So maybe you’ve been wearing White Diamonds since 1986…or perhaps your Britney Spears’  Circus perfume is empty, in any event, the summer is a good time to re-think your “signature  scent”. There are more options out there than ever before. However, upon some serious reflection and nose tests, I can bring you some solid stand outs from the pack. Sorry to offend all of the Patchouli wear-ers out there, but, NO ONE likes Patchouli. Think about it. Today, ask five people what they think of it and you will not only get a resounding “do not want”, you will get the obligatory cringe that goes along with the word. We (everyone) all want you to consider some of these ideas instead. Perhaps the staff fave was this season’s new Stella. Every year, Stella McCartney reinvents her namesake fragrance, thus, every year we get a limited edition take on her iconic rose scent.  Now, if flowers evoke a “kisses from lumpy Aunt Edna” memory, Stella is ANYthing but old-ladyish. The description is fresh and natural with top notes of green apple, lemon, Bulgarian rose, with a sensual Amber base. In the event that you do not design perfume in your spare time, this year’s Stella smells like a fresh shower. It is effortless and light, almost as if you cleaned up and maybe forgot to put any perfume on at all—the only scent is your intoxicating personality. This perfume definitely presents a “one of a kind” feel; you could totally tell people you bought this at a French open air boutique and pull it off. If you have a penchant for solid perfumes, I have found a fantastic product. A smaller company out of New York is Soap and Paper Factory. This homespun brand have branched out to include hand poured solid perfumes, carefully prepared with jojoba oil, pure beeswax and handpicked fragrance oils. The Lavender was a top pick; they also have Rosewood, Orange Blossom and more. You can pick these up at their website soapandpaperfactory.com. For guys, a refreshing summer option for cologne has been the staff pick of Express’ new scent “Honor”. A nice go-to for summer, this is a watery, fresh scent. It’s a little bit peppermint and basil, a snap of grapefruit with some fig and green ivy to make it work, leaving a vanilla musk scent after it dries. Plus, the cologne comes in a snappy, flask-shaped silver bottle. Nice. In closing, Diesel has new cologne, Diesel: Only the Brave. This is perhaps the coolest bottle that we’ve ever seen. It is literally a silver fist with a metal bar in it. Diesel is a brand that is inspired by artists and rebels alike. This particular scent is a master blend of lemon blossom, mandarin and amber. Not only will you smell like a dude that knows what’s up, it will stand on your dresser as a monument to your styley, ahead of the curve sensibilities. Scent is one of the most powerful senses. Summer means that you are going to want to stay as fresh as possible as the mercury climbs. With these staff picks, you don’t have to stress about who is standing down wind.

Its summer, hook up some smell good.