Have you ever purchased a fragrance that was wonderful in the store, or on your best friend, but when you tried it at home it didn't mix with your skin chemistry? Each of us is unique, and so is our skin chemistry.

"Just as symphony sounds different when performed by different musicians, a fragrance differs when worn by different individuals."

Why? The answer is in varying skin chemistry. Acid balance, diet, medication, skin oil, pigmentation, mood and environmental factors influence how a fragrance develops on the skin as well as its staying power. You may notice a change in the way your favorite fragrances smell on you if you've changed your diet, if you've moved to a new climate, if you're taking new medication, or if you're under more stress than usual. Or perhaps you're so accustomed to your regular perfume that you simply can't detect it when you wear it. If so, ask friends before you put more on--it may already be strong enough. It might also be time to experiment with new fragrances.

Are the principals of fragrance selection are the same for women and men? Basically yes, because skin is skin and fragrance is fragrance. While women's perfumes tend to have more floral and men's colognes tend to have more citrus, woods and lavender, the lines today are often crossed. Uni-sex fragrances are hot, and the battle of the sexes often heats up at the bathroom counter, where women grab their man's favorite scent and vice versa.

People often ask me if it's okay to wear a fragrance made for the opposite sex. Why not? If it mixes well with your skin chemistry, go for it. Be daring. At least it will give people something to talk about.... But seriously, fragrance changes with each person's skin chemistry (see above). So chances are, it will be unique on you, too. Many women enjoy the zesty citrus or warm woods in a men's fragrance, and many men like the sensuality in a women's spicy oriental or woody scent.

One final word of advice for couples: coordinate your fragrances so that one does not overwhelm the other. Complementary scents are the key. Follow your nose and use the fragrance categories noted on the side.

A fragrance wardrobe is like a clothing wardrobe. You'll want fragrances for different occasions, moods, hours and climates. Some people wear just one fragrance, like the Ballanchine and Russian ballerinas who were assigned one perfume to wear at all times (and intensely on stage). Most people, however, will enjoy the diversity of wardrobing. Why, even the French King Louis XV was a devout believer in fragrance wardrobes--he insisted his court wear a different perfume for every day of the week.

The Fragrance Foundation suggests a minimum of four scent types to start a wardrobe: a floral, an Oriental, a chypre or woodsy-mossy and a green. These will carry you through various climates and occasions, and you can enhance your wardrobe from there.