It’s such a familiar and intimate feeling, taking in a deep breath and suddenly you’re filled with a specific memory or emotion. The power of smell is so deeply linked to memory through the body’s olfactory system, it is the actually the quickest of our 5 senses. Perfume is a common conduit for these strong memories to resurface. The art of making perfume dates back to some of our earliest civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. It has evolved into a personal brand and identity: “A woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.” – Christian Dior. Even the same perfume, worn by different women can have its own smell since the way your skin absorbs the fragrance will be different from the next person.

A best continual best seller since its launch in 1991, Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds Perfume is a floral fragrance that includes notes of lily, amber, and jasmine.

Clinique’s Happy fragrance is another best-selling women’s perfume. Marked by a more citrusy floral, it has notes of ruby red grapefruit and Hawaiian wedding flower. There is also a men’s cologne version, Happy by Clinique for Men.

For a more modern perfume, Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb is a full bodied scent that has notes of orchid, rose, freesia, and sambac jasmine.

Whichever eau de toilette you choose to fit your personal style be your trademark, make sure to wear it often as repetitively smelling the same scent creates a stronger memory. Elizabeth Taylor was even quoted saying, “I think [perfume] is more than just an accessory for a woman. It’s part of her aura. I wear it even when I’m alone.”