Breath : There is nothing quite like waking up with someone special and kissing them with your best morning "dragon breath." One or two bites from an apple kept beside the bed banishes this particular dragon! Remember that a bad taste in your mouth probably means bad breath. Keep a breath sweetener on hand for these times. A constant bad taste in your mouth usually means that you have bad breath from gum disease or tooth decay. No commercial breath sweetener can disguise this bad breath for long. It's time for the dentist.

Hair : It is best to use unscented hair products. A small amount of your favorite cologne/perfume brushed through your hair then works nicely. Clean is still the best smell for hair, though!

Body : Consider a person who received a "sampler" of men's cologne for Birthday. There are six different fragrances that he can wear together. He applied each of these with a heavy hand. Boy did he smell! A pleasant body scent is in order for both men and women but there are a few lessons to be learnt in this:

• Mixing scents is not a good idea.

• Use just enough cologne/perfume for someone standing close to get a "whiff."

• Don't knock your entire family into the next room.

If you want a very light application of fragrance, bathe with a scented bath product or use a scented body lotion after your shower.

At Work : Many people are offended by strong scents and others are even allergic to scents in general.

At a Meal : Strong scents interfere with tastes.

Close Quarters : Places like cars, planes, or small rooms (such as hospital rooms) are not appropriate for heavy scents.

1. Because two people never have the same body chemistry, the same scent may not smell as good on you as it does on your friend.

2. Fragrances don't last indefinitely. They decay even more quickly in warmth. Store those you seldom wear in the refrigerator and keep your everyday scented products out of sunlight and away from heat sources.

3. Don't wear a fragrance in the sun. It may increase photosensitivity. Scents don't mix well with perspiration, either, such as at the gym or at aerobics. Save your fragrance until after your shower.

4. Fragrances evaporate more quickly from dry skin or in dry air. Apply moisturizer or body lotion before you apply scent for more staying power.

5. Fragrances smell stronger during warm seasons than during cool seasons. Adjust applications accordingly.

6. You really can't smell you as well as someone else can smell you. If you are applying fragrance often during the day, or trying out more than two samples at a time, your nose may go "to sleep" from overload. Rather than compete with my brother, get a second opinion from an honest friend.

7. Smell or the lack of smell says something about you and your particular style. Make certain it is flattering.

Perfumes are of diverse kinds -ranging from saps and essential oils of plants and trees, fruits and flowers to the musk of deer to the modern day chemical compositions.

Since time, immemorial human beings have shown predilections for perfumes and fragrances. These have been an essential part of cosmetics and dressing styles - a means to add to an individual's personal charm and charisma.