We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
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.
- Apply it to pulse points. This will allow the scent to mix naturally with your body chemistry. As your body heats up, the scent will be activated and released. Resist the urge to rub the fragrance into the skin.
- Use a roll-on version. A rollerball is a great way to get the scent exactly where you want it without overspraying. It’s also more affordable than a bottled version of your favorite perfume or cologne.
- Spray onto a hairbrush. To add fragrance that lasts throughout the day, spritz your hairbrush with your favorite scent before brushing dry hair.
Pulse points to spritz include:
- the back of your neck
- the crooks of your elbows
- your wrists
- the small of your back
- behind your knees
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:
- Wear deodorant or antiperspirant, and keep a travel-size version on hand for those stress-sweat kind of days.
- Carry individually wrapped wipes to stay fresh on the go. You can shop for travel wipes online.
- Apply talc-free powder anywhere that skin rubs, such as under the breasts and between your legs.
- Avoid wearing polyester, which research has shown to harbor sweat and bacteria, creating an unpleasant odor.
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:
- Keep your teeth healthy by brushing with toothpaste twice a day for two minutes at a time.
- Floss once a day to remove any food particles stuck between your teeth.
- Brush after eating foods with especially strong odors, like garlic, onions, or tuna.
- Drink a lot of water to avoid dry mouth, which can cause bad breath.
- Chew on fresh mint leaves for a natural bad breath remedy.
- Keep sugar-free mints or gum on hand to use as needed.
Take a shower and call it a 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.
Use unscented products
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.
Let your laundry do the talking
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:
- Spray your clothes with a fabric deodorizer, like Febreze, or a linen spray.
- Add 10 to 20 drops of an essential oil to your wash.
- Use a laundry booster, like a scoop of borax or baking soda dissolved in the wash water.
- Hang dried lavender in your closet or make sachets for your drawers.
- Put cotton balls or tissue paper sprayed with your favorite scent in your drawers.
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.
