Fragrance 101

When it comes to fragrances, there is a plethora of brands and types in the market to choose from to suit each person's mood, taste and 'most importantly- budget. For those who prefer scents that are light on the nose and on the pockets (costing just a few dollars), there are various brands of colognes easily found in grocery stores. Adult men and women on the other hand, go for perfumes. As opposed to colognes, perfumes are oil-based, giving it a longer-lasting scent. Perfumes are much pricier than colognes but they remain to have a loyal and large following.

Be it colognes or perfumes however, what really takes the cake are designer fragrance. Designer fragrance are different from the usual colognes and perfumes in terms of packaging, "quality" of scent and its advertising (usually endorsed by a famous celebrity).

Designer fragrance, despite the fact that they can be very pricey, remain popular because of the quality associated with the brand name. They are from a list of popular brands that have proven to be stylish and of top quality. Famous designer fragrance include Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Gucci, Michael Kors, Juicy Couture, Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Bulgari, Kenneth Cole, John Galliano and Mango. It seems like famous couture designers such as John Galliano and Donna Karan are not just geniuses in creating great pieces of clothing that create trends, but are also sages in terms of concocting different scents that are capable of taking you away to a different place. A whiff of John Galliano's "Essence of John Galliano" is claimed to remind you of bonfires.

There are different types for men and women, of all ages and of all races. Even famous celebrities (not limited to Hollywood actors and singers, mind you) have taken on producing their own designer fragrance such as J.Lo, Paris Hilton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Moss, Mariah Carey and yes, even Maria Sharapova and socialite Ivanka Trump! It seems like having a perfume named after her is a manifestation of having it made big in the industry.

Because of the immense popularity of designer fragrance, imitations are being produced left and right. The knockoffs sport the same scent, look and packaging at a much lower price. The difference is in the ingredients. No matter how close the smell is to the real thing, chances are, the scent will easily wear off.

If people see fashion as a way of expressing themselves, the same is true with designer fragrance, or actually, any fragrance for that matter. Fragrance, like clothes and accessories, is also a statement. It tells something about a person's mood and personality. There is literally one type of scent for every mood or activity. For a laidback Saturday morning, one could opt for fruity cologne. For the lunch date with friends, a subtle musky perfume might do the trick. And for that hot dinner date, a fabulous and sexy designer fragrance might be the only thing you need to make the moment perfect!