new season, the perfect perfume can make your experience even better. A great scent adds ambiance to everyday life, and electrifies your aura when you step into a party. Now that's an entrance!
While some women like to wear the same perfume year-round, many prefer to switch scents with the seasons. Like fine wines complement certain dishes, various perfumes complement different times of year.
In general, stronger perfumes work better in the chilly months of the year, because cold air tends to dilute and weaken a scent. In the warm months, your body heat and sweat help the scent of your fragrance really pop, so you can go with a lighter scent and a more sparing application, yet still be noticed.
Fragrance can be a pricey buy, but think of it as an investment. A little bit goes a long way, and a high quality perfume will last you for quite a while. However, before you invest in a fragrance, be sure you really love it. Simply liking the brand or loving the bottle isn't enough. Feel free to sniff your heart out; you never know how a fragrance will work with your body chemistry until you try it.
Classic
Some perfumes are destined to be classics. In order to fit this category, a scent should be sophisticated, timeless and appropriate for a variety of settings and events. It should also capture a feeling, an idea, or a season and express it as eloquently as any words can. This is a tall order for a little bottle of mixed oils, but some perfumes pass the test.
Eau D'Issey by Issey Miyake ($65 for Eau de Toilette Spray) is a classy spring perfume blending both aquatic and floral scents. It's sophisticated but also subtle enough for daytime, so you can bring a refreshing scent of spring into the office everyday and transition to an evening of cocktails on an outdoor patio.
Parisienne by Yves St. Laurent ($65) is a nice floral feminine perfume with just enough woodiness for an undercurrent of earthy sensuality. It's a great date perfume, especially if you want to be transported from the Olive Garden to the Champs Elysee in no time flat.
Sexy
As spring warms into summer, your mind will probably be on shedding your clothes and feeling the sun on your skin. Exotic, beachy scents will put you in a vacation state of mind, even if you're staying close to home, and who couldn't use a nice relaxing getaway?
The citrus, sandalwood and jasmine fusion of Island by Michael Kors ($62) grabs the passionate, carefree feeling of the Caribbean and puts it in a bottle for you to enjoy anytime. This is a new scent for Spring 2011, so get it while it's hot!
Calvin Klein Euphoria ($45 for Eau de Toilette Spray) is one of the sexiest perfumes a girl can wear. Pomegranate, orchid, amber and other exotic components mingle together to produce an ultra-sensual scent that's bound to turn heads.
Fun
Spring and summer are the seasons of fun. The colors, the weather, and the positive vibe help get your pulse going and make you look at things from a more optimistic viewpoint. The nicer weather makes it so much easier to be spontaneous and open to new adventures and possibilities. A spring perfume should help you express these great feelings and experiences.
Twirl eau de Parfum by Kate Spade ($65) is a happy, fresh scent that features watermelon as a top note. It also has a great mix of other fruits, a bit of musk - even an undercurrent of "macaron," the French version of macaroon cookies. Yum!
Clean
Spring cleaning doesn't just refer to the yearly de-junking of your desk, it means taking a fresh approach to every area of your life, including your scents. Some women can't get enough of ultra-clean, not-too-musky perfumes that smell like good old-fashioned soap and water. This type of scent is ideal for warm late-spring days when less is truly more.
Nothing says clean like a fragrance called, you guessed it, Clean! Sephora's Clean To Go ($38) is their popular perfume in a smaller, easy-tote format, so you can take the freshly showered, light scent with you wherever you go.
A perfume can be clean, but have just the right amount of sultriness hiding beneath the surface. Glow by J.Lo ($50) mixes the soapy floral notes of classic clean scents with undertones of amber and musk to make a unique and attractive perfume
Oriental
Asian-inspired scents, known in the perfume world as Oriental scents, hold a lot of appeal. They're exotic, feminine and sophisticated-sexy. Some perfumes in this category are spicy and warm and more suited for winter, but others remind you of Japanese cherry blossoms and mist, making them great choices for spring.
Victoria's Secret Dream Angels Heavenly ($39-$59) blends white peony, vanilla and sandalwood for a scent that's feminine, mysterious and sweet. It's perfect for rooftop cocktails and warm evening strolls.
Romantic
Chance Eau Tendre by Chanel ($65)blends fruit and green notes for freshness with the lightest touch of musk for sensuality. It's an understated, subtle romantic scent that's equally appropriate for an evening on the town or a day at the office.
The advertisements for Estee Lauder Beautiful ($61) feature a bride and her wedding party frolicking joyfully on a gorgeous spring day. There really is no better image for this romantic and upbeat scent. With its rich, woodsy base topped by scents of roses, lilies, marigold, and other flowers, this perfume is as bright and lovely as a bride's bouquet. Try the Eau de Toilette for an extra-light, ladylike scent
