Smell Good All the Time

Whether you're hugging a friend or snuggling closer to your crush on the couch, you shouldn't have to worry about how you smell. Smelling good gives you a confidence boost and can even make you more attractive. It starts with taking good care of yourself and wearing freshly laundered clothes. Then you can dab on your signature scent and leave people wondering how you smell so great. See Step 1 to learn how to turn heads with your intoxicating smell.

Steps

Staying Fresh

  1. Hop in the shower. If you want to smell your best, it starts with getting clean. How often you should bathe depends on your personal body chemistry, your daily activities and the weather. Many people bathe once a day, but if you play a sport or live in a hot region you might want to jump in the tub more than once. If your skin is really dry, every other day might be enough. But no matter what, make sure you bathe often enough that your body odor doesn't become noticeable to other people.
    • In the shower, wash your skin with soap and warm water to make sure you rinse away the dirt, sweat and bacteria that causes body odor.
    • When in doubt, go ahead and rinse off! Trying to mask body odor with deodorant or perfume doesn't really work.
    • If you don't want to wash your hair every day (many say it leads to dry and damaged hair), use dry shampoo to freshen your hair on days you don't wash. It's composed of powders that absorb the oil that makes your hair look greasy.
  2. Use deodorant. Two percent of people have a gene that prevents their armpits from producing body odor.[1] They're the lucky ones, right? The rest of us rely on deodorant to keep body odor at bay throughout the day. Put some on after you shower, and reapply as necessary throughout the day.
    • Consider choosing a deodorant/antiperspirant combination if you tend to get a little sweaty.
    • Deodorants come in solid sticks, gel sticks, or sprays. You also buy natural rock deodorant, or even Make Deodorant using baking soda and coconut oil. Experiment with the deodorant that feels the most comfortable and keeps you smelling the best.
    • If you plant to wear perfume or cologne, it's not necessary to use a highly-scented deodorant. You don't want to wear too many different scents at once.
  3. Try body powder. Sprinkling on a little body powder after your bath or shower is a great way to stay fresh. Just dry off completely, then put some under your arms, on your feet, and anywhere else you'd like. The powder helps to keep your skin dry and cool during the day, so it comes in handy on hot, humid days.
    • You can buy body powder formulated for adults or just pick up some baby powder - it works just as well. You might want to get an unscented version, though, since baby powder has a distinctive smell.
    • Don't want to buy body powder? Make it! All you need is cornstarch. If you want to scent your body powder, soak a cotton ball in your favorite perfume or essential oil. Put the cotton ball in a jar and cover it with cornstarch. Apply the body powder using a fluffy makeup applicator.[2]
  4. Wear clothes that smell good. Wearing the same clothes several days in a row can affect the way you smell, so make sure you keep up on your laundry! Choose to use a scented detergent or an unscented one - it doesn't matter, as long as your clothes are clean.
    • You might want to carry a few backup items to change into if you're going to be out all day. Some people like to keep a fresh pair of underwear, tights, socks or an undershirt on hand for emergencies.
    • If you work in a place with a strong smell or you're around smoke a lot, you might have to take extra care to keep your clothes smelling great. Laundering them more frequently and using a strong-smelling detergent and fabric softener should do the trick.
    • Get your winter coat and other unwashable items dry cleaned every few months to keep them from getting smelly.
    • Speaking of clothes, check out your bags, backpacks, hats and other accessories, too. Wash these items every once in a while, especially if you use them every day.
  5. Have great-smelling feet. If you're worried about how your feet smell, take extra care to scrub your feet in the shower, dry them completely, and sprinkle them with body or foot powder before you put on your socks and shoes. Carry an extra pair of socks to change into later in the day. Make sure your shoes are in good shape, too - old shoes can be a source of bad smells.
    • Have a separate pair of shoes you use when you work out, rather than wearing your running shoes to school or work.
    • Carry a small bottle of foot powder with you so you can use it when you need to during the day.
    • When possible, wear socks with your shoes. Going without socks tends to make your feet sweat more, leading to bad odors.
  6. Freshen your breath. Practicing good dental hygiene is the main way to keep your breath smelling fresh. Be sure to brush and floss every day, and see the dentist regularly to take care of issues like plaque buildup so you don't end up with chronic bad breath. In addition to basic hygiene, you can keep your breath smelling good all day long by doing the following:
    • Drink lots of water. This is especially important during and just after meals. It rinses away the food particles and cleanses your mouth.
    • Use mouthwash - but not the kind with alcohol. Alcohol in mouthwash can dry out your mouth, leading to conditions that cause bad breath. Choose a breath-freshening wash that doesn't have alcohol and rinse your mouth out whenever you're in need of a quick fix.
    • Avoid garlic, onions and super spicy foods on days when you're really concerned about having fresh breath. It's hard to mask the smell of strong-scented foods with mouthwash, and the odor can persist even after brushing or using mouthwash.
    • Carry breath mints you can pop last minute when you want your breath to smell sweet.

Using Perfumes and Colognes

  1. Choose the perfect scent. Look for a scent that adds to your style and complements your overall presentation. A great scent is one you don't mind smelling all day. It shouldn't be too strong, since some people are sensitive to overpowering smells. Experiment with different scents until you find a few you like. You can wear the same scent every day or rotate between a few.
    • Different scents are great for different occasions. A citrusy, floral, sweet scent might be great for daytime wear, while you might choose something musky and a bit stronger to wear at night.
    • If you're looking for a more masculine scent, go for a cologne with notes of fir, cedar and sandalwood.
    • Scents change depending on who is wearing them. They interact with your unique body chemistry and change a little throughout the day. It's something to keep in mind when you're picking out a scent - one that works for your friend might not smell the same way on you.
    • You can also use a scent in the form of lotion or body oil, if you prefer. Solid perfume is another popular choice.
  2. Dab a little on your pulse points. Don't bathe yourself in your chosen scent. Use it strategically, so people nearby get small whiffs, but don't feel overwhelmed. A little goes a long way, especially if you're using real perfume. Put some on your wrists, neck, and behind your ears - that's probably all you need.
    • If you're using a spray bottle, don't spray it directly on your body at a close range. Hold the bottle several inches from your body and spray lightly, then move your wrist or other body part into the mist.
    • Even if you're using scented lotion, you probably don't want to slather it all over your body. Just use it in a few places, like your hands and neck. Use an unscented lotion to moisturize the rest of your skin.
  3. Scent your hair. If your shampoo doesn't have much of a smell, you might want to add a bit of scent to your hair. This is a nice, subtle way to keep you smelling great all day long. Rub a little perfume or essential oil between your palms, then smooth it gently through your hair. Alternatively, you could add a few drops of your favorite scent to your unscented shampoo or conditioner.
  4. Stick to one signature scent. It's not a good idea to wear 3 - 4 warring scents that leave a smelly trail in your wake when you walk down the hall. Instead of asking you the name of your perfume, people will pinch their noses when they see you coming! Just wear one main scent at a time.
    • That means that if you have a strongly-scented lotion, you shouldn't also wear perfume, and vice versa.
    • Be sure you aren't accidentally wearing too many scents. Your deodorant, hairspray, and lip balm might all be scented. Try to choose unscented products and stick to one or two main scents.
  5. Try creating an original scent. If you don't want to splurge on a bottle of perfume or cologne, you can make your own scent! Purchase a few different essential oils, like rose, lavender, lemongrass or vetiver, and use a few drops instead of perfume. You can even make your own perfume blend by mixing several different essential oils together until you come up with something you like.
    • To find essential oils, check out health food stores. They're usually in the body care section.
    • You can dilute your essential oil mix with water or vodka so that it doesn't smell as strong. Put it in a spray bottle and use it on your body and hair.

Using Tricks for Smelling Great All Day

  1. Freshen up a few times a day. You're probably good to go in the morning, after you've showered and put on clean clothes, but it's a good idea to take some time to freshen up throughout the day. Whether you're at school or work, there are things you can do to keep yourself smelling great even though you've been on your feet or at a desk all day long.
    • Brush your teeth or use mouthwash. It instantly makes you feel and smell fresher.
    • Reapply perfume if necessary. Don't put on too much - just a light mid-day spritz.
    • Change clothes if you need to. If you've been physically exerting yourself, you might want to change your underclothes or socks halfway through the day.
    • Use sanitary wipes to quickly cleanse yourself. Get the unscented kind, since scented wipes have a strong smell. Do a quick swipe in areas that need freshening, then reapply deodorant.
  2. Stay away from foods with strong odors. On days when you're extremely concerned about smelling good, try not to eat a lot of onions, garlic or spicy food. These foods have components that linger in the system for awhile, and they can change the way your breath and body smells.
    • Cruciferous vegetables, nuts and legumes also affect your smell. Eating a lot of broccoli, nuts or beans could cause you to get gassy.
    • Instead, eat fruit and other water-heavy foods. They'll cleanse your system and help you smell good.
  3. Keep your surroundings clean. Is your bedroom clean and fresh, or does it smell a little stale? How about your car and other places where you spend a lot of time? Keeping the spaces around you clean will help you smell fresh, too. Start by making sure your bedroom is clean. Put all your dirty clothes in a closed hamper, and hang up or fold your clean clothes for storage instead of letting them stay in a pile. Here are a few other ways to keep your spaces extra fresh:
    • Scent your sheets and pillows with herbal spray. Mix a few drops of essential oil with water and spray your linens when you make your bed.
    • Shampoo your carpet regularly. Carpets tend to hold in odors, and can affect the way all of your belongings smell. Between shampoos, clean your carpet by covering it with baking soda, then vacuuming it up.
    • Clean out your car. Wash the seats and air it out regularly.
  4. Scent your drawers and closets. If you want to keep your clothes smelling great, try storing them in drawers and closets that are scented with sachets. You can make your own sachets by filling small cloth bags with dried lavender or other herbs you like. Simply place the sachets in the corners of your drawers or hang them in your closets. They'll lightly scent your clothes and keep them from smelling stale.

Warnings

  • Don't use anything that you are allergic to or that makes you itchy. Be careful and look at the ingredients closely.
  • Avoid overusing or applying too much perfume or cologne. Some people are sensitive or even allergic to strong scents, and you may inadvertently make them sick.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-lucky-two-percent-of-people-have-a-gene-for-stink-free-armpits-2508106/?no-ist
  2. ↑ http://www.beautylish.com/a/vxizj/diy-perfumed-body-powder

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