Either you find yourself reading something out of a wine-tasting course ('It has a gentle overtone of fresh raspberries, with just a hint of dandelion and a subtle waft of twig) or else it's absolutely nothing to do with perfume and more like a mini Mills and Boon novel (He takes her hand and looks deep into her eyes. She yearns for him).

Whether you're a sit-on-the-beach-withyour-family type of person (Calvin Klein) or more likely to jump around town in a little pink dress (Lacoste), the only way you're going to find out if a fragrance is for you is by smelling the darn thing. So, while we can't help you with that dilemma, we can at least point you in the direction of some of the most recent fragrances that have come out for this summer. And we'll try not to sound like a wine manualf Summer scents More and more fragrance houses are getting increasingly inventive with their perfumes and a couple of interesting little numbers have been released recently.

Lanvin Eclat D'Arpege Summer is one such fragrance. This 50ml blue bottle ( 39.95) comes adorned for the season with multi-coloured ribbons and a bejewelled lid and is perfect for anyone looking for a light, ultra-feminine fragrance. Or in their words, a "deliciously floral and fruity" perfume.

Another original fragrance has arrived in the shape of Miss Boucheron, a unique combination of jewellery and perfume.

Set on a fine cord, the miniature golden bottle of fragrance can be worn around the neck like a pendant and, when the perfume is taken off, doubles as a necklace. The 10ml bottle costs 110 and is available from House of Fraser for the month of June only.

Better value is the 10ml bottle and 50ml refill which can be purchased together for 160. Still rather pricey for perfume but, argue its creators, you are purchasing jewellery as well as fragrance.

Jewel of the vial Another scent causing a stir is the new Theo Fennell fragrance, named after its British jeweller creator.

Available exclusively at Brown Thomas, Dublin ( 115 for 75ml eau de parfum), this traditional perfume has a strong scent of jasmine and saffron. Or, once again in their words, it is "a fragrance with potent femininity that is designed to become at one with a woman's skin".

Humph.

Limited editions to the perfume world this summer include Burberry summer for women ( 35 for 50ml) and Clarins Sunshine fragrance ( 39). Burberry is a lighter, refreshing variation of the classic Burberry fragrance with a "zing of citrus".

Pour homme For men, Chanel's latest fragrance has a spicy, lemon scent to it that is very refreshing. Allure Homme Sport ( 72) comes complete with pictures of sexy men all over it in case anyone misses the point.

American fashion designer John Varvatos has launched his second fragrance Vintage in time for Father's Day. This grown-up brown faux leather bottle sold out in the US within weeks of going on sale and is available from House of Fraser for 70.

Finally, Paul Smith Extreme has won awards for its "cool, casual" fragrance ( 35 for 50ml). It smells of bergamot and fig leaves and apparently this is a good thing.

Yummy.