How many times have you visited your local perfume counter to discover a new scent that you'd like to try on skin, but you already left the house that day wearing one?

One would think that asking for a sample in such situations would not require a detailed character reference nor a polygraph test, yet nine times out of 10 you wind up being refused by a stuffy sales associate.

Well don't get mad, get informed!

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Originally created in 1912 and presented in stunning Lalique flacons, Houbigant's Quelques Fleurs perfume has withstood the test of time. Next year celebrating its centenary, this is a perfume for lovers of flowers … and lots of them!

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For many men who grew up in the late 1980s and early '90s, Christian Dior's Fahrenheit was a staple in one's fragrance wardrobe. Its unique blend of notes, including a resolutely masculine petroleum accord, helped it rocket to the top of the popularity polls.

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With a handful of exclusive fragrances to Sisley's credit, the delightful Eau de Campagne is brimming with vitality and freshness, and is favored by both men and women. If GREEN is your preferred fragrance classification, then this blue-blooded bouquet is the embodiment of all you could ever wish for.

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Paul Smith Extreme for Men is a mild, understated scent, perfect for occasions when you don't look to assault your senses, and those of others. As with all things in the Paul Smith universe, Extreme for Men is both chic and refined. There are many intriguing tonalities in this scent that conjure a sense of nostalgia, comfort and contentment.

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Bond No. 9 continues to translate the shires and suburbs of New York into scent with Bond No. 9 Lexington Avenue - another collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation. This time, a radiant floral woody chypre for women.

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In late 2010, Italian jewel merchant Bvlgari bounced back with its first male fragrance offering since the marine-inspired triumph Aqva; this time with a scent that epitomizes innate charisma and masculinity -- Bvlgari Man. Bvlgari Man is perhaps the jewel in the crown of Bvlgari's men's fragrance portfolio, one that embraces a contemporary spirit, but still communicates a refined and relaxed sensuality.

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An exceptional yet often-overlooked gem, Cacharel Pour L'Homme is one of the "keepers" from the 1980s. While scents from that decade are often described as loud and excessive - Cacharel Pour L'Homme is a remarkably well-balanced, understated men's fragrance.

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One of the final fragrances created by master perfumer Jean Paul Guerlain before retiring as head perfumer of the house that bares his name, Mahora is a rich and compelling floral oriental for women that is both tropical and warm.

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American designer Narciso Rodriguez won international acclaim several years ago with the launch of his very first perfume, aptly named Narciso Rodriguez for Her - an eau de toilette oozing with sensuality and unwavering femininity. Narciso Rodriguez For Her perfume is a celebration of Egyptian musk … an oil introduced to the creator in his teens, which he has coveted ever since.

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