Perfumes have been with us for centuries, even before makeup arrived. But unlike makeup, perfumes are not limited to the female sex. Men, tough, brusque or not, enjoy this little vanity without any guilt. In fact, for some men, a scent does not just give the impression of what mood he is in, but also how much he earns.

People say that scent is everything. Perfume makers have always known that insects, animals and humans, release minute amounts of fragrances and odors called pheromones that could either serve as a defense, attack, or mating mechanism. This is the reason why an assortment of perfumes is available in the market that promises a particular effect. Certain fragrances can cause a woman to feel more feminine and soft or strong and in-control or fresh and vibrant. Mens line of fragrances, on the other hand, can create moods of inner strength, outdoor fun, and romance.

Because of the presence of need, perfume makers brought to the world designer perfumes. A designer perfume can either offer a perfume user the chance to display a particular mood, to exude the persona of a particular celebrity, or just bask in the image advertised by the designer perfume brand. A designer perfume, even it costs a fortune per ounce, became one of the fastest selling product under the cosmetics range due to the birth of mass media advertising. During the 1930s, the first designer perfume was created; the distinction belongs to the designer perfume Schocking for Schiaparelli.

A designer perfume aims at creating a distinct identity for its wearers. This identity is not limited to masculine and feminine fragrances. A designer perfume promises more complex identity packages such as exuding power, charisma, and appeal. Most designer perfume commercials on the billboard and the television impress upon the public that a certain line of fragrances can draw the difference between a normal or mediocre person and the interesting.

A designer perfume is sometimes named after a celebrity or a known figure in the society. An athlete is likely to endorse a sporty perfume, usually in cologne, that has a citrus, lime or dew as base, while a famous actor for an evening perfume with a hint of leather and musk, a bit woodsy, or some balsamic note.

To create the mood that you want, it is better to test a perfume on your wrists than to rely on the promises of its advertising. A certain designer perfume may smell sweet on your best friend but it may not smell the same on you. Your natural scent, body temperature and activity are factors that may affect the scent of a fragrance on the long haul.