More of the Perfume Categories ...

The third category of perfume is green/natural. This is a very fresh and down-to-earth scent. The green/natural fragrance is for the woman who likes to "keep it real" whenever possible and likes to be as natural as she can be. Examples of this type of fragrance include Calvin Klein Escape for Women, Calvin Klein Truth for Women, Chanel No. 5, Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds, Romance by Ralph Lauren and True Star by Tommy Hilfiger.

Musk/oils are scents that leave little (if anything) to the imagination. This is the "S" scent in that it is sexy, strong and suggestive and certainly not for the faint at heart! This is a sexy scent that speaks volumes without uttering a syllable. Musk gives off the most powerful scent of all of the perfume oils and most commonly comes from the male musk deer from the Himalayas and also the musk ox and muskrat. Examples include Caleche by Hermes, Lagerfeld Sun * Moon & Stars, L'Aminant by Coty, Dolce & Gabbana for Women and Shalimar by Guerlain. When you are in the mood to seduce, think musk!

Woody or chypre (pronounced Shee-pra) derives its name from the Mediterranean Island of Cypress because "chypre" is the French word for cypress. This fragrance is an intoxicating mix of floral and earthy with a hint of mystery thrown in for good measure. The chypre group of fragrances is made up of bergamot, jasmine and oakmoss and is often credited to perfumer Francois Coty. Some people liken this fragrance to the flavors of apricot and custard when they are mixed together. The outdoorsy kind of woman who revels in the beauty of nature is likely to favor the chypre fragrance. Examples include Paloma Picasso Perfume, Miss Dior by Christian Dior, Envy Me by Gucci and Michael Kors.

The last category of fragrance is oriental/spicy and is, I have to admit, one of my favorites. The oriental/spicy fragrances are for the self-assured woman who is full of confidence and energy and knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. This fragrance family is sometimes called ambers. Oriental/spicy fragrances are animal scents and vanilla combined with flowers and a bit of the woods. This fragrance group is a mixed bag of lots of different ingredients. The mixture of incense resins and camphorous oils enhances the oriental aspect even more.

This is an exotic and spicy fragrance that is well suited to strong, vibrant women who enjoy being bold and radiant in everything they do. The oriental fragrance family brings to mind images of the Victorian era in both the Far East as well as the Middle East. Examples include Calvin Klein's Obsession, Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, Provocative by Elizabeth Arden, Ysatis by Givenchy, Emeraude by Coty, Lancome's Magic Noir and Lancome's Tresor and Still by Jennifer Lopez.

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