Perfume shopping can be a daunting process – we’re here to help.

Forget the scantily clad magazine ads or the seductive strip-tease commercials featuring Hollywood A (and D) Listers. Selecting the perfect scent has little to do with successful marketing campaigns and more to do with our individual scent chemistry. A perfume that’s alluringly sensual on one person may smell like dirty socks and Aquanet on another.

That’s why were are here to help with our second installment of scent scoping — a comparison of what the manufacturer claims versus reality.

Gucci Flora | The tag says: Gucci Flora is a subtle, sophisticated, floral fragrance inspired by princesses from the past, present, and future. The Flora Donna is a young, classic, and refined woman with the ‘Gucci edge’ of power and sensuality. The first Flora scarf was exclusively designed for Princess Grace of Monaco in 1966 and soon became one of the most popular Gucci icons. This scent is an expression of the Flora legacy. Its seductive layers mirror the playful details and bright colors that channel the heart of a fashion empire.

Seattleite’s Take | Flora smells like amber with a hint of brightness. We found notes of sandalwood and roses, old world and old money. Seductive it is not, however it is both elegant and natural as the packaging suggests. We didn’t spray this scent directly on since it was fairly strong straight from the bottle – it made the boys sneeze and is not for the faint of heart or the headache prone. The girls thought it was a little predictable on a lady. Some of our guys even said it smelled like old ladies – probably the peony and rose scents. But there were the couple guys who found the scent “irresistible”; just like that girl they fell in love with in Martha’s Vineyard last summer. Gucci tried to balance the deep rose and amber scent with hints of powdery youth. It’s reminiscent of the nearly-30 girl who carries Kate Spade totes, wears twin sets and relentlessly orders merlot with every meal (“It’s easy to drink, and it goes with everything!”). It even seemed a little unisex after a few hours, and we wondered how the boys would take to wearing something made for the girls.

1 oz $52 | 1.6 oz $70 | 3.5 oz $90 | available at Sephora

Versace Man Eau Fraiche | The tag reads: This fresh, sexy interpretation of the Versace Man fragrance is a softer, more subtly sexy version of the original. Smooth fruits spiced with green leaves and warm notes of musk, amber, and sycamore wood, make this a scent for today’s more introspective man.

Seattleite’s Take | A “mens” smell, this fresh mix had notes of greenery and lush fruit over the musky man-scents. It’s a deep scent that won’t drive the object of your affection to tears by being over potent or cloying. The guys like how it smells on, the girls go nuts over the complex, but subtle scent. The words “chick-magnet” came up in our reviews. We say, yeah! If the chick magnet is a modern Hemingway or Ian Fleming with a soul full of burning, interesting and unanswered questions. You’ll like it. For the ladies who’d like to try it, wear it out at night – possibly layered with something more floral for an intriguing and sultry mix.

3.4 oz $74 | available at Macys