NEW YORK — Many fragrances are built around a "note," a single scent that will stand out and linger, even when surrounded by a dozen other familiar smells.
This fall — and looking ahead to the holiday season — there are both men's and women's fragrances for all styles and tastes:
— Live Jennifer Lopez. It's called "choreography for the senses," with opening notes of Sicilian lemon, orange and pineapple. The heart is red currant with peony and violet, and the base is caramel with tonka beans and sandalwood.
— Oscar Violet. Oscar de la Renta's newest limited edition for women is lively, thanks to crisp Williams pear, mandarin orange and cinnamon, and sexy, with spicy musk and sandalwood. The heart of the fragrance, though, is the sweet floral violet. It's a well-known fact that de la Renta himself is an avid gardener.
— Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker. The actress known for her sense of style was involved in all aspects of the perfume's development, from the juice to the bottle. She says she wants it to appeal to "all women, from 17-107." The top of the scent includes mandarin, rosewood and apple martini; the middle is patchouli, paper whites and orchid; and the bottom notes are cedar, amber, musk and woods.
— Stella Rose Absolute. This eau de parfume from Stella McCartney is a more intense version of her signature scent. This one is all about the rose base (Bulgarian rose, Dades rose and Centifolia rose), though there are not citrus and peony notes as well.
— Euphoria by Calvin Klein. This is an oriental floral fragrance that aims to contrast exotic fruits, including pomegranate and persimmon, and florals, such as lotus blossom and black orchid, but with a creamy signature.
— Arpege Pour Homme. Lanvin launches its male counterpart 80 years after the classic women's Arpege. Perfumer Oliver Pescheux from Givauden studied the women's perfume to come up with the complementary formula of pink peppercorns, bitter orange, iris, nutmeg, vanilla and rare woods, among other notes.
— Very Irresistible Givenchy Sensual. Liv Tyler is the "face" of the brand, which has gone so far to create — and name — a rose accord for her. The Liv Tyler rose is fruity and crisp. It's blended with star anise, vanilla and patchouli. Givenchy also introduces a companion cologne, Very Irresistible Givenchy for Men, which is green, sensual and woodsy woody using notes such as sesame seed, mocha, mint, hazelnut and cedar.
— Polo Black. Ralph Lauren's men's scent builds upon the designer's fall fashion collection that was inspired by antique racing cars. The aromatic wood fusion fragrance blends iced mango, silver armoise, an herb grown in France, and patchouli noir.
— Burburry Brit Gold. This limited-edition fragrance is a more amber-infused oriental with magnolia, black currant, vanilla and intense musks.
— Paul Smith Floral. This is a tribute to the 1970s' flower power, with citrus and ginger top notes; a heart of white magnolia, orchid and osmanthus blossom; and a base of amber, woods, musk and tonka beans.
— L'Occitane Eau de Recolte Bleue. The lavender harvest remains a tradition in Haute Provence, France, and this fragrance aims to capture it in a bottle. There are notes of green leaves, lavender, freesia, marigold, frosted peach, and woody and musky aromas.
— Bijan Wicked. Both a women's and men's version of this fragrance is being offered. Wicked Woman is a floral scent that has a fruity top, floral mid-notes and a dry down of sandal flower, jasmine and blue lotus. Wicked Man includes notes of ozone, citrus, greens, carnation, Lily of the Valley, Kashmir sandalwood, velvet musk and blue amber.
— Alien Theirry Mugler. This women's perfume fuses amber, woody and floral notes. Part of the floral scent is created by a note of jasmine sambac, a flower that grows in the Indian sun that has both a hint of green and orange blossom.
— Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique Parfum Haute Couture Corset. This is a new treatment for Classique, bottling it in a hand-tailored corset-shaped bottle with a "bodice" of pink satin.
— Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne. This is a unisex fragrance that aims to capture the deep red fruit. Pomegranate notes are combined with raspberry, plum, rhubarb, watermelon, jasmine, pink peppercorn and musk, among other scents, to create something that's both spicy and sweet. Malone says the inspiration was actually the color of a friend's red dress.
— Wonderful. This perfume from Estee Lauder's American Beauty collection is a romantic floral with a base of Mackayi orchid, a rich, feminine floral. Other accords are wild poppies, white gardenia, orange, wild honeysuckle, jasmine and California redwood.
— Kenneth Cole Signature. This is for "the man who's made it," according to a statement. It has a golden amber color and notes of grapefruit, pimento berries, marine essence, espresso bean, guaiac wood and patchouli.
— Spirit Antonio Banderas for Women. The "date" for actor Banderas' men's cologne. It has a top of citrus, plum, red fruit and orange blossom flower accords, undertones of white flowers, and a finishing scent of woody orientals.
— Precious Jewel by Ashanti. The singer says she wanted to add a personal touch, so she worked with perfumers on the fruity floral scent. The fragrance opens with bergamot, crushed marigold buds, apple, peach, plum and raspberry, with middle notes of jasmine and ylang-ylang, among other flowers, and a sensual base of sandalwood and oak moss.