Perfume is a very personal thing and therefore one should not venture buying it as a gift unless you know the person’s preference.  Here are a few tips to consider when shopping for perfume, which hopefully will help you make the right choices.

The first thing you always need to do when shopping for a perfume is to try the actual perfume on your own skin; not a bloater as is usually provided, because your skin has unique chemistry, which when it comes in contact with the perfume’s ingredients will create a scent unique only to your body.  Many people make the mistake of purchasing a perfume without trying it because it smells good on someone else, only to hate the way it smells on their own skin.

Each of us has unique body chemistry, which is influenced greatly by the color of our skins, diets, and habits.  Our body chemistries change approximately every seven years as our diets, habits, and health states change, and that can be noticed if you are using a perfume for a long period of time and suddenly you realize it just does not smell the same on you any more.

When trying a perfume on your skin, spray it on a pulse point such as the wrist, and allow it to penetrate your skin for at least five minutes before you try to smell; if you smell right after you sprayed it, you risk smelling only the alcohol in it and not its essence.  Also, it is recommended that you wear the perfume for the whole day in order to see how it suits your body as well as how long it lasts.  Trying on the perfume for a couple of days before committing to purchasing a bottle will guarantee your satisfaction.

French perfume: Scent is one of the most powerful senses, and the essence of perfume plays off this notion.  Fragrances can delight or overwhelm your senses, and with one whiff can take you down a trip to Memory Lane, whether it's a pleasant or not-so-pleasant experience.

The perfume industry is huge, contributing to the economy and GDP of many countries - France in particular - in major ways, and employing billions of workers throughout the world.  Although largely considered an essential component of a woman's accessories for years, designed fragrances are meant for men as well.  There is a plethora of different types of fragrances available today, from cheap and lower quality to expensive and high luxury.  Traditionally, French perfume has been in the lead in the fragrance industry, accounting for most designer brands of fragrances as well.

The French perfume industry began in the 16th century in the town of Grasse near the French Riviera, which was surrounded by an abundance of beautiful and fragrant flower fields, from which fragrance artists drew their inspiration.  France quickly became renowned as the most prominent producer of perfumes and fragances, and to this day remains the origin of choice for traditional, high-quality, and luxury perfume. 

Likely the leading, most prestigious, most cutting-edge, and most popular French fragrance company is L'Oreal, which produces designer brand fragrance names such as Ralph Lauren, Lancôme, Giorgio Armani, and Guy Laroche.  Another major fragrance company with French roots is the Louis-Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy group, which owns Christian Dior and Givenchy, among others.  Yves Saint-Laurent and Nina Ricci come from French fragrance industry powerhouse company Elf Aquitaine Group.

The French perfume industry has never seen a decline since its beginnings more than 300 years ago, and continues to grow and thrive today.