At one time, perfume was considered too precious to use during the day. It was saved for dressing up occasions, balls and parties. Before that, scent was shunned by the Puritans - only the rich and avant garde dared to wear it.
Today, fragrance is an everyday part of grooming for many men and women. And with designers introducing new scents every season, the choices are as varied as the elements that go into them.
New fragrances include scents for men and women, as well as one for both. Elements range from fruit and spices to tea, wood, herbs and flowers.
Bulgari Eau Parfumee au The Blanc is a unisex scent. As the name suggests, it incorporates white tea as the main element. White tea can be harvested on only a few days each year, making it a rare and sought-after natural ingredient.
Eau de Lalique is described as "a fragrance for every woman of every age." Top notes include cedarlemon, red pepper, bergamot, tangerine, dill and cardamom. Middle notes are floral and spicy - freesia, hibiscus and cinnamon - and bottom notes are the smoky hints of woods and musk.
The crisp, fresh, masculine scent of Perry Ellis Portfolio Green for Men combines citrus blend and mandarin with clary sage, lavender, black pepper, jasmine and rosewood, along with tobacco, musk and sandalwood. Sharp, clean packaging evokes a professional image in green and black.
Fred Hayman 273 Indigo for Men and 273 Indigo for Women are destined to be classics. The "fruity floral" womens and "woody chypre" mens scents are packaged in luxurious pyramid-shaped bottles in indigo and gold.
OP Blend Women and OP Blend Men are the newest fragrances in the OP line. Symbolic of surf, sun and fun, the scents are packaged in electric colours - deep purple and hot lime green.