From custom blends and designer brands down to drug store standbys there are thousands of perfumes at all price points, but if you haven’t found your signature fragrance yet, trying out a myriad of choices might be costing you a pretty scent! 
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Once found, the perfume that’s right for you will embody your essence, please you and those around you and blend harmoniously with your natural body aroma. A scent adds to your persona, can alter the way people relate to you and how they remember you, it should be subtle however... not hit you like a freight train coming through!

A perfume should be worn as a hint, not a full-blown statement! Don’t be that person who walks by leaving a trail of nose invasion, wearing too much perfume or a scent that opposes one’s natural human odor is not attractive, it’s tacky! Your perfume should be a gentle waft, a subtle suggestion of the woman or man you are, sexy, strong, deep… you get my drift! 

​I have only three fragrances in my repertoire used for different occasions. My everyday perfume which I’ve considered my signature scent for over 30 years.  The second is my summertime occasion perfume and the third an evening scent for dressed up dates and special events.  If you're still searching for the one that embodies your spirit, then read on for my suggestions... or should I say "hints"! 

In 1988 I discovered my forever fragrance which came about on the recommendation of a gentleman friend with exceedingly good taste.  He told me about a new perfume just launched by the house of Boucheron which he believed to be the sexiest scent he’d ever smelled on a woman! I tried it, fell in love and from that day on entered a lifelong relationship with this exotic perfume! The unique scent blends into my being and becomes one with me.  It’s complex, light but spicy, notes of floral but not sweet, sensual and classic.  I recommend the Eau de Parfum for daily wear, linked HERE. 

I also love the body lotion of the same scent which I sometimes use instead of the perfume. It's luxurious, melts into the skin and gives an all over gentle hint of fragrance. I recently purchased a fabulous deal which is still available offering both the Boucheron Eau de Parfum and the Body Lotion in a beautiful gift box at a great price, linked HERE.

Boucheron fragrance notes (Source:basenote.net)
Top Notes
Lemon, Bergamot, Blackcurrant, Basil, Orange blossom
Heart Notes
Tuberose, Jasmine, Lily of the valley, Geranium, Iris, Sandalwood, Cedarwood
Base notes
Tonka bean, Civet, Oakmoss, Benzoin, Amber, Olibanum, musk
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My husband discovered this perfume, a man very much into old classics… that’s why he married me! Whilst the perfume itself is one of their newer ones (2011), the company, Acqua di Parma was founded in 1916 in Parma, Italy. The Gelsomino Nobile is an exquisite perfume of floral jasmine, tuberose and mandarin among other notes.  Every time I wear this, I receive a compliment and asked what it is. To me it’s a very summery smell, it’s pretty and fanciful, it’s laughter in a bottle!

Upon writing this post I discovered that it is no longer available, discontinued... well that was rude! There is another scent from Acqua di Parma called Magnolia Nobile which has very similar notes to the Gelsomino. I haven't tried it myself so I cannot give my recommendation at this point.  You can read more about it along with reviews at ​www.basenotes.net 
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​My third scent which I save for evenings, going out and special occasions is Black Orchid from the Tom Ford collection. This is an exotic, intoxicating scent which can drive a person crazy with desire (from my experience)! It’s deep, rich, luxurious and expensive but so worth it! A very little goes a long way and it lasts well. 

Black Orchid fragrance notes (Source: basenote.net)
Top Notes
Jasmine, Gardenia, Blackcurrant, Lemon, Bergamot, Mandarin
Heart Notes
Orchid, Spicy notes, Fruity notes, Lotus
Base notes
Vetiver, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Incense, Amber, Chocolate, Vanille

Perfume is a very personal choice but if you already wear or like one of these perfumes there is a good chance you will like my other picks too... makes perfect scents, don't you think! ​
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Apply perfume only to your skin, never to clothes:
The oils can discolor and damage fabric and the whole purpose of perfume is to mingle with your own body oils which is what creates a unique smell solely yours!
 
Never rub perfume in:
When you spray it or dab it on leave it to dry by itself or pat dry at the very most. Rubbing it in can dissipate the smell so that it doesn’t last.
 
Best places to apply perfume:
Warm parts of the body that will omit the scent such as the neck, décolletage, the inside wrist. I know there are other warm body parts, but I’m assuming they will not be out in public, so no point wasting your expensive perfume there! 
 
Storage tips:
Do not store perfume in direct sunlight or where it can heat up. Room temperature and neutral light is best. Perfume does go off although it’s rarely labeled with a ‘use by’ date, so if you’ve had a bottle for years… yes that dusty old bottle at the back of the bathroom cabinet which looks like it contains a liquid resembling a malt whisky, it’s probably gone off… throw it away!
 
Best places to buy perfume:
I recommend to only buy from reputable stores or the perfume house itself. I once purchased Boucheron from an online perfume discount seller and I’m sure it was a dupe. It smelled similar but there were some ever so slight differences in the bottle and the color of the perfume, it also didn’t last for very long when I wore it.
 
What to do with partly used old perfumes:
You can donate them to women’s shelters or other charitable organizations. You can sell on Ebay, there is a good market for them. I don’t recommend purchasing them this way because there are lots of dodgy sellers out there, plus, they are usually past their “use by” date! 
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​Many of us in our late 40's and 50's have thought about facelift surgery as a way to keep looking as young as we feel. But surgery is a big decision, and it can come with lots of questions about the procedure, the recovery process, and whether it’s all worth it.
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For those curious about going the surgical route, I spoke with Dr. Jerold Olson, a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in facial plastic surgery in Tucson AZ, about what it’s really like to undergo a facelift.  Check out what he had to share.

A life of interesting stories leads to a face of interesting wrinkles!
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I wasn’t overly concerned until my early-fifties, that is when the ravages of age laid it’s claim to my face. I’ve been afraid to try anything invasive including Botox… the needle, injecting something into my face, what if I don’t like the results? I’m probably beyond fixing anyway… if my face was Earth, some of the wrinkles would be relative to the Grand Canyon!
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It's been eight weeks since I started using the Trophy Skin MicrodermMD which is an at-home microdermabrasion machine. Here is my complete review with before and after pictures, plus an ingenious experiment to treat the back of my left hand only!

​With summer just around the corner, it’s time to start planning for your vacation—and for many, that means getting that winter body in summer shape. More often than not, our desire to lose weight and tone up before an upcoming vacation becomes a last-minute sprint. But if you start now, you'll increase your odds of success. Here are a few simple tips for converting to a healthier lifestyle.

The ravages of a well spent youth are reflected in many ways as we leave one era of our lives and begin the next. Lines, wrinkles, blemishes and lack of elasticity appear to a greater or lesser degree depending on the level of "well spent" we're dealing with! It's a natural progression but can still be hard to accept, especially when the vision reflected back at us in the mirror is not representative of how we feel inside - wrinkle free and much the same as we've always felt!

Midlife pulls many tricks on us - hair growth where we least expect it, and hair loss where we need it most - from our head.  Sadly, it effects women as well as men. 

Hair, like everything else goes through changes over the course of a lifetime. Shine and volume synonymous with youth gives way to dull, weak and thinner strands.  There are however several things we can do to maintain our luscious locks for as long as possible without going the chemical route.

Korean skin care products are fast becoming the most sought after and esteemed beauty treatments in Europe and North America. Saranghae is a 5-step skin care routine that has been developed over 600 years in South Korea using locally derived natural botanical extracts. The name "Saranghae" is Korean for "I love you".

A spray-on tan has to be one of the easiest and cost effective ways to get yourself an allover instant golden tan ready for a vacation or special event.  I had the opportunity to try this beauty treatment, a completely customized hand sprayed tan at the Golden Glo Airbrush Tanning salon in Scottsdale.  I am absolutely amazed how natural it looks and how gorgeous it made me feel.
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Who doesn't love getting a manicure and pedicure? Hands and toes primped, pruned and nails painted to perfection leaving little jewels atop each  digit like shiny bling!  And if that weren't enough, the benefit of sitting back, being pampered, reading a trashy magazine or just people watching lost in your own thoughts, ah... bliss!

Wow, who'd have thought eyelashes could be life changing! If you've ever wondered what's involved in having eyelash extensions, what's required on an on-going basis and whether you should take the plunge or not, then you need to read this.  If you want a real reason to justify saying "I woke up like this",  and you're looking to amp up your "hello gorgeous" factor all whilst wearing no makeup, then this is the beauty regimen for you.

To start my Memorial Day weekend in style, I attended the official launch for the opening of the Tom Ford cosmetics counter at Nordstrom Scottsdale, located in the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall in Arizona. I was invited to have my makeup done and meet Allan Aponte, Tom Ford's National Artistry Executive, and of course the lovely staff whom I have come to know over the years due to my love of Tom Ford perfumes, specifically Black Orchid. I've long since been a fan of Tom Ford cosmetics,  his lipsticks are one of the few that don't dry my lips, and the nail color lasts without chipping for days beyond other brands.

I have become much more picky about the products I use since I reached my late forties and early fifties.  I've also become much more skeptical about what products claim to do.  When I find something good I tend to stick to it, unless someone I know convinces me that there is something better.  Today I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite beauty products that I've been using for several years now.  My loyalty to these products has not waned in the slightest, and I use most of them on a daily basis.