You must be both stubborn and open-minded when you arrive at the shop. An air of feckless uncertainty will only invite aggression or condescension. The default setting for any sales assistant is to sell the latest thing. If you want to bypass the most recent releases and get into things that came out prior to last Tuesday, come up with a challenge for them: ask for the best one.

— Luca Turin & Tania Sanchez on how to shop for perfume, in the UK Times Online.

As long as you're in Paris, visit a few exclusive perfume boutiques with a self-described "passionate perfumista." Neela Vermeire's Perfume Paths walking tours visit boutiques such as Guerlain and Hermes; she'll help you pick out a fragrance based on your preferences and personality. "You can't choose a perfume unless you're in the right environment. It's like choosing lingerie," she says.

— From Follow Your Nose to France, a brief article in the Washington Post.

These days the most popular perfume for women is Code, by Armani. Also Juicy Couture, that is a big one. The most expensive ones now are Dolce & Gabbana, and the price has gone up and up and up. Many customers don’t understand why. We have to explain that we aren’t raising the price because we want to, but because we have to.

— From The Semisweet Smell of Success, an article about a vendor in New York City's perfume district, in the New York Times.