Following on from unisex and men's fragrances, this is the final installment of our 2013 Summer Fragrance Special: "Women's." We'll introduce refreshing scents perfect for summer, while still retaining a feminine touch.

When it comes to fragrance, the image is just as important as the scent itself. I imagine many people choose fragrances with their ideals and aspirations in mind, like the kind of person they want to become. Since scents have no physical form, the perfume bottle embodies that image. Since it's difficult to sample everything, I tend to pick up the bottle that speaks to me. I feel like I'm more likely to think, "That smells great!" when I instinctively choose something, rather than when I've carefully considered it. The bottle is like a perfume's business card.

Also, unlike other cosmetics that are kept on dressing tables or in boxes, perfumes are often displayed in a prime location in a room. Just looking at them makes me feel like a more refined woman. Personally, I secretly dream of one day displaying a Lalique bottle, which I saw at the "The World of Perfume Bottles" exhibition at the Meguro Garden Museum, in my room. If you decorate your room with something like that, you'll feel like a Parisian!

So, let's start with a bottle with an incredibly cute bottle. SWAROVSKI's "Aura by SWAROVSKI Love Collection Eau de Toilette" is an incredibly lovely bottle that will send your femininity meter soaring just by having it in your room. It features a large Swarovski crystal on top and an illustration reminiscent of crystal. It was apparently created with the image of the elation of first love in mind, and the night cherries scent is refreshing.

I also recommend "Yellow Rose" from Nicolai Bergmann. This is actually a unisex fragrance that's suitable for men, but I'm introducing it here because it has a nice bottle. It has a cute, round bottle incorporating wood, but when you look at it from the side, you might wonder, "Huh? Where's the rose?" It turns out there's a rose printed on the bottom of the bottle. It's a subtle touch. While rose is a prime example of a "sultry fragrance" (sorry, roses), this one has a luxuriously sweet yet refreshing note. Its versatility is enhanced by the fact that it doesn't change significantly from the top note. Personally, I wear it on my body, but when I'm feeling blue, I sprinkle it on my bed and sigh with delight.

Speaking of roses, Vivienne Westwood's "Flirty Alice" Eau de Toilette is also lovely. This "flirty" scent, evoking the idea of running across the beach in a swimsuit, starts with a fresh bergamot. Unlike blooming roses, the rosebud scent retains a hint of blue, creating a striking effect. It's bluish, but not harsh, making it an easy-to-use rose scent.

And, while it's not a perfume but a body spray, "Tropic Berry Fantasy," a limited edition version from "BODY FANTASIES," is also great. This fragrance is a collaboration with the high-energy ice cream shop, Cold Stone Creamery, and it's a scent that's just like gelato! I'm sure there's at least one kindergartener in every class who says, "I want to be ice cream when I grow up," and now that dream has finally come true. This year, instead of rich, sweet ice cream, the motif is a refreshing passion fruit and fresh strawberry gelato, with a sparkling sweet and sour flavor that's so summery. It's refreshing and refreshing when you spray it, so it's perfect for a change of mood.

So, what did you think of our summer fragrance feature? We hope we helped you find a wonderful fragrance that will make this summer even more memorable.