By Iolee Anagnostopoulou

Smelling good is just as important as your outfit when making a good impression. There’s also evidence that, apart from memories and emotions, people associate good smells with attraction. In a perfect world, we’d all smell peachy all day, every day. But not everyone can have that advantage, especially during the hotter months. 

The good news is that smelling good isn’t a genetic trait. Anyone can smell fresh throughout the day, with or without the help of perfumes. It’s simply all about self-care. Your body’s natural odour is directly linked to your health, diet and personal hygiene. 

What’s more, when you take the time to ensure you smell nice, this attention spreads into other areas of your life. And since scents affect our mood and productivity, smelling good can leave you feeling more confident, motivated and optimistic.   

Here are 5 healthy tips for smelling great all day; come what may!

  1. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration reinforces unsavoury smells, like the bad breath that accompanies a dry mouth. Water dilutes the unpleasant scents that some foods and beverages leave in our perspiration and mouth. Drinking water also helps your body regulate heat and reduce sweat by keeping it cool.

Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water per day to keep your body hydrated and flush away toxins and waste. If you’re not a big fan, trick your taste buds with infused or naturally-flavoured water. 

2.   Adjust Your Food 

Sometimes, it’s more about what you put in your body rather than on it. I’m sure you’ll agree that bad breath can ruin even the best outfit. Luckily, there are several ways to prevent this. Pungent foods like fish, garlic, onions and chives are known for causing bad breath and, depending on their quantity in your system, long periods of body odour. They can leave a lasting smell on your sweat and affect how perfumes react to your skin. So, to an extent, you smell what you eat.

They’re obviously good for the body, so I wouldn’t give them up entirely. But perhaps avoid them on date night or remember to take mouth fresheners. After consuming them, drinking water, lemonade, or mint juice can help. Consider including more lean meats, fruits, and veggies in your diet for more long-term effects. They’re an excellent source of protein and will help your body remain healthy and smell fresh.        

3.  Take Daily Showers And Reach All Those Spots 

We all sweat. It’s how we regulate our inner temperature, and there’s little we can do to stop it. Although it is actually odourless, when it gets mixed with the bacteria on our skin…well, it gets nasty.

Showering daily—ideally twice—rids your skin of all the gathered bacteria, excess oil and body odour. For a lasting fresh accent to your scent profile, use quality body wash and soaps that contain natural oils and fragrances. Remember to reach all the body parts, particularly those with the most sweat glands:

  • Armpits
  • Genitals
  • Feet
  • Butt
  • Behind the knee, etc.

You don’t need to wash your hair daily, but when you do, add a few drops of essential oil to your shampoo and clean the scalp well – lather, rub, rinse, repeat. It’s also vital to let your body fully dry and cool down before dressing, or you may start to sweat right away. Choose cotton over polyester whenever possible, and wear light layers of clothing to let your skin breathe.

4. Infuse Your Body Parts

For a lasting subtle scent throughout the day, pay attention to each body part separately. To ensure your entire body emits a lovely smell 24/7:

  • Apply scented body lotion and oils right after showering. Fragrances usually last longer when applied on a wet base.  
  • Use antiperspirant or scented deodorant at night to give it time to soak into your skin and effectively control sweat and odour the following day. Keep a travel-size version handy and reapply during those stress-sweat days. 
  • Apply talc-free powder wherever your skin rubs, like between thighs and under the breasts.
  • Spray your hairbrush with hair mist.
  • Apply foot spray.

5. Let Your Laundry Do The Talking

The fresh-from-the-laundry smell is perfect for a lasting yet not overpowering signature scent. To achieve that pleasant all-around aura: 

  • Wash your clothes regularly with quality detergent and scented softener.
  • Add 10-20 drops of essential oils to your washing.
  • Lightly spray your sheets and closet with fabric deodorizer, linen spray or natural scents like rosewater. 
  • Put scented sachets, soap bars, cotton balls or tissue paper sprayed with your favourite perfume in your drawers.

See? You don’t need to bathe in cologne or be doused in Chanel to smell good. Practising good personal hygiene in league with a few olfactory hacks can keep body odour at bay and leave you smelling heavenly all day.

Let us know in the comments which tip you’d try out!  

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