4 Floral Perfume Picks For Christmas 2009

When buying perfume, sticking to the known, tried and tested brands is always worth your while. A good perfume will last over a decade, retaining all notes and nuances of its fragrance. A less fine perfume, however, will start to degrade after a year or two.

Here are four quality floral perfumes from four leading perfume brands which are sure to make a wonderful Christmas gift for your loved one.

1. Ricci Ricci from Nina Ricci. Nina Ricci has a wide range of floral perfumes, each of which has its own unique appeal and flavor. Out of these, we select the Ricci Ricci for its sprightly, mischievous and audaciously feminine appeal - perfect for the self-confident woman who is conscious of her femininity and not afraid to flaunt it.

Ricci Ricci has top notes of rhubarb and bergamot - spicy, citrusy, floral and calming all at once. Its middle notes are Beauty of the Night and Rose Centifolia, both sensual fragrances that need no more than seconds to mesmerize those who catch a whiff of them. Finally, the base notes of patchouli and sandalwood - both of which are used to calm the nerves and lift someone's spirits - give this perfume a rounded feel that grounds and holds together this fruity, floral fragrance.

3. Scarlett from Cacharel is yet another winning fragrance from the makers of Anais Anais - a white flower bouquet with sweet Oriental fragrances and a honeyed, fruity appeal. The top notes of pear and lemon leave you judging it as "fruity" for a brief moment, before you are hit by the eternally intoxicating scents of jasmine, honeysuckle, sandalwood and honey provence in the middle and base notes. The packaging of this perfume, in a bottle whose lid has mysterious carvings and Japanese flower decorations, also makes a statement about the exotic and sophisticated aura of this perfume.

4. Parisienne from YSL. True to its name and creator, Parisienne embraces the spirit of today's woman - self-willed, empowered, free to flaunt herself, her personality and her sexuality. This fragrance grows around a heart of violet and damask rose, with the soothing floral base notes of patchouli and vetiver mingling with the erotic tones of musk. At the top notes, we find the scents of Vinyl Accord, blackberry and cranberry dancing in a sweet bouquet.

5. Idole D'Armani from Armani. Giorgio Armani has always been known for his no-nonsense yet flamboyant approach, which is subtly flaunted by his designs in a way that seems impossible until you see it. This fragrance is no exception, combining heady Oriental scents with the well-known and much-loved European notes of rose and patchouli.

The top notes are a blend of pear, ginger, neroli and davana - a tart, citrusy, spicy blend with a touch of the sweet and floral. Once this passes, you are hit by the powerful middle notes of rose, saffron and jasmine, with the mildly smoky leather notes that recall incense burning in oriental temples. Finally, the base notes consist of styrax, patchouli and vetiver -tried and tested scents that have held together many perfume bouquets through the ages.

Perfume is a gift that suits all important occasions, and always carries with it memories, elegance and a lot of love and thought. These fragrances have been made by the best, and the complex thoughts and creative impulses that have gone into them will definitely charm the ladies who you gift them to.