Maxine Gordon finds that nowadays women like to flirt with fragrance rather than sticking with their old favourite.

FAITHFULNESS seems a thing of the past – at least in a woman's relationship with her fragrance. Long gone are the days when females were loyal to one single scent. Today they are enjoying a flirtation with many.

"A lot of ladies have one iconic scent, such as Chanel No 5, but also have a few fragrances for every day," says Annie-May Cousans, fragrance consultant at Browns, York.

"I have a fragrance I wear for a special occasion and others for every day and some for going out," says Annie-May. Today she is wearing Michael Kors White. "It's my holiday scent: it reminds me of Ibiza."

Annie-May is not alone in playing perfume polygamy. Women today are more likely to play the field with their fragrances, choosing different scents to match the time of day, the season or simply their mood.

"If you are going to a big meeting at work, you want something to give you confidence," says Annie-May. "If you are meeting friends after work, you might want to wear something light and fresh. For a date, you might want something seductive."

Today, she says, many women build a "wardrobe of fragrance" featuring scents for every occasion. The key selections for this capsule wardrobe would include a fragrance for day, work, evening, going out, seduction, and holiday. Someone approaching their nuptials might add a bridal scent too, says Annie-May.

To mark this trend, Browns is hosting a Wardrobe Of Fragrance event from Thursday to May 5, when discounts will be available on selected scents.

It's a great opportunity to spring-clean your perfume shelf and try something new. Consultants like Annie-May are a fount of knowledge on fragrance: simply by telling them your favourite scent they can conjure up a whole cast of companions.

Putting Annie-May to the test, I told her about my passion for Paloma Picasso eau de parfum. Immediately her eyes lit up and she was guiding me to a beautiful glass bottle on the bottom display shelf. "Chloe – the original – perfect for daytime. It's fresh, clean, talc-y but slightly musky too."

Next she spritzes some La Panthère by Cartier on a small piece of cardboard and invites me to sniff. "This would be perfect for a day at the races. It is rich and seductive and smells expensive." She was on the money: to me, it smelt of champagne and flowers.

For evening, Annie-May offers me a choice: Viktor & Rolf's BonBon which smelt of sweeties, "a great party fragrance," pipes Annie-May, and Tom Ford's Velvet Orchid. The latter is more to my liking, its layers of deep notes speaking of dark leather chairs, wooden panels and a bygone age.

"It's very late-night 1920s, flapper girls and proper salons, with a bit of moonshine," says Annie-May, her descriptions becoming as florid as the heady air surrounding us.

For party time, we stay with Tom Ford, this time trying his Neroli Portofino, which with its shocking burst of citrus sends me straight to Italy, on a perfect blue-sky day, inhaling the scent of fresh lemons with a sea breeze on my face.

Fragrance fans could easily build a wardrobe of scents from one favourite brand, such as Tom Ford. Marc Jacobs is another popular choice with his Daisy collection covering most bases: Daisy Dream for daytime, Daisy eau de parfum for evening and Daisy Eau So Fresh Sorbet for partying.

Companies are sensing this trend too, bringing out new releases in smaller sizes, perfect for trialling, a treat or simply popping in a handbag. Prada's Candy comes in a cute 20ml size while a roller-on vial is available in the gift set - ideal for taking on holiday.

Here is Browns' suggestions to help you build a wardrobe of fragrance, perfect for work, rest and play...

Day
Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Edt 50ml (£52, on offer £44.20)
Valentina Edp 50ml (£51)
Creed Love In White Edp 30ml (£99)

Work
Marc Jacobs Daisy Edt 50ml (£52)
Issey Miyake L'eau Dissey Edt 50ml (£51, offer £43.35)
Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Edt 50ml (£50)

Evening
Sisley Eau de Soir Edp 50ml (£114)
Angel Edp 50ml (£64.50, offer £54.80)
Hermes Eau des Merveilles 50ml (£69)

Party
Viktor & Rolf Bon Bon Edp 50ml (£69)
Jimmy Choo Edp 60ml (£49)
Elie Saab Edp 50ml (£58, on offer £49.30) 

Playful
Prada Candy Edp 50ml (£60.50)
Armani Si Edp 50ml (£67, on offer £56.95)
Chloe Love Story Edp 50ml (£65)

Seductive
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid 50ml (£72)
Narciso Rodriguez Edp her 50ml (£58, on offer £49.30)
YSL Black Opium Edp 50ml (£64)

Holiday
Clarins Eau Ensoleillante 100ml (£32)
Bobbi Brown Beach Edp 50ml (£49.50, offer: £42)
Issey Miyake L' eau D' Issey Summer Edt Natural Spray 100ml (£41)