Again this week we’re doubling up on the Monday Mail articles so that we can clear out the waiting list before the holidays. Right now, there are 3 people on the list for January, so it’s still a good time to sign up if you’re interested (instructions can be found here).

So today we’re helping Melissa, who wants to find a daytime fragrance for autumn and winter (she has plenty of summer fragrances already). She used to wear Ralph Lauren Blue, and still loves it but doesn’t feel like it fits her anymore — she’d like something with more depth. She can pay up to $200 but would rather keep the cost at $125-$150; she is fine with shopping online.

Here is what we know about Melissa:

She’s in her mid-30s, and lives in Dallas but considers San Francisco her home. She works in a prison as a forensic psychologist.

Melissa says she is reserved, especially with people she doesn’t know. She dresses quietly and doesn’t like to be the center of attention. She appreciates subtlety and dark humor in life and in perfume.

Melissa is a fan of modern art and fashion, and is an avid reader.

She loves autumn, and hates summer (and notes that Texas has approximately 10 months of summer). In cooler weather, she likes to wear jackets, layer clothes, drink hot chocolate, sleep with the windows open, and curl up under a blanket; she also loves how the the smell of harvest, pumpkins, earth, maple syrup and football mix together.

Her favorite smell, ever, is a candle from Yankee Candle called Harvest.

Melissa likes leather, amber, bergamot, sandalwood, pepper, grapefruit and orange. Some of her perfume favorites include 10 Corso Como, Bottega Veneta, Byredo Gyspy Water…

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Today we’re helping Kisa, who wants to find her new signature scent. She’d like something sophisticated and somewhat exotic, and preferably something available in a range of concentrations — she likes to wear Eau de Parfum during the day and save Parfum for special occasions. She has a preference for classic orientals (see below) and lasting power is a concern; she says even heavy perfumes like Opium don’t last on her. Here is what we know about Kisa:

She’s in her early 60s, and has dark hair, fair skin, medium height and build. She is of Italian, German and Belorussian ancestry.

She retired from teaching (French and Italian) 2 years ago, and married one year ago.

Kisa lives in Long Island, NY; but loves both the city and country.

She enjoys gardening, classical music and reading, and she loves animals. She is also studying the piano for the first time.

Kisa has always had one signature for long periods of her life…

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We’re doubling up on the Monday Mail articles for a couple weeks in an effort to clear out the waiting list before the holidays (and if you’d like to be at the top of the list for January, see here). So today we’re helping Nikki, who says she likes perfume but has never had the chance to try as many as she’d like. Nikki wants to find an everyday scent with good sillage and lasting power, but is open to anything; she’d also like to find a new winter fragrance. Here is what we know about Nikki:

She’s a young, semi-broke 20-something professional living in New York City.

Nikki was raised in an Asian household/family, and is usually quiet and gentle, but she also has a fiery side and can be very assertive.

Her hobbies include reading, writing, circus arts (trapeze, silks and rope), dance (not very good at it), cardmaking, and learning languages.

Nikki likes “masculine” scents (woods, citron, etc.), and there is something she likes about the dreaded “sporty” notes, but sporty perfumes tend to annoy her after a while…

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This week we’re helping Catherine, who wants to find a grownup, seductive evening fragrance that counteracts her youthful, girl-next-door appearance. When she first wrote to me, her perfume experience was minimal, and largely consisted of a “mortifyingly long stalemate” with Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, which according to Catherine didn’t even smell good on her skin. While she has been on the waiting list, though, she has tried a truly impressive number of fragrances (see below). Here is what we know about Catherine:

She’s single, in her early 30s, and is finishing her dissertation in grad school.

She says she has a sort of apple-cheeked, girl-next-door appearance that makes people think she is younger and sweeter than she actually is, sometimes to their disappointment.

She has just lopped five inches off her girly hair in a related effort to look a little more grown up.

Her clothing tends towards the classic and romantic — her favorite garment is a blush-pink suede trench coat from a small French designer — but she gets bored if there isn’t some kind of unusual design element or a little bit of edge (lately she is coveting Rag + Bone).

Catherine wants a fragrance with some complexity, but she is not necessarily looking for something overly challenging…

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This week we’re helping Kirsten, who wants to find her perfect perfume and can pay up to $120. She has a good local selection and is happy to shop online. Here is what we know about Kirsten:

She’s in her mid 40s and lives in Denmark. She is married, no kids.

She says she is a casual, creative person. She makes jewelry using lots of pretty gemstones, and she bakes and cooks (she loves Indian/exotic and Italian foods).

Kirsten has red hair, fair freckled skin, and green eyes — think Julianne Moore.

Kirsten likes white flowers, citrus, lilac, sweet pea and peony…

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