I saw a mention about going with EDP (perfume) over EDT which is a good idea, it's also worth mentioning that most perfumes marketed to the US market can be quite different between the different concentrations. Givenchy is a good example, the same perfume can have different notes between, EDT and EDP. Try a sample before you buy. Any good niche perfume should provide samples and enough of a quantity that you can wear it and see how it smells as it shifts between it's notes.
It may seem like a lot of money, but it's worth it over time, a good fragrance should last a long time with just a small amount. As it goes through stages, from the Head notes, through to the base you get a vastly different experience over a long time. Two of my faves (Sartorial and Lothair) last through to the next day. A bottle also lasts a long time. I have had a bottle of Sartorial for 4 years now, so it's more than worth the price.
I also don't think of gender when it comes to perfume, I find it funny when I tell men who say the essence of masculinity is Old Spice, that it's base notes are Geranium and White pepper. It was originally marketed as a womens fragrance in the 20's. Most mens fragrances over 50 years ago, were nearly all floral. Cary Grants signature scent was Rose based. So don't limit yourself to just a feminine perfume, if you find a fragrance that's marketed to men or is unisex, try it. If you love it, wear it and totally own it :-)
One of my fave old school fragrances is Shallamar, it was a ground breaking fragrance of it's day and many modern day fragrances grew from Shallamar's influence. Its vanilla and aged patchouli and I found a bottle in my local Wallgreens and very cheap. It's a classic and I wear it round the house.
Another thing worth noting, cultural differences. Chanel Blue was developed for the American market, it doesn't sell well in Europe (at all) there are so many differences between cultures that it's worth looking outside of the popular fragrances and look at scents from perfume houses from England or France. They are so different from what you are familiar with that you may find something extraordinary.
Ok, I have to admit, I am a perfume geek. I love fragrance. I love to know who the perfumer was, other scents they have made and what was their inspiration. Perfume is an art form.
