Common Scents

I don't wear perfume. I haven't for almost 10 years. I stopped after I was diagnosed with asthma and realized perfume aggravated it.

But, after seeing all the ads before Christmas for the zillions of perfumes available now, I want to start wearing it again.

When I was around 12, I started to get interested in perfume and make-up. At the time, one of the popular brands was Jean Nate. Now, pronounce it right; it's "zhen na-te" with the accent on "te." I had the whole works, the bubble bath, lotion, eau de toilette (always loved that ). I thought I was so sophisticated, wearing this "French" perfume. After I finished my Jean Nate bath, my brothers would complain that I had stunk up the bathroom.

From there, I progressed to real perfume and my scent of choice was Shalimar. This is truly a perfume from France, introduced in 1925 and is still around today, an oldie, but a goodie. Of course, the ads for these perfumes are quite over the top now. If my mother read how this scent is being presented today, she would never have let me wear it:

"Shalimar is a fragrance to excite and express desire. She who dares to wear it, is asserting her femininity and ultra sensuality. Hers is carnal seduction at the frontier of the forbidden. Shalimar gives her the freedom to express her feelings and desires relating to her perfume with the utmost in passion. Wearing Shalimar means surrendering control to the senses."

Who writes this stuff? Can a scent truly seduce someone? I believe a person should stick with one perfume, make it your "signature" scent, so whenever a person smells that perfume, they'll think of you. I know when my boyfriend from high school, Carmine (yes, he was from Jersey, but he wasn't a guido!) gets a whiff of Shalimar today, he cannot help but think of me.

Just before I stopped wearing perfume, I was in love with a scent that I actually bought online from Victoria Jackson. It's just known as her "Signature Scent." I had noticed the scent on a woman I was acquainted with and asked her what it was. I was very surprised to hear the answer because this woman was quite wealthy and could afford to wear whatever. I purchased it and I'm not exaggerating when I say I was stopped numerous times by total strangers, asking me what I was wearing.

Now, it seems, every celebrity has their own perfume line. Do people buy a perfume just because there's a "name" attached to it? Celebrity perfumes actually do the opposite for me. I haven't decided what scent I'm going to select, but I doubt that it will be one of these (though Miss Piggy's "Moi" sounds intriguing.

From Wikipedia:

Musicians

50 Cent: Power [1]
Ashanti: Precious Jewel[citation needed]
Avril Lavigne: Black Star
Beyoncé Knowles: True Star, True Star Gold (backed by Tommy Hilfiger), Emporio Armani Diamonds (backed by Giorgio Armani)
Britney Spears: Curious, Fantasy, Curious: In Control, Midnight Fantasy, Believe, Curious Hearts, Hidden Fantasy, Circus Fantasy [2]
Celine Dion: Celine Dion, Notes, Belong, Always Belong, Memento, Enchanting, Spring in Paris, Paris Nights, Sensational, Sensational Moment, Spring in Provence, Chic
Carlos Santana: Carlos by Carlos Santana[3]
Cher: Uninhibited by Parfums Stern, Inc. [4]
Christina Aguilera: Christina Aguilera by Christina Aguilera (2007), Inspire (2008), Christina Aguilera: By Night (2009).[5]
Cliff Richard: Miss You Nights, Devil Woman
Deborah Gibson: Electric Youth (mfd. by Revlon, 1989-1990)
Enrique Iglesias: True Star (backed by Tommy Hilfiger)
Gwen Stefani: L. A. M. B., L by Gwen Stefani, Harajuku Lovers (Includes 5 Different Fragrances)
Jennifer Lopez: JLo Glow, Still, Miami Glow, Love at First Glow, Live, Live Luxe, Glow After Dark, Deseo, Deseo Forever, Deseo For Men, Live Platinum, Sunkissed Glow [2]
Jessica Simpson: Fancy, Fancy Love
Julio Iglesias: Only, Only Crazy [6]
Kiss: Kiss Her, Kiss Him
Leona Lewis: Leona Lewis[7]
Luciano Pavarotti: Luciano, Luciano Pavarotti
Kylie Minogue: Darling[5], Sweet Darling, Showtime, Sexy Darling, Couture, Inverse (Men)
Mariah Carey: M by Mariah Carey, M by Mariah Carey Gold, Luscious Pink, Forever
Michael Jackson: Mystique de Michael Jackson, Legende de Michael Jackson [8], Magic Beat Unwind, Magic Beat Heartbeat, Magic Beat Wildfire, Michael Jackson Mystery [9]
Prince: Get Wild [10], 3121
Sean John: Unforgivable, Unforgivable Woman, Multi-Platinum
Shania Twain: Shania by Stetson, Shania Starlight[citation needed]
Tim McGraw: McGraw, Southern Blend
Usher: Usher For Him, Usher For Her
Victoria Beckham: Intimately Beckham for Her, Intimately Night for Her, Beckham Signature for Her
Alejandro Sanz: Siete Alejandro Sanz Men, Siete Alejandro Sanz Women

Actors/Actresses

Amitabh Bachchan: Amitabh Bachchan by Lomani Perfume for Men
Alan Cumming: Alan Cumming [2]
Antonio Banderas: Spirit, Mediterraneo, Diavolo Hypnotic, Diavolo Donna, Diavolo, Blue Seduction
Catherine Zeta-Jones: Elizabeth Arden Provocative Woman, Red Door Revealed
Charlize Theron: Dior J'Adore
Eva Green: Dior Midnight Poison
Milla Jovovich: Emporio Armani She, Emporio Armani Night for Women, Dior Hypnotic Poison
Elizabeth Taylor: Passion, White Diamonds, Forever Elizabeth, Black Pearls, Diamonds & Emeralds, Diamonds & Rubies, Sapphires & Diamonds [2]
Gloria Swanson: Estée Lauder Youth Dew
Hilary Duff: With Love... Hilary Duff, Wrapped With Love
Isabella Rosselini: Daring, Isa Bella, Manifesto, Storia
Joan Collins: Spectacular
Joan Crawford: Estée Lauder Youth Dew
Kate Winslet: Lancôme Trésor
Uma Thurman: Lancôme Miracle
Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen: N.Y. Chic, L.A. Style; One, Two; Hamptons Style South Beach Chic
Nicole Kidman: Chanel No. 5 (see No. 5 The Film)
Keira Knightley: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
Raven Symone: That's So Raven
Sarah Jessica Parker: Lovely, Covet, The Lovely Collection: Dawn, Endless & Twilight
Shahrukh Khan: 'SK' by "SK" by Jeannes Arthes. SK Silver for men, and SK Gold for women.
Shilpa Shetty: S2 (pronounced S square) by Mark Earnshaw
Clive Owen: Lancôme Hypnôse
Henry Cavill: Dunhill London
Ewan McGregor: Davidoff Adventure
Monica Bellucci: Dolce & Gabbana Sicily
Reese Witherspoon: In Bloom
Scarlett Johansson: Calvin Klein Eternity Moment
Rachel Weisz: Burberry London for Women
Ioan Gruffudd: Burberry London for Men
Gwyneth Paltrow: Estée Lauder Pure White Linen Light Breeze, Estée Lauder Pleasures, Estée Lauder Pleasures Delights
Liv Tyler: Givenchy Very Irrésistible
Queen Latifah: Queen
Halle Berry: Halle

Athletes

David Beckham: Instinct, Intimately Beckham for Him, Instinct Intense, Intimately Beckham Night for him, Beckham Signature For Him
Derek Jeter: Driven[11]
Maria Sharapova: Maria Sharapova
Michael Jordan: Michael Jordan, Jordan, 23
Carlos Moyà: Carlos Moyà
Jeff Gordon: Halston Z-14

]Fictional Characters

Miss Piggy: Moi
Barbie: Barbie, Barbie Blue, Free Spirit, Sirena, Summer Fun, Super Model
Dora The Explorer: Dora The Explorer[citation needed]
Marvel Comics and DC Comics: X-men, Storm, Spider-man, Hulk, Superman
Strawberry Shortcake: Strawberry Shortcake[citation needed]
The Powerpuff Girls: Bubbles, Buttercup, Blossom[citation needed]
Austin Powers: Mojo [12]
Desperate Housewives: Forbidden Fruit [13]

]Misc.

Calum Best: Calum
Danielle Steel: Danielle
George Kurdahi: Lebanon's George Kurdahi, GK
Jade Goody: Shh..., Controversial
Joan Rivers: Now & Forever
Kate Moss: Kate, Velvet Hour, Kate Summertime
Katie Price: Stunning, Besotted
Kim Kardashian: Voluptuous
Kimora Lee Simmons: Baby Phat Goddess, Fabulosity
Lata Mangeshkar: 'Lata Eau De Parfum' by Gandh Sugandh
Naomi Campbell: Naomi Campbell, Mystery
Prince Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi: Prince Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi, Giove Nettuno Plutone [14]
Svetlana Stalin: Svetlana's Breath
Zeenat Aman: 'Zeenat' by a Saudi Arabian company
Paris Hilton: Paris Hilton, Just Me, Heiress/Heir, Can Can, Fairy Dust, Siren
Alex Curran: Alex
Chanelle Hayes: Mwah!
Christian Audigier: Ed Hardy [15]