“A woman should wear fragrance wherever she expects to be kissed”-Coco Chanel
Laura Reynolds looks at some of the cheapest beauty products available
First impressions are made within ten seconds of meeting someone new - and, just like animals, our sense of smell plays a large role in this. The nose is our most powerfully sensitive organ, capable of detecting over 4,000 distinctive odours. So if we intend to make a good impression, whether it be with someone new or someone we’ve met before, it makes sense to ensure that smelling clean and fresh is a good idea.
Often men who smell bad have no idea, simply because they’re used to the smell of themselves. This is why if we all didn’t wash for a weeks on end no one would notice because everyone would smell the same. But people today tend to have a shower every day or so, which is why people who don’t stand out like sore thumbs. We all know that guy who turns towards you in the lecture theatre with a charming grin on his face, but who after you catch a whiff of him you start to feel nauseated. Bad breath and body odour are the last thing that people will tell you about, but isn’t something they’ll hesitate to talk about with others. Try not to let yourself become the guy who smells bad - it’s not a great reputation to have.
A bad scent can come about in several different ways - it could be because you haven’t showered that day, or because you forgot to do laundry last week. It could be morning breath or even stinky feet that becomes the problem - either way, the way to deal with it is the same. If we break it down to three steps - cleansing yourself of odour, preventing bad smells and adding an appropriate veneer scent - then the whole thing becomes incredibly simple. Cleansing yourself of foul smells is as simple as brushing your teeth (don’t forget the tongue, where 60% of bad breath comes from) twice a day and showering regularly, and washing your clothes when they need it. Preventing bad smells? Just use an antiperspirant every day and wear clean underwear and socks. And lastly, invest in a good aftershave or cologne to give off a pleasant aroma that people will enjoy - with this, feel free to be a bit creative. There are plenty of adverts these days for what the products will say about you - will you go for the dark seductiveness of Armani Black Code, or opt for the freshness of Davidoff Cool Water? A good aftershave is one that suits your lifestyle and surroundings. Just like your dress sense, hairstyle and weight all have something to say about what kind of person you are, how you smell has a direct and powerful impact on the people you meet - so go ahead and make sure you’re saying the right things.
Use antiperspirant every day, but use ones that don't have a scent. Roll-ons will do the job effectively and in surprisingly minimal amounts. Spray antiperspirants have a habit of either being irritating to sensitive skin, and more often than not covering you and your clothes in a fine powder that's hard to get rid of. Gross. Scented antiperspirants (Read: Lynx and similar) smell awful. Cologne/Eau de Toilette is the way to go. Do a little research, find one that goes well with your every day products (so scents that won't clash with whatever shower gel or hair products you might use), and stick to it. People you see daily will notice if you change it too often. I personally use Versus Blue Jeans, but it's kind of a nostalgic thing, heh.
As a shorthand, the saying goes "Use enough fragrance to only be smelt in the embrace of a loved one. Use enough body spray to be smelt by no one."
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