The stores are loaded with lots of fun fresh fragrances!  Scents hinting of green tea, green  apples, light bouquets of blush and rose, as well as jasmine are extremely popular.  I recently sampled a few fragrances and found several that are quite appealing.

Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift is one of the more popular scents for teens and young adults. It is youthful and struck me as having a light, fruity champagne quality.  Once it settles, it maintains a slight musky/sandalwood scent that is rather nice. Wonderstruck’s core ingredients include green tea, apple blossom, raspberry, dewberry, and peach.  In my opinion, the qualities of this scent are somewhat similar to Someday by Justin Bieber and the Britney Spears’ Midnight Fantasy eau de Parfum. When testing all three, I found Wonderstruck to be a bit more sophisticated and appealing than the other two.

Peace, Love and Juicy by Juicy Couture is very light and soft. There are hints of vanilla and fruit. This is an easy scent to wear as it is not too sweet, nor is it overbearing. Alternatively, I also thought it was somewhat unremarkable.

Versace’s Bright Crystal is very pleasing. It has a nice depth to it. Bright Crystal is heavier than some of the other fragrances that I tested, but it’s not overpowering. It’s a more mature scent and reminded me of fresh roses, my favorite milled soaps, and sophisticated outings.

Lancôme just introduced a new fragrance in their Trésor line named Midnight Rose. It is very feminine and includes hints of raspberry, black currant, jasmine, peony, vanilla, cedar, and fresh roses.  It is very distinct. Give this fragrance a chance. The initial time that I sampled Midnight Rose, I was not taken by it. Once it settled, however, I found it to be a scent that I kept coming back to.  It really is addictive, although it may not be for everyone. I see this as more of a fall/winter fragrance rather than a spring/summer.

One of my favorites is Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana.  It has a light sparkling fruity scent.  Some attributes to this pleasant combination are bamboo, white rose, jasmine, cedar wood, and amber.  This is a scent that I could comfortably wear even on a daily basis as it is not overpowering, but rather very inspiring and irresistible.

Clinique produces the Happy line of fragrances, including Happy and Happy Heart.  I found Happy Heart to be very warm and inviting.  It was rosy and light, with a very youthful/playful side.  The Happy fragrance was exactly as it is titled; it possesses a fresh citrus scent that really does conjure up the sensation of happiness.  Talk about a great pick-me-up on a gloomy day.

I spoke to numerous friends and co-workers about their fragrance preferences. The list of favorite perfumes was wide in range and varied from commonly known fragrances such as Beautiful, by Estee Lauder and Escape from Calvin Klein to fragrances produced by Origins such as Calyx and Ginger Spray, as well as the use of handcrafted essential oils, such as lavender and jasmine.

Almost unanimously we enjoy a soft, light fragrance that makes us feel good. When asked about all-time favorite scents, most people mentioned fragrance that conjured up memories from the past and fondly reminded them of their mothers, grandmothers, friends, or a destination, such as the beach. Mostly we use fragrance for special occasions to make it all that more special. I found it fascinating that there were very few common fragrances listed among the women polled.  It really is true that fragrance is a very personal thing.  It seems that marketing plays a role, but when a woman finds a scent that she loves, she really makes it her own.

Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons user Stephen Depolo

The hostess gift. Whenever I have to get a hostess gift, I think of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry and Elaine stop to get a chocolate babka for a dinner party. Someone in line before them gets the last one and they have to settle for a cinnamon babka and Elaine is not to happy because really the chocolate is the “better babka.”

While not a requirement, it is a kind gesture to show appreciation for the hostess having you at their home for a meal. Giving the perfect gift does take a measure of thought and creativity. Having hosted plenty of parties, I have been the recipient of quite a few trinkets. And while they are all treasured, I have noticed that I have gotten a lot of candles, frames and funky wine glasses over the years. So when I attend a party, I try to think of the hostess and give them something useful with a twist.

Here are five great ideas under $50 for your holiday hostesses:

1. Maple Cube (www.ninutik.com)
By far, one of the coolest things I have seen this year! It’s a cube of maple sugar that can be grated and put over anything from waffles to yogurt! It comes with a choice of two unique gift boxes. Add a grater and it’s a perfect gift for anyone.

2. Macarons (www.shopsucre.com)
French macarons are all the rage. A light, airy cookie with a deliciously, creamy buttercream sandwiched in the middle to create heavenly perfection. They come in a large variety of flavors and make a beautiful presentation in an array of pastel colors.

3. Water Pitcher
You can pick up an inexpensive one at Kohls or Macy’s. I like to put glass water pitchers on my holiday table filled with lemon water and punch. I think they add to the ambiance of the dinner. If I bring this as a gift, I usually tie a big festive bow on the handle and add some holiday ice cube trays or a few drink recipes. They also double as a vase in case the hostess has one.

4. Puzzles and/or Games
This is a great hostess gift IF you are traveling for the holidays. I know as a hostess, I always want to make sure my guests are having a great time. Sometimes pulling out a puzzle or a game livens up the party.

5. Holiday Basket
This one is a bit DIY, but is well appreciated by the recipient, especially those nutty hostesses that get up at 4 am on Black Friday to hit the super sales. Pick up an inexpensive basket at a craft store and fill it with a bag of bows and some holiday gift bags and gift tags. These could be purchased at the dollar store. Maybe add a holiday CD and some Scotch® tape.