Perfume experts - I've never chosen my own fragrance... help!

[Wenchelda]

Somehow i've managed to reach the age of 34 without ever really choosing my own perfume ... i've had many different ones over the years but they have all been bought for me for birthdays/christmas etc. I've had all sorts... chanel no 5 (which is lovely but too "perfumey" for me every day), Flowers by Kenzo (used to love this but now it makes me heave), Just Pink from Next, DKNY Be Delicious.... those are just a few i can think of.

I think its about time i chose my own and would ideally like to find something i love, rather than something i think is just ok ... but i've no idea where to start. I think i want something that smells fruity rather than flowery (?) definitely nothing too heavy. Like when someone walks past and you think they smell "fresh and clean", rather than a perfumey smell (not sure that even makes sense!) Oh and nothing too expensive either... around £10 a bottle, is that a reasonable price?

Thanks

You won't get anything even slightly decent for a tenner.

Oh .... What's a more realistic price then? Any suggestions for perfumes I might like?

I like Bright Crystal by Versace - light and floral, and gets complimented on a lot.

Fresh and clean?-White linen by estee lauder. You could probably pick it up for about £25.

£10 a bottle you'll be looking at a celeb fragrance. Britney Spears ones are very sweet but still popular or some J Lo ones are ok too. But I would spend a bit more money to get something that lasts well. Ask the fragrance staff in boots

SJP Lovely is, well, lovely and fresh and summery and a 30ml bottle can be acquired for around £12.

Thank you ... I was planning on trying some in Boots but didn't know where to even start!

J'adore by Dior is a fruity floral, I think it smells 'clean.

Chance esu tendre by Chanel is Appley and light snd summery always gets compliments.

Also miss dior is strawberries and floral very pretty and girly.

These though will be £30 a bottle.

Estee Lauder perfumes sre slightly cheaper snd very high quality. Sensuous nude, bronze goddess are good ones for summer.

The Britney Spears ones are very sweet I love Fantasy by her but it's very vanilla sugar.

If you need to keep it cheaper try msrks snd Spencer in their big stores they do an excellent range of perfume really high quality for fraction of the price of dior chsnrl etc.

Or body shop perfumes sre also cheaper and not bad quality.

Or try Happy Heart by Clinique. That is soapy clean smelling v popular.

ilike GLOW by jlo

Go on to OZMOZ - check out perfume genres first. eg if you fancy something flowery or something fruity check out their recommendations. Also go on youtube to katieputricksmells - her views are very entertaining! Decide what sort of perfume y9ou would like and then let yourself loose in a store near you!!!

If you go to try perfume out, wear clothing that doesn't have any perfume or strong washing powder smells.

Smell the top of a bottle, and then whatever you are wearing (wool works well) - it takes away the smell from your nose so the test bottle you smell won't be tainted by the previous one.

This also works when wine tasting.