The key to smelling fresh all day is building a routine that you can stick to based on what your body needs for its activity level. For example, someone who sits at a desk for most of the day compared to someone who teaches five dance classes all day is going to require different things. The basics are the same, however, you might require a routine of multiple things to keep you smelling like the boss babe (or bro) you are. Here are our 8 tips to smell good all day.

Bathe Properly

The day starts with a good cleansing routine, and how you bathe and what tools you use can help you start with a fresh clean base. You want to make sure to choose a soap that smells fresh and repels odors. Great natural scents like lavender or peppermint  will leave you feeling refreshed and smelling amazing. But you can also choose a soap that matches your lotion or perfume. Use tools like a wash cloth, loofah, African scrub net, scrub glove, or a combination of a few to help reach crevices, remove dirt and sweat, and exfoliate dead skin.

Another thing to consider is what we like to call “hot spots.” Which are the areas on the body that often get the funkiest and experience the most sweat. These areas on the body are the:

• Underarms
• Area behind the ears
• Belly button
• Bikini area / groin area
• Butt
• Under the bust
• Feet (especially between those toes!)

When you clean these areas properly, you’ll have a base for smelling fresh all day.

Keep your Hair Fresh

Just like skin, hair can absorb fragrances and odors, especially when working out and sweating a lot. Make sure to have a consistent hair care routine that includes shampoo, conditioning, and touch ups in-between your wash days. Most modern hair care lines have signature scents that can pair nicely with your favorite perfume or cologne. And if you use products like a daily hair oil or perfume oil you can add fragrance to your hair while not weighing your hair down.

Hydrate Skin

After bathing, reach for a hydrating lotion  in your favorite scent to smell good all day. We have found that sometimes the scent of lotion can sink into the outfit that you’re wearing, helping the fragrance to last all day. If you aren't a fan of lotions with perfume or cologne, you can opt for unscented or light natural fragrances like chamomile or lavender. 

Use Perfume or Cologne

Applying your favorite perfume or cologne is a great way to leave an aromatic ambiance. Just like lotion, the scent from your favorite perfume can sink into your clothes, leaving a lasting impression all day.

To stay smelling delectable, try applying your signature scent to pulse points on your body to mix beautifully with your body’s natural scent. The touch points on the body to apply your perfume to are:

• Your wrists
• Crooks of elbows
• Behind the neck
• Behind the ears
• The lower back
• Behind your knees
• Inner sides of ankles

Applying your signature scent to all the touch points aren’t needed. Try 2-3 areas and see which locations amplify your perfume or cologne oil to your liking. You can also rub your perfume or cologne into your hair, braids, or locs, to have a lasting scent when you walk and leave a room.

Apply Deodorants and Antiperspirants

Deodorant is great at keeping the overall odor of underarms at bay, while antiperspirants help to keep down the sweat (which can avoid smelling sour). There are many options from those with perfume and cologne scents, to all natural deodorant creams and sprays. Find what works best for you and your skin, sweat, and odor concerns. You can also use things like clay masks to detox and keep odors at bay if you are avoiding the use of deodorants. 

Brush Teeth Properly

Just like your smile is the first thing people see, your breath is also the first thing people can notice when speaking or approaching them. The goal is to brush for at least two minutes, twice a day, and to floss every time you brush. Consider carrying gum and mints with you in case you need to freshen your breath after your morning coffee or your lunch break.

Wear Breathable Clothes

When your skin can breathe, it can cool off faster and reduce sweaty, damp clothing. In warm and hot weather, aiming for clothes that allow your skin to breathe is important. In cool and cold weather, it can be difficult as you need those heavy fabrics to keep you warm. However, you can still choose sweaters and undergarments made with breathable materials such as:

• Cotton
• Nylon and Polyester
• Rayon
• Linen
• Silk
• Merino Wool

Likewise, make sure to change out of all sweaty under garments--including bras, panties, and boxers--to stay fresh. Think about packing extras in a “just in case bag” if you are going to be out and away from your home.

Have great laundry habits

Staying on the topic of clothes, you want to make sure that you aren't picking up random things off the floor and putting them on your body. Stick with wearing fresh items that have just been washed and dried, or they were hanging in your closet, or fresh from your dresser. Avoid items that you notice have an unpleasant smell or were not laundered correctly.

 

To stay smelling good all day, you might need a combination of a few things from this list. Build out your own routine and stick to what works for you!