I was at a department store perfume counter and saw a woman mesmerized by the Chanel Eau Première display. “Could I try this?” she asked. A sales associate sprayed one of her wrists. “You know,” the customer said, “I’ve never tried the real Chanel No. 5. Could I try that, too?” When No. 5 was on her other arm she excitedly sniffed one wrist and then the other. I thought, I have just seen the birth of a perfumista.

As people become involved with perfume, they seem to go through certain stages — at least, I know I have. I’m going to take a stab a laying them out. How do they match your experience?

Stage one: Strong Interest. This phase, where you like perfume enough to own a few bottles and follow new releases, can last for years. You probably smell whatever comes through the department stores and have tried a few of the classics like Patou Joy and Chanel No. 5. You sniff perfume from bottles on other people’s dressers and compliment coworkers on how they smell. You probably like perfume more than most people you know, and you hope one day to find your signature scent…

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