Life without perfume would be dull indeed! One can set a mood for the day through the choice of a scent. I am a member of Sniffapalooza, the group mentioned in your article earlier, and perfumistas count their collections in the 30-100's range and can discourse as endlessly as wine connisseurs on the specifics of dozens of perfumes!
I beleive the currently grim economic situation has been an enormous boost to the fragrance marketplace, much as glamour of films of the 30's did the film industry in the Great Depression era.

Carole T. Fallon
Perfume devotee and student