I've said it before and I'll say it again, if there's one compliment I love more than any other, it's being told that I smell good.
Whether it's my love whispering it in my ear after pulling away from an embrace, or a friend telling me as we meet for coffee, I love the satisfaction of knowing that my scent is, at the very least, not offensive, and at the very best, intoxicating.
But, let's be honest, staying fresh all day is not an easy task. And the expectation on women to constantly smell like a flower can cause many of us to go overboard with the Bath and Body Works scents.
There are ways to smell absolutely enchanting without dousing yourself in Chanel No. 5 throughout the day, that will leave everyone you come in contact with wondering how you always smell so lovely.
Here are the secrets to always smelling nice:
1) It Starts With Hygiene
2) Less is More
3) Clean Habits
4) Consistency
1) Hygiene
If you haven't already, watch this video on hygiene tips that you should definitely know/be practicing. Even if you get absolutely nothing from the video, the comment section is filled with amazing suggestions from women all across the world and has helped me significantly.
Let's start with deodorant.
I recently learned that if you want to smell nice throughout the day, you should be wearing your deodorant at NIGHT. Yes, you read that correctly. It completely shocked me too. Apparently, wearing deodorant during your sleep is more effective because that is when your skin and sweat ducts are less active and there is less moisture than during the day.
My current favorite deodorant is Coconut & Vanilla by NATIVE. I didn't even realize this brand existed until so many people suggested it in the comments section of my hygiene video. It's vegan, gluten-free, cruelty free, aluminum free, and free of parabens and sulfates, all natural deodorant that actually works. And because I don't have to worry about smearing toxins on my body after taking my nightly shower, I feel more than comfortable using this deodorant right before bed.
Not only does it smell incredibly fresh, but putting it on at night prevents those pesky white lines in your armpits from ruining your clothes throughout the day.
Click the photo to shop!
Shower Routine
Next is your shower/bathing routine. As mentioned in the video, showering once a day is a non-negotiable. And sometimes twice depending on the kind of day you've had. I often shower twice a day if I'm experiencing my cycle or even just when it's chilly during the Winter and I need to warm up a bit.
Here's how I like to schedule my shower routine...
Once A Week: Thoroughly wash my hair.
Twice A Week: Shave underarms, legs, and anywhere else.
Three Times A Week: Co-Wash my hair.
Everyday: Body wash/Soap
Post shower, I delight in using scented lotion or essential oils, right before bed. I prefer to use scents that are seasonal, so I like to stay light and flowery during the Spring and Summer, and rustic and deep during the Fall and Winter.
The same can be said for my choice in body wash or bath soap. I'm currently using the most delicious smelling grapefruit scented bar of soap that I bought at World Market, and I feel that the fruity scent is the perfect spark of Summer that I need during my shower time.
Teeth/Breath
Brushing your teeth twice a day is another non-negotiable. Bad breath is a HUGE hindrance to smelling fresh. Even if you have on the most expensive perfume, halitosis will surely distract from your efforts.
One thing I like to do fairly often, is change my toothbrush. Imagine how much bacteria builds up on your toothbrush over the months and months you're probably using it. Switching it out every so often helps to ensure that you're keeping your teeth clean and your mouth fresh.
This is something I can't emphasize enough: brushing your tongue and your gums are the MOST important. You really need to get back there (not so far that you gag yourself) but you should be conscious about brushing your tongue adequately.
On this topic, I have to admit, I'm not a mouthwash person. But, if you are, I'm not going to stop you. Just check to see the ingredients in your mouth wash to be sure they aren't toxic (same goes for toothpaste).
2. Less Is More
There's a big difference between someone catching a whiff of a nice smelling perfume, and feeling like they can't breathe because of how much you have on. Your perfume should only be there to add to your overall essence, not to hide or cover up a bad odor. Make sure your hygiene practices are where they need to be first, before choosing to wear perfume.
Contrary to popular belief, when applying your perfume, the places you want to apply are in the crevice of your elbows (not wrists), behind your ears (not neck), and behind your knees.
I would love to say that I have a signature scent that I don every day, but that is not the case. My Gemini personality won't allow me to commit to just one. So I switch off daily between two or three of my favorite scents.
As I mentioned earlier, my goal is to always smell similar to the season that I'm currently in.
Here are some of my favorites by season:
Autumn: Vera Wang "Princess"
Spring: Dior "Miss Dior"
Summer: Bath & Body Works "Be Enchanted"
3. Clean Habits
Keeping a clean space will naturally help you to smell fresh. Don't forget that when you smell something, you're actually smelling particles of that thing. For example, when you smell yummy chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven, what you're actually experiencing is mini particles of the cookie entering your nose!
That said, if your home is untidy, dirty and has a bad scent, you will carry that scent on your clothes and your body.
Thus, keeping a cleaning schedule to help maintain your space will help you have an overall better scent and will, at the very least, keep you smelling clean.
Here are some ways I keep my space fresh:
-opening my window every morning for fresh air
-use my favorite Method space cleaner to keep surfaces clean
-clean my ceiling fan (ceiling fans gather so much dust and are often overlooked)
-wash my bed set and comforter once a month
-light scented candle after I clean
4. Consistency
As with anything, consistency is key. It's no use to vacuum once every three months, or brush your teeth once a week. These practices have to be done on a consistent basis in order to be effective.
My best advice is to create a cleaning and tidying schedule for yourself as well as a hygiene routine. For example, you don't have to shave every single day, but you can pick one day out of the week where you choose to shave and do your personal grooming.
You can create these schedules using Google Calendar (one of my favorites), planners or wall calendars! Whatever works for you, so long as you find a way to maintain your routines.
Alright loves that's all I have for you today! I hope you enjoyed this post!
If you did, comment down below your best tips to smelling fresh to share with the community.
xo,
F.
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