We asked Belk Vice President of Fashion Direction and Trend Merchandising Arlene Goldstein five questions about selecting a winter fragrance. She chatted with the beauty experts in Belk’s cosmetic office and this is what she found out:
1. Why should you switch perfumes with the seasons?
There are certain fragrances that are more appropriate for summer and other stronger scents that would be better for winter use. A good guideline to follow is to wear lighter scents in the summer and stronger in the winter. Citrus or aqua scents are perfect for summer while spicy Orientals, rich florals or gourmand-based scents such as vanilla or chocolate are better for winter.
2. Scent is such a personal thing. What should you consider before you begin looking for a new fall/winter perfume, to make sure you pick the one that’s right for you?
While there are many fragrance classifications, modern scents can usually be considered a floral, oriental, woody, fresh or gourmand. If you know which classification you prefer, it will be easy to find something a little heavier for fall. Most scents that are good for winter have a base of woods, Orientals or vanilla and then your favorite top notes will remain the same. If this seems confusing, don’t worry! Just head to the store with your favorite scent and ask a sales associate for some help.
3. Is there a trend toward a particular aroma this fall/winter? What top notes/base notes should we look for in a fall/winter perfume?
Fragrance designers seem to be playing with gourmands as a top note a little more, which brings a tantalizing, mouth-watering allure. A gourmand fragrance never smells like you would actually EAT it (these aren’t scented candle scents!). Instead they are a subtle, warm and pure addition to a fragrance that is inviting and familiar without being overly obvious. For example, a true, non-powdery vanilla base mixed with ambers, musks or light florals can be extremely warm, inviting and sensual at the same time. A twist on fruits, using Kir Royal or sparkling berries, white wines and light florals with a woody base is warm and sensual while remaining playful. Or, for something really mysterious, a fragrance with chocolate or truffle combined with vanillas, woods and dark florals is intensely sensual and glamorous.
4. Can you suggest a fall/winter perfume that’s a good fragrance for someone in her 20s? 30s? 40s? 50s? 60s?
Age is just a number! Fragrance is forever. My grandmother started wearing Chanel No. 5 when she got married in her classy Jackie O-style dress suit. As a beauty addict, she played with many different fragrances through her life, but No. 5 was always her go-to, and it still fits her personality today! I like to classify fragrances more by personality than age. Here are a few favorites:
Fashion Forward: Prada Ambree, Coco Mademoiselle, David Yurman Essences, Vince Camuto
Classic: Chanel No. 5, Cashmere Mist, Armani Code, Oscar de la Renta
Bold/Unique: Angel, J’Adore L’Or, Shalimar, Opium, Gucci Guilty
Playful: Coach Poppy, Beyonce Pulse, BCBG
Bohemian: pureDKNY vanilla, Jennifer Aniston
Romantic: Vera Wang Lovestruck, Taylor Swift Wonderstruck, Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir, Romance
Every Woman! Burberry Body — every single woman across all personalities, background and ages in our office has fallen in love with this! And they make a body oil which is a DELIGHT during the dry winter months!
5. The readers of Her... magazine selected Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana as their favorite perfume. Can you suggest a fall/winter scent that will appeal to fans of Light Blue?
Light Blue is a fantastic fragrance that can be worn year-round. Fans of the fragrance should not be afraid to wear it for every season, every occasion! But having a wardrobe of fragrances can be lots of fun. Just like you’d wear a smoky eye for night or nude lips for a tailgate party, wearing different fragrances can pull your whole look together. If Light Blue fans want to mix it up once in a while, Oscar de la Renta just released Live in Love, which is warm but still has the fresh, joyful feeling that Light Blue fans appreciate. 
Five winter fragrances
1. Burberry Body Eau de Parfum. An effortlessly sensual, feminine fragrance, this new fragrance features an eclectic combination of green absinthe, peach and freesia with a warm touch of musk and sandalwood. $55 for 1.1 ounces
2. Guerlain Shalimar Eau de Toilette. The queen of exotic Oriental perfumery, this feminine fragrance is a classic. Its voluptuous base of powdery, sweet vanilla embraces warm notes of incense and amber. $71 for 1.7 ounces
4. Yves Saint Laurent Opium Eau de Parfum. The opulent decadence of the original parfum in a lighter spray form, this fragrance combines mandarin and bergamot with middle notes myrrh and jasmine and a final accord of deep amber in a chic Chinoiserie-inspired flacon. $80 for 1.7 ounces
3. Gucci Guilty Intense Eau de Parfum. Made for the woman who shatters expectations, this sheer, floral-oriental fragrance opens with a bright burst of citrus and a hint of black pepper with a heart of fruity and floral notes, drying to a rich, ambery base with notes of patchouli. The overall effect is young, stylish and eminently wearable. $75 for 1.6 ounces
5. Givenchy Very Irresistible L’Intense Eau de Parfum. For the woman who has a sense of contemporary glamour, this sensual floral scent is composed of Turkish rose with dazzling top notes of plum and base notes of musk and patchouli. $80.50 for 1.7 ounces
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