This week we’re helping Jennifer, who wants to find a fragrance that will make her think, that changes over time, and is distinctive but polite in company. She can pay up to $100, and while she doesn’t have great local access to perfume stores (just Sephora and Macy’s), she’s willing to shop online. Here is what we know about Jennifer:

She works part-time for an online bookstore.

She’s in her mid-30s and has two young children whose curiosity keeps her pretty busy.

She says she is a quiet, stealth-weirdo. She’s also really nice with a tiny dark side, friendly but shy, goofy, introspective, curious, bubbly, articulate, talkative, and creative and with a critical eye.

She adores nature and speaks Japanese and German, and she is learning French.

One of her most interesting scent-experiences was interacting with a former co-worker, who would tell her what people smelled like naturally (“she has a library-like smell” or “She has a dry, campfire smell.”)

Jennifer likes earthy, leather, anything on fire (candles, incense, cigarettes, pipe-smoke, bonfire), herbal-y or outdoorsy…

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This week we’re helping Michele, who says she is a sniff-a-holic. She’d love to find a fragrance that won’t send her family off screaming when they smell her. Something sultry for those rare nights out without her children would be great, but she’d also like to hear suggestions for a fabulous every day signature scent. Her general preference is medium sillage and good lasting power, and she’d like to keep the cost below $200. She has excellent access to perfume stores. Here is what we know about Michele:

She’s in her late 40s, and is told she looks like Claire Danes (if Danes were middle-aged, mind you).

She’s on the professional staff in a school and works regularly with teachers and elementary school children.

She lives two hours from Manhattan in the suburbs with her husband, father, and two sons. Her 11-year-old son has a genetic disorder and life with him is challenging.

Fragrance and make-up are her refuge — they lift her mood on difficult days.

Other loves: cats, birds, cooking, and creating crazy, funny music videos to celebrate the teachers in her school when they retire.

Here are the fragrances Michele already owns: Kai, By Kilian Beyond Love, Love & Prelude to Love, Hermès Eau de Merveilles & Kelly Caleche, Calypso Herbe d’Ete, Dior L’eau de J’Adore, Moynette Paris, Dumont’s Tendre Madeleine, Serge Lutens Datura Noir, Parfums de Nicolaï L’Eau a la Folie (pleasant but maybe too masculine), Loukoum (not sure if this is Keiko Mecheri or Lutens, but she finds it overly sweet and powdery), Narcisco Rodriguez (black bottle) and Ginestet Botrytis…

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This week we’re helping Gabby, who wants to find a deep, good quality but not too expensive evening fragrance — something unusual but comfortable. Here is what we know about Gabby:

She’s in her early 20s, and is from and currently lives in New Orleans.

Gabby is a legal assistant and is applying for MFA programs in creative writing. She double majored in philosophy and comparative literature with a minor in math, and her favorite book of all time is War and Peace. She also tutors 6th-8th graders in English, and finds that more fulfilling than her current job.

She says her personal style is eclectic but feminine: dresses with interesting prints paired with vintage lace-up ankle boots. Like many young people, she’s always short of cash, so she cooks for herself and shops at thrift stores.

She loves dancing, waterskiing, canoeing, biking, sneaking into hotel pools, and sometimes just loafing around with a good book and some decent coffee.

Gabby tends towards perfumes that are unisex but lean a bit towards the feminine side. Her absolute favorite smell is sweet olive, aka osmanthus…

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This week we’re helping Lauren, who wants to find her signature fragrance. She’d like something that smells great, fits her perfectly, and isn’t worn by everyone else. She’s willing to invest up to $200. Here is what we know about Lauren:

She’s in her mid-teens and in the process of creating her own lipstick company.

She’s also a photographer.

Her style is a mix of vintage (clothes from the 50’s and 60’s) and classic (well-fitting jeans, blazers, things that are simple but fit well).

She has pale skin, brown hair, and blue eyes, and she wears natural makeup (besides lipstick.)

Lauren doesn’t know what notes she loves or hates…

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This week Elena wants us to help her find something more complex and rich than what she usually wears, but something she can still wear frequently — not a special occasion perfume. She has no set limit on the price, but she’d prefer to find something under $200. Here is what we know about Elena:

She’s in her early 30s, and lives in the Massachusetts suburbs with her young daughter, husband, and two greyhounds, one of whom tries to clean any perfume or lotion off of her immediately.

She says she is a very nerdy, bookish jock.

She plays tennis and Ultimate frisbee, loves taking her dogs and daughter for long walks, and also loves to read.

She describes herself as outgoing and friendly, analytical and intelligent, goofy and playful.

Elena loves leather, iris, and green fragrances, but says she doesn’t know many notes…

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