Petal pushers: this season's floral fragrances entice, comfort and bring us the best that nature has to offer

There's something so inviting, so natural and so grounding about floral-based scents. It may be that the familiar smell of fresh flowers makes us feel comfortable and secure, says Alan Hirsch, M.D., director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, Or maybe it's the hidden benefit: A study Hirsch conducted found that when a mixed floral scent was introduced into a room, the learning speed of participants increased by up to 17 percent. Here, the smartest choices in summer floral notes.

ROSE

A romantic and nostalgic scent; find it in L'Occitane Eau des 4 Reines eau de toilette ($40; loccitane.com) and Aveda Dune Primrose Desert Pure-Fume Spirit ($46; aveda.com).

PEONY

Possibly the summer's most fragrant flower, the peony can be experienced in perfumes such as beComing Pretty eau de parfum spray ($30; becoming.com) and the Tarte fragrance ($55; sephora.com).

IRIS

According to aromatherapy, the iris note balances the mind and eases emotional pains. Test this out by spritzing on Lancome Attraction perfume ($49.50; Iancome-usa.com) or Dawn Spencer Hurwitz L'eau d'Iris eau de parfum spray ($60; shperfumes.com), both of them rich in this floral extract.

LILY

So many species of lilies, so many different scents. The spicy-sweet, honeylike smell of the gingerlily is found in Elizabeth Arden Provocative Woman eau de parfum spray ($49.50; dillards.com), while the fresh, clean aroma of the waterlily is found in The Healing Gardens Shimmering Waters Perfect Calm perfume ($15.95; at drugstores).

COPYRIGHT 2004 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group