5 Fragrances for 40somethings

A cada década que passa, minha vida (e provavelmente a maioria da sua) se transforma de maneiras que nunca pensei que fossem possíveis. Por exemplo, agora tenho 33 anos, mas não consigo nem começar a me lembrar da última vez que fui ao Happy Hour, ou fiquei acordado até meia-noite sem um bebê chorando envolvido. Desnecessário dizer que meus 30 anos até agora foram uma grande mudança em relação aos meus 20 anos, e tenho certeza de que a próxima década trará ainda mais mudanças que ainda não imaginei. Então, quando recebi a tarefa extremamente divertida de identificar fragrâncias ideais para mulheres de quarenta e poucos anos, naturalmente fui direto para uma seleção do mercado-alvo (também conhecido como meus amigos em seus fabulosos 40 anos), para sugestões e sugestões.

Para muitas mulheres, os 40 anos trazem inúmeras evoluções importantes no estilo de vida, como maiores responsabilidades na carreira, filhos mais velhos que dependem menos de suas mães para as necessidades básicas e assim por diante. Como tal, muitas mulheres encontram-se ansiosas por uma nova fragrância mais adequada ao estágio atual da vida. Em poucas palavras, eles não querem cheirar como teeny-boppers, mas desejam ficar longe de fragrâncias de velhinhas também. Como tal, as mesmas mulheres, que na adolescência ou na casa dos 20 anos usaram avidamente o perfume Exclamation (e convenhamos, o pó corporal correspondente) estão no mercado para algo mais maduro.

Since there are roughly a jillion fragrances out there to choose from I've put together a list of scents to try if you're in need of a 40something-appropriate signature fragrance. Bear in mind that the same fragrance that smells delicious on your best friend might be less pleasing on you, thanks to body chemistry, diet and other factors. On the next page, check out the description of one fragrance that your nose will appreciate and might just make your taste buds water, too.

1. Angel by Thierry Mugler
2. Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana
3. Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
4. Eau des Jardins by Clarins
5. Prada by Prada

If you're looking for a unique scent that'll stick in people's minds, look no further than Angel by Thierry Mugler. My friend Kathleen Bender, 44, of Kennesaw, Ga. dons this delicious fragrance regularly and has no plans of switching it up this decade. An oriental floral by category, Angel has a lot going for it. First, it's in a really edgy, cool bottle shaped like an off-kilter star. Second, unlike the vast majority of other fragrances out there, it predominantly blends food-related notes. For example, chocolate, vanilla, honey, berry, bergamot and caramel mix with warm spicy and patchouli accords in a way that just works. Thanks to the less conventional blend of scents, this fragrance is a pretty memorable one, as illustrated by my friend's recent experience.

"A retired male co-worker, who I had not seen in two years, returned to our school for a Veterans Day breakfast," says Kathleen. "When he saw me he walked right up and gave me a big hug, then held on for a minute and said, 'Oh, have I missed your smell!'"

Needless to say, Angel is recognizable, but not overwhelmingly so. If you long for a scent that will remind people of you (in a good way!), this one could be your ideal selection.

A Note on Notes

Fragrance lingo can be confusing to the untrained nose. "Note" is a commonly used term that describes the scent impressions of a perfume (top note, middle note and base note), of which there can be many in a given scent.

It's hard to imagine Dolce & Gabbana turning out a product that isn't completely awesome. Light Blue is no exception, as relayed to me by Susan Lewis, 45, of Kennesaw, Ga., who enjoys the calming effects of the eau de toilette spray. Since she's a teacher, she probably really needs it!

"When I get a whiff of the scent it takes me down a notch if I'm having a stressful day," explains Susan.

So, how is that possible, you ask? Dolce & Gabbana have worked diligently to channel the joys of Mediterranean living via the fragrance. This is an obvious perk, since I've pretty much never met anyone who dislikes the Mediterranean.

Light Blue is described by Dolce as a scent that's light enough for daytime use, but full enough for evening wear. It owes its calming fragrance to a combination of musk, apple, jasmine and rose notes. Dolce & Gabbana is often regarded as a powerhouse in the fashion industry, so it's pleasantly surprising that the Italian company has produced such a successful fragrance that's light years from being snobby or high-fashion.

It's no surprise that Sarah Jessica Parker dabbles in the fragrance industry, what with her well-documented love of style, fashion and everything related. What's shocking is that she actually has time to do it in the first place. SJP, age 47, is a busy woman, thanks to her raging career, three children and highly publicized marriage to Matthew Broderick. So although we may not all possess her waistline or amazing abs, busy moms in their 40s can certainly identify with her.

A member of the mossy woods fragrance category, Parker developed Lovely as an homage to her long-held interest in layering fragrances. As such, it features a range of scents, with top notes like lavender, bergamot and apple martini, which are cooled down with middle and bottom notes like patchouli and musk.

I have this friend who I've known for about a million years. She has excellent taste and is wonderfully passionate, so you know exactly when she truly loves something or completely hates it. Fortunately for Clarins, Eau des Jardins falls in the "thumbs up" category.

"I think as I've gotten older I have gotten away from the sweet and flowery scents and opted for more natural and earthy scents," says Staci-Jill Burnley, 40, of Alexandria, Va. "It's probably an evolved idea that natural is usually better than artificial."

Apresentado pela Clarins como uma "fragrância de tratamento", que pode melhorar a umidade e o brilho da pele, Eau des Jardins também promete afetar positivamente o humor, o que não é tarefa fácil para mulheres ocupadas. Não sei se isso realmente acontece com certeza, mas eu aprecio o aroma ao ar livre, embora não excessivamente floral ou cítrico, que ele emite. Os usuários relataram que, na verdade, ele tende a evoluir ao longo do dia, de inspirado no jardim para mais profundo e mais lenhoso. As notas incluem cítricos, patchouli, rosa e almíscar branco, entre outros.

Além disso, ao contrário da maioria das outras fragrâncias, os psoralenos foram removidos da Eau des Jardins, tornando-a segura para uso ao sol.

I may not be able to afford much of anything that Prada manufactures, but after sampling this scent I will make it a mission to own this one item. And a handbag, if Santa delivers like he's supposed to this Christmas.

If light and sweet or earthy, green fragrances just aren't your cup of tea, you could be yearning for something richer, sexier and more mature. Prada by Prada will probably scratch that itch nicely. Although it's a little much for wear in the carpool line, this woody oriental fragrance is elegant, classy and perfect for evenings out with your girlfriends or husband. It might not be suited to everyone, but those 40something women who want to stand out will certainly appreciate it.

Prada by Prada produces this enjoyable fragrance thanks to a mash-up of notes like amber, balsam, bergamot, orange, vanilla, musk, sandalwood and raspberry flower, to name a few.

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