When a kilo of rose absolute can cost up to 4,000 and its synthetic equivalent costs only 400, it's not hard to see why the perfume industry has embraced synthetic scents.

And no one's embraced them more than celebrities. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker has reputedly made more than 2 million from her perfume Lovely, while Jennifer Lopez, who started the modern celebrity scent trend with the launch of her Glow perfume in 2003, has apparently made more than 25 million.

Perfume expert and author Chandler Burr says celebrity fragrances make little lasting impression, evaporating after a few hours, because of what they're made of.

"They use cheap ingredients to be more affordable and make more money."

Compared to a scent such as the fine classic Chanel No. 5, which can last up to 24 hours, today's celebrity fragrances are the perfume equivalent of a bargain fashion fix.

"They're like buying a cheap, fun dress for a season and then tossing it out," says Burr.

Seduced by big budget adverts and celebrity brand names, we often bring the pretty bottles home only to discover that while some really are "lovely", others stink.