Quest for a good Saddle

I have been riding bikes for quite a while now but just recently, did I start spending more time in the saddle and out off the saddle, anyway, I started noticing that my behind reacts really sensitive to all that "abuse". It doesn't help, that I have four bikes, OK, three, since I am not riding my Polo bike right now.
So, I am on the quest for a good saddle. I know there a women's saddles out there and I know that they make sense but even those come in such big differences.
I really love the look of the Brooks saddles, but I am wondering, if for example the "Finesse" is more a road saddle than a mountain bike saddle. It is pretty wide in the back and I am not sure how well it would hold up on a MTB trail.
I have been riding my Cannondale with a "male" saddle and I was miserable for two days after...ouch!
Can anybody give me her experience? Is there a way to try a saddle? Sydney, I will definitely take you up on you offer and try out your Brook saddles:)