Every woman wants to smell divine. But the search for the right fragrance can be as elusive as that search for the perfect Prince Charming. Yes, there are plenty of fish in the sea. And, sure, it's easy to steer clear of the cheaper, less desirable, options. But even when you limit yourself to the high-end stuff, the choice of fragrance is overwhelming.

Shopping for fragrance is additionally complicated by the fact that the olfactory system quickly becomes overwhelmed. After three or four fragrances, your ability to differentiate between scents is probably shot. And, because you absolutely have to try fragrance on your own skin (it will react differently with each person's skin), you've probably run out of places to spritz it too!

Memory & Smell:

While fragrance is known for providing fragrance, perfume bottles have long been coveted for their display-worthy design.

Our sense of smell is deeply connected to our faculty of memory. Marcel Proust, the French author, conveyed in great detail how a smell from childhood can trigger an intense and involuntary graphic memory of a certain event and emotional state.

It makes sense, then, that we are attracted to fragrances that are somehow connected to positive memories, however abstractly. The types of fragrance each of us is drawn to will fall into one of two camps: light and dark.

A Lighter Fragrance Touch

As the name suggests, light fragrances are floral, ozonic and fresh. They evoke a sense cleanliness and youth, smelling of line-dried laundry and fresh growth, of freshly chopped wood, spring rain and newborn babies.

Even in the sterile environment that most modern homes and offices epitomize, there exists a desire for a fragrance that spells "clean", but yet adds some warmth to our anonymous surroundings. Light fragrances accomplish this task with subtlety and style. Their wearers are vivacious and playful, yet they don't take themselves too seriously.

But though these discount designer fragrances are light, they are not necessarily un-complex: The bouquet can be a blend of many floral fragrances, with dashes of fruit, citrus, water or 'green' notes such as grass and herbs, which will evolve differently on each wearer.

The Darker Side:

At the other end of the spectrum, there are dark fragrances. Dark scents are not the natural choice of most girls: They're gritty, tenacious, dirty and full of depth. They smell like old books, of worn leather, wet earth and rotting wood.

The original purpose of all fragrance was, of course, to stop us from stinking in times when people could not bathe daily; hence the name "toilet water" or eau de toilette. The ingredients chosen were ones that signalled freshness, like lemon, lavender and roses; ingredients we associate with lighter scents. But people soon developed a use for fragrance beyond that of plain deodorizer, and there lies the origin of darker fragrances.

In 18th century France, perfumers began to add excrement, diluted extremely, to floral fragrances to create depth and complexity. Nowadays, the equivalent ingredient is musk, which will add an animal note to any fragrance.

Of course, the perfumer employs these ingredients with skill. Adding musk to floral and fruit scents will create a sickly, sweet scent, that's at once nauseating and luxurious. Dark fragrances speak of a woman who is sexual, confident, mysterious and passionate.

Signature Scents:

Whether you gravitate towards dark or light fragrances, at some point you'll find one you adore. Then the inevitable question becomes whether that fragrance is a life-long love or a fickle fling.

But there's an inherent Catch-22 in adopting a signature scent: On one hand, you'll leave a definite imprint on people's subconscious memory. You'll be forever associated with that fragrance and it will become a part of your personality, a part of your identity - like the colour of your eyes or the sound of your laughter.

On the other hand, the more you wear a fragrance, the less you'll be able to detect it yourself. You won't yourself enjoy the waft of fragrance that a man smells when he kisses the nape of your neck. You'll also have to become a pro about how much you apply. Those ghastly ladies who wear too much perfume probably can't smell the fact they've gone overboard!

Myself, I'm a big fan of the signature scent. I've been wearing the same fragrance for more than 15 years and although I have had the odd affair with another fragrance, I've always come back to my dependable signature scent. And returning has been like reconnecting with an old lover; there's a sense of familiarity and reinforcement of a deeply-ingrained identity.<

Star Power:

But perfume and cologne is not all about sensual pleasure. As an estimated US$2.8 billion dollar industry, there's tough competition to stake and maintain a hold in the fragrance market. And what better to boost sales than a peppering of star-power?

Stars like Britney Spears and Sarah-Jessica Parker have, with varying degrees of involvement, lent their names to fragrances. But, while a star certainly adds sizzle, they are no guarantee of success.

Celebrity fragrance may have initial pull with a loyal fan-base, but such discount perfumes will unlikely have the longevity of more established fragrances. Chanel No. 5 has been around since 1921, Guerlain Mitsuoko was created in 1919 and Shalimar has been around since 1925. These fragrances tell a story of a bygone era, yet are still wearable and coveted nearly a century later. Will we be able to say the same thing about Curious by Britney Spears?

At the end of the day, if any discount fragrance is going to develop a loyal following, it has to seduce our senses and not simply appeal to a fickle fashion trend. After all, a woman's relationship with her fragrance is a complex one, grown over time. The fragrance that will ultimately make us fall in love is one that is an ineffable expression of our true selves.