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The thing about smelling good is that it really comes down to what you find to be a pleasant scent.
One person's idea of smelling good may be bringing an enchanting canopy of soft French perfume into every room they enter. For someone else, it could mean not having body odor after a long day at a sweat-inducing job.
Whether you want to smell like perfume or just your healthy and natural self, we'll tell you how to do it and make it last all day.
A little fragrance goes a long away. Applying it properly can help you make the most of the scent.
Pulse points to spritz include:
Perfumes and colognes are available in roll-on versions at stores like Sephora or Amazon. You can also add your favorite scent to a rollerball bottle, which you can find online, using a small funnel.
If the scent of your body lotion, cream, or oil is all the fragrance you want, you can make the scent last by applying it to your skin right out of the shower after patting off excess water.
Scented lotion, or any scented product for that matter, will last longer when applied to a moist base.
Need a little more scent? Choose lotions and creams made by your favorite perfume or cologne brand. You can layer these products with the coordinating perfume or cologne, shower gel, or shave creams.
Your body's scent has a lot to do with cleanliness, but genetics and even what you eat can also influence the way your body smells.
You can't do anything about genetics. And might not want to cut out a lot of the foods that can cause an odor, like broccoli, garlic, and fish, because they're delicious and good for you. You can, however, control cleanliness.
How often you should shower depends on your skin type, activity level, and preference. Shower once a day and if you don't want to, need to, or can't, then opt for a sponge bath. If you do a quick cleanse, focus on the body parts with the most sweat glands, such as the:
Along with keeping clean, you can also:
The instructions on the shampoo bottle telling you to lather, rinse, and repeat aren't for nothing. Cleaning you hair can leave it smelling delicious every time you turn your head.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends concentrating the shampoo on your scalp and getting it really clean before moving to the rest of your hair.
A good wash removes dirt and oil from your scalp, which can otherwise leave your head smelling less than shampoo-fresh.
Poor oral hygiene is the most common cause of bad breath, but even if you're on top of your dental care game, the occasional odor can still set in.
Here are some tips to help make your breath smell good all day:
There's just something about the clean, subtle scent of a soap or body wash. A scented bar of soap, body wash, or shower gel offers up just a hint of fresh fragrance. Unscented body wash and soaps without added fragrance do the trick, too.
Lingering in the shower for an extra minute or two after you lather up is all you need for all-day freshness. Consider giving a good rinse to all the spots that sweat the most, such as the armpits, groin, butt, and even feet.
Deodorants and antiperspirants, face washes, lotions, and sunscreens are available without added fragrances.
Shop online for unscented and fragrance-free skin and hair products.
You can also try products like crystal deodorant or natural and DIY deodorants.
Regardless of how you like to wash your clothes — whether you're loyal to a particular brand, opt out of spending money on drier sheets, use reusable drier balls, or buy whatever is most affordable when you're shopping for laundry detergent — clean clothes are a major part of smelling good all day.
Washing your clothes regularly is the best way to keep them smelling fresh. There are a number of fragrance boosters available that can be added to the wash to take that fresh-from-the-laundry smell up a notch.
You can also do the following:
You don't need to be doused in designer perfume or bathe in cologne to smell good. Practicing proper hygiene habits can keep body odor at bay and leave you smelling fine.
There are products available to help you freshen up your breath, armpits, lips, and dangly bits on the go.
If you're concerned about your breath or body odor and nothing seems to work, or if you experience a sudden change in body odor, speak to a doctor. In some cases, bad breath, excessive sweating, or unusual odors could be a sign of an underlying condition.