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12 Things That Will Make You One Of Those People That Always Smells Good

Things that will make you smell good.

We all know one - one of those half humans/half unicorns who, no matter what they’ve been doing, somehow always manage to smell like everything that is good in the world.

They’ve probably just taken the bins out, gone for a sweaty jog, wrestled a small bear and took a dip in the local canal - yet still they emerge smelling of vanilla scented roses, with a hint of freshly baked cupcakes carrying on the breeze as they walk away.

But although it might seem like an effortless, natural talent to have, there’s actually a pretty foolproof formula that you can follow if you want to be one of those people that smells good all the time.

Obviously you need to at least be showering on the semi-reg, but here’s 12 nifty little tips and tricks that’ll leave you smelling increds 24/7.

1. Think about where you’re spraying

Hands up if you spray at random and hope for the best? Same, but choosing exactly where to place your perfume in the morning can make all the difference to having a smell last the distance. Spraying ankles, behind the knees, groin, chest and behind the ears will mean you use your perfume to its fullest potential.

It makes sense when you think about it; the small of the back, the stomach, the back of the neck and the ankles are your hot spots, and will warm up to kick your fragrance into gear.

Just remember to spray about half an hour before you leave the house, and about one foot away from the actual body. This will make sure it settles in naturally to your skin, so you won’t be one of those people that chokes everyone to death with their perfume.

2. And don’t rub it in

Y’know how girls in films and TV shows always rub their wrists together when they’ve applied a perfume to spread it onto the other hand? They’re doing it WRONG. Wrong wrong wrong.

Whatever you do, resist the urge to rub your perfume once you’ve sprayed it on. Crushing the scent like that means the top notes will disappear almost instantly, leaving you with incomplete middle and base notes rather than the whole combination. Not cute.

3. Keep your skin as hydrated as poss

Like pretty much everything in the world, water is a key factor in all of this scent-related stuff. Staying hydrated is super important for overall health, but ensuring your skin is moisturised means that a scent will stick to it for longer. Dry skin will absorb perfume much more quickly and render it basically ineffective, so drink ALL of the water and slap on ALL of the moisturiser.

Oh, and it probably goes without saying that, while water is a miracle worker, booze has an adverse affect. Sugar is the byproduct that comes from your body processing alcohol. This sugar is then processed through your pores, leaving behind that sickly sweet, classic hangover smell. Bleugh.

4. Choose the right clothes washing stuff

Newsflash, you need to wash your clothes every so often. But if you’re serious about this smelling delish malarky, then invest in super fancy, intense detergents or additional scent booster products for the washing machine. They’ll leave your wardrobe smelling better than the average ‘clean cotton’ vibe.

Check out the fragrance combos on offer in the laundry aisle rather than just opting for the cheapest price, because loads of detergents and fabric softeners actually take inspo from the fine-fragrance market these days.

5. Your diet is actually mega important

You are what you eat, blah blah blah - but it does actually apply when it comes to perfecting your scent. Intense ingredients like red meat, onion, garlic and spices might be delish, but can come through your pores and breath on your skin for up to 48 hours after loading your food with them.

On the other hand, eating the typical healthy foods like fruit, vegetables and clean protein will not only keep your body feeling fresh, but leave your body’s natural scent with a neutral, balanced base to work from.

6. It’s all about layering your fragrance

The chances are your favourite perfume/cologne doesn’t just come in bottle form - there’s probably also a matching body lotion, shower gel, soap and who knows what else. There’s a reason these usually come in Christmas gift sets - they work well together, so layer them up for a double, lingering whammy.

If you’re all about prolonging a scent, musk is a handy addition to your perfume arsenal. They’re generally subtle enough to mean that they won’t clash with your other fragrances. Musk’s pheromone effect also means that any fragrances layered with it will seem a little more heady, sexy and worn-in, wit awooooo.

7. Reapply through the day

Just like you have to top up your lipstick and concealer throughout the day, if you’re serious about smelling good 24/7 then you should be topping up your fragrance too.

Apply one to three times a day depending on the intensity of your fragrance, and invest in a genius Travalo decanter to create your own travel-sized mini perfume which you can easily carry around in your bag and take on holiday.

8. Try before you buy

Just because a perfume works for a pal or a stranger you’ve sniffed in the street, doesn’t mean it will work for you. Fragrances can smell totally different on one person to the next, so actually spray it on yourself in store, and see how it changes throughout the day. Finding your perfect signature scent is seriously hard work and take ages, but it’s worth the effort. Take time to try different ones - you wouldn’t just grab a pair of jeans, hold them up to your waist and buy them.

Top tip: Citrus-based scents and eau de colognes will dissipate the quickest, so opt for perfumes with a higher concentration and heavier base notes like sandalwood, vanilla, tobacco or oud.

9. Don’t just stick to spritzing yourself

While it seems obvious to apply perfume to yourself, it’s worth remembering to give your pillows, sheets, bedroom and even your wardrobe a spritz of something lovely too. Adding a couple of sprays to scarves and jackets is a pretty genius idea, as it’ll stay for a while on the fabric. This will mean that the scent almost envelopes you, which is a pretty dreamy idea.

10. Remember that hair carries scent

It probably goes without saying that you need to be washing your hair regularly if you wanna smell like a mermaid dipped in fruit smoothies. Hair odour is a real thing, and happens when your hair is at its greasiest - the chances are you’ve never smelt it before, because most of us shampoo regularly enough to avoid it.

Just remember that spraying actual perfumes in your hair isn’t the best idea - they often contain alcohol which is bad news for drying your hair out. Instead, get crafty and make your own spritz with essential oils. Mix your faves in a spray bottle with water and it will really cling to your hair for serious longevity.

11. Try a scented body moisturiser

Building up your fragrance throughout the day is a nice idea, so start in the morning by just applying a scented body moisturiser. It’s not as heavy but will still cling to the skin, and later acts as something for your actual perfume scent to stick against.

In the evening, refresh the moisturiser with a matching body mist which will give the top notes a much-needed boost. Bonus points if all of your products are of the same scent family (shops like The Body Shop and Victoria’s Secret sell full ranges which makes this easy peasy).

Or you could try something completely different. A scented body oil rather than your usual body cream could be a clever swap as they don’t contain the synthetic and chemical additives that many moisturisers do, which can break down natural fragrances.

12. Dental hygiene is the one

There’s really no point trying to smell like a magical vanilla fruit explosion if your breath stinks, tbh. Fresh breath is the fundamental rule of smelling good.

Did y’know bad breath actually comes from having a dry mouth? It all goes back to staying hydrated, but to stimulate your salivary glands, chew sugarless gum (but talk to a dentist if the problem persists). Always carry something minty and breath-freshening, and avoid alcohol-based mouthwash, which will dry your mouth out even further. Miiinty freshness.

- Words by Lucy Wood

Now watch guys and girl taking a sexy (and awkward) round of Would You Rather...

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