Find the fragrance to match your mood

Shape, Nov, 2004 by Suzanne Gleason

The Healing Garden in Bloom ($16 for 1 ounce; at drugstores) bursts with pink rose, orchid and jasmine.

Realities Eau de Parfum ($55 for 3.4 ounces; at department stores) is a mix of floral notes like bergamot and orchid, combined with slightly sensual and comforting sandalwood and vanilla notes.

Eternity Moment by Calvin Klein ($45 for 1.7 ounces; at department stores) is a luscious floral scent bursting with delectable notes of pomegranate flower, raspberry, passion flower and sexy musk.

RELATED ARTICLE: a note on notes

As a fragrance evaporates, you smell scents in three stages, starting with the top notes and ending with the bottom notes. Some fragrances contain additional elements, which fall under the category of middle notes, while others have more top notes or base notes.

top notes Your introduction to a fragrance, these evaporate very quickly, tending to be sparkling and perhaps citrusy. They define the sportier fragrances.

middle notes The heart, soul and bouquet of a fragrance, where you'll usually find florals. Hence, these tend to dominate in romantic scents.

base notes As the last part of a fragrance you smell, base notes cling to your skin and linger. Usually warm, rich scents like patchouli, vanilla, incense, amber and musk, these are the sexiest notes, and the ones that predominate in sensual fragrances.

RELATED ARTICLE: trying and buying

Use these tips when choosing the perfect fragrance for you:

don't sample more than three fragrances at once when you're shopping--your nose will get confused.

block your left nostril when auditioning a scent. Sniffing through the right nostril will heighten the pleasure factor.

test a scent strip first, before dabbing it on. If it appeals to you, try a bit on, walk away and see how it wears on you.

take charge at the fragrance counter. Tell the salesperson a bit about who you are--romantic, athletic, practical.

don't put fragrance on your hair. The sebaceous (oil) glands in your scalp will make fragrance too pungent.

Photography by Nola Lopez

Suzanne Gleason lives in New York City and writes about beauty, health and fitness. She varies the scent she wears according to her mood.