Eau, yum! Five steps to finding your perfect scent

Is your dresser cluttered with half-empty perfume bottles that you've grown tired of? Yeah, we thought so. Charlsie Hethershaw, senior education consultant at Sephora in Cape Girardeau, tells how to find the right scent, once and for all:

STEP 1: Consider strength

"We always go by whether you like a lighter scent or a stronger scent," says Hethershaw. A perfume or parfum will give a stronger scent, while a toilette is lighter.

STEP 2: Give it a good try

Fragrances change depending who's wearing them and for how long. Before you buy a fragrance, try it on and browse the store for awhile, then decide what you think of it.

"We like to have clients spray it on their arm or pulse points -- the elbow, wrist and neck -- and let it set for about 15 minutes, and then you will have the true smell. How it works with your body chemistry is really important," Hethershaw explains.

STEP 3: The nose knows

Quite simply, you're the one who's going to smell the fragrance all day, so above all else, it should be one you like.

"Think about what you really enjoy -- what makes you smile and think 'yum,'" says Hethershaw. "Is it a sweet icing vanilla, springtime flowers or something more warm, like cinnamon?"

STEP 4: Switch it up

The beauty world often mentions "spring scents" or "fall fragrances." It's not that you need to match your fragrance to the calendar, but it is important to change scents from time to time.

"Your nose gets used to the scent, so you keep spraying more and more sprays," says Hethershaw. "You can't smell it, but everyone around you can. You want to avoid your nose getting used to it."

Many manufacturers sell rollerball fragrances, so it's easy to switch up your scent without breaking the bank.

STEP 5: Make it last

Apply unscented lotion before your perfume. The scent will last longer than it would on dry skin, says Hethershaw. For a stronger statement, layer a matching lotion and perfume.