Holiday 2009: the Definitive Guide to Finding the Perfect Fragrance

NEW YORK, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Holidays are all about families and fragrance
certainly fits right in. Here's a guide that puts personality style together
with the fragrance family to ensure the perfect fragrance gift.

First, know your nose! Perfumes are like musical compositions. The overture
is the 'top'' note or the first impression when you try the scent on or open
the bottle. The impact is immediate and sets up the next chorus of the
fragrance which is the ''middle note''. This is the very heart of the
fragrance that stays with you longest before the final ''base note'' comes
into play, signaling the moment when the fragrance has truly developed to its
fullest, lingering on the skin for many pleasurable hours.

Next, let's talk fragrance like a pro. According to The Fragrance Foundation,
who wrote the book on all things fragranced, perfumed and scented, fragrances
are grouped into ''families''. Florals, Orientals, Chypre (pronounced
Sheep-ra), Woody, Fruity, Floriental, Citrus and Green are the most
well-known. ''It's the magic and alchemy of the perfumer's art to blend and
mix the hundreds and thousands of ingredients that can make up an infinite
variety of 'scentsational' scents. Just like a composer does with music,''
explains Rochelle Bloom, President of The Fragrance Foundation.

Now that you get the idea, here are some personality types that you might
recognize on your holiday gift list and the fragrance ''family'' ingredients
that would appeal to them:

For Her

Sporty: Look for a fragrance that is light and sparkly. Citrus and green.
The crystal-clean fresh tang of such fascinating ingredients as lemon, orange
and lime. The zest and energy of freshly cut grass and dewy-green leaves.

Classic: Think Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel. Often single florals like rose
or gardenia, sometimes balanced by a variety of contrasting, sophisticated
notes from the perfumer's palette.

Fashionista: A cutting edge Italian designer. A little black number from Paris
or a style maven from the U.S.? The fashion designer today uses individualist
notes that range from sophisticated and mysterious to spicy and oriental. Get
their style through a signature scent.

Romantic: Chypre and Floral Orientals work their magic. Often an uninhibited
blend of exotic flowers, herbs and spices.

For Him

Athletic: Citrus. Fresh and brisk. Clean and simple.

Earthy: Fougere forest notes from oak moss, resin and geranium oil.

Dynamic: Smoky, pungent, masculine leather notes.

Holiday 2009 - it's all about family.

SOURCE The Fragrance Foundation

Lyn Leigh of the The Fragrance Foundation, +1-212-725-2755 ext. 102