Just like any other accessories and physical decorations one wear, perfumes play a huge part on the whole effect of an individual. There is a wide variation of fragrance options to choose from. They are designed to suit an individual's preferences.

Its history goes a long way back. There is ample evidence supporting their existence even in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. The early perfumery in India was different because of its fragrances that are generally incense-based. A cuneiform tablet believed to come from the 2nd millennium BC Mesopotamia showcased a perfume-maker named Tapputi.

In Cyprus, archaeologists found the oldest perfume that dated back to not less than 4,000 years. They gained access to an ancient factory that housed mixing bowls, perfume bottles and funnels. The ancient ingredients include herbs, spices and flowers. Almond, coriander, myrtle, bergamot and conifer resin are just some of them.

Perfume types are generally classified according to the concentration of the aromatic compounds in each solvent. Extracts have 15 to 40% aromatic compounds while eau de parfum and parfum de toilette generally have 10-20%, eau de toilette has 5-15% and eau de cologne has 3-8%.

When describing perfumes, they come with three sets of notes that make up supposedly harmonious scent. The top notes are composed of small and light molecules that evaporate quickly, so they are perceived immediately after application. The middle notes are the heart of a perfume that emerge right after the top notes go. The base notes are the deep part of the whole scent and are there after around 30 minutes after the perfumes are applied.

Generally, scents fall into the following categories. Single floral is dominated by the scent of a specific flower while the floral bouquet is a combination of the fragrances of more than one. Oriental scents are sweet and slightly animalic, wood are of woody scents and leather scents are those of honey, tobacco and wood tars. Chypre is named after Francois Coty and consists of oakmoss and labdanum among others. Fougere is based in lavender and coumarin.

Budget is always a major consideration in perfume selection. Designer ones come in really high prices. Another option is branded ones, which are in different fragrances. There are times when these kinds are sold with discounts.

Determining a specific perfume to go with entails quite an effort considering how many options one has to choice from. Different people prefer to wear different scents.