Jonna is fairly new to perfume, and she's hoping we can help her:

I’m looking for something more “pretty” and feminine. Not girly or pink and not necessarily too womanly or sexy. Something I could wear to work, to a night out or to a date.

I really enjoy the creative side of wearing perfume, I love the moments of discovery “this smells exactly like my uncle’s old car!” or “this is what the beach in Barcelona smells like” and maybe because of that I’m drawn to the ones that intend, at least to a degree, replicate the smell of something “real”.

Her price limit: around $100…

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Today's subject is Jenny. Jenny is a nurse in her early 30s and a mother to a busy toddler. She can't wear perfume to work, and she already has her perfect evening scent, Jean Paul Gaultier Classique. She's looking for a casual fall/winter scent that she can wear on days off. A cool bottle would be a plus, but it isn't a requirement. Staying under $75 is a requirement. Bear in mind that Jenny also has limited access to perfume stores. Macy's and Sephora are both nearby, and she is willing to buy some samples.

In addition to the Classique, Jenny's collection currently includes Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely and Origins Ginger. Notes she likes include musk, smoke, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon), eathy notes, citrus, herbal (rosemary and lavender are particular favorites), heliotrope, carnation, violet, lilac, rose. Jenny doesn't like berry-fruity notes, water scents or sticky-sweet smells, and she finds powdery fragrances beautiful, but generally not a good fit for her…

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Today's victim is Samantha. She's a stay-at-home mom during the day and a nurse at night. She's owned a number of perfumes that she's grown tired of (or just grown out of), including Ferragamo Incanto, Escada Rock 'n Rio and Fresh Sugar.

Samantha recently purchased By Kilian Love, and says she is “happy-ish with it”, but not thrilled, and she's been spending too much money on samples looking for the perfect scent. She's hoping we can help narrow down her choices. She'd like to find the one (or maybe two) unique fragrance(s) that fit her personality, and her budget is $100 or less per bottle.

Here are some more details about Samantha:

Family is very important to her, as is feeling good and sexy.

She likes makeup, high heels, and jewelry…

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This week's Monday Mail is about Natalie, who was “a budding perfumista” in her teens (Hermès Calèche, Jean Patou Cocktail). As an adult, Natalie finds that she has drifted to “pretty-pretty, crowd-pleasing florals” (Christian Dior Diorissimo, L'Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons Extrême, Jo Malone Orange Blossom) that aren't a good match with her pesonality. She has started out exploring new fragrances but would like our help deciding what she should sample next. She doesn't mind splurging within reasonable limits (no JAR or Clive Christian), but she'd also be happy with a budget fragrance.

Here is what we know about Natalie:

She's a single mother in her late 30s.

She's happiest in either huge cities or “the back of beyond”.

She's describes herself as moody, daring, complicated, or less charitably, difficult. She's also “eccentric, creative, and introverted, and my professions have included everything from glassblowing to managing professional boxers”…

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This week's subject is Rachel, who is in her early 20s and HAS NEVER WORN PERFUME. She needs our help. She'd like to find 2 perfumes, one for day and one for evening, and she'd be extra-happy if we'd recommend fragrances that are $150 or less.

Here is what we know about Rachel:

She is fair-skinned, athletic and a dancer.

Her favorite food is salad.

She works at a law firm and has a bad habit of correcting other people's grammar…

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