Here’s the formula to always smelling great.
By
- Wendy Rose Gould
April 24, 2024
In a perfect world, smelling amazing all the time would be effortless. In reality, smelling great takes (at least a little) effort. People who have figured out how to smell good all the time don’t just naturally leave a trail of heavenly-scented goodness in their path—they usually stick to a few key habits and have an arsenal of long-lasting, fragranced products that they turn to each day.
In other words, smelling great every day takes more than a few spritzes of your favorite perfume, though that’s a good place to start. If you want to learn how to smell good all day long, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to discover some of the best ways to smell good all day long, including 11 simple tips and a few of our favorite scented products to add to your lineup.
How Can I Make Myself Smell Good All Day?
Being told that you smell good is one of the best compliments anyone can receive. It’s an instant confidence booster that can make you feel empowered and put together. However, there are many factors that can affect how you smell—including your personal hygiene habits, environment, stress, hormones, genetics, and diet.
While every individual is different, there are a few general practices that can help keep you smelling fresh all day long. With these 11 tips, you’ll be one step closer to becoming that person who always smells amazing.
1. Stay on top of your shower routine
Proper hygiene is key if you want to learn how to smell better. After all, it’s nearly impossible to smell good if you’re not following basic hygiene practices, like showering. When you skip showers, it can cause sweat, dirt, sebum (natural oils), and dead skin cells to build up on your skin’s surface. When sweat mixes with bacteria, it can lead to an unpleasant body odor. Even if you don’t smell anything (a phenomenon known as “olfactory adaptation”), others may be able to pick up on the odor.
Bathing regularly can help keep your skin clean and odor-free. So, whether you’re a fan of showers or prefer to soak in a relaxing bath, make sure to thoroughly cleanse your skin from head to toe as part of your beauty routine. According to the Cleveland Clinic, showering once a day is generally best for most people, but this may vary depending on your lifestyle and your skin type. In addition to cleansing, it can also be beneficial to exfoliate your face and body—this helps buff away dead skin cells and can promote a fresher, more radiant-looking complexion. (Just take care not to overdo it, as over-exfoliating can irritate your skin).
2. Try a scented shampoo and conditioner
Washing and conditioning your hair regularly helps keep your strands looking and feeling their best—but it can also keep your mane smelling fresh. Shampoos remove product buildup, oil, and dirt, which can help keep your hair and scalp clean, balanced, and odor-free.
If smelling amazing from head to toe is your goal, you’ll naturally want to look for hair products that will make your hair smell good. Scented shampoos and conditioners are an excellent option when it comes to achieving great-smelling hair, but it’s important to choose quality formulas that are suitable for your hair’s needs. We recommend trying the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner—this hydrating duo is fragranced with a bright, fresh blend of berries, cherry blossom, sweet vanilla, and sandalwood. Plus, the pair leaves your hair soft, shiny, and bouncy (we consider that a win-win).
3. Don’t skip deodorant
Sweating is your body’s way of regulating temperature, and it’s perfectly normal. But, it can also contribute to body odor. To help keep your armpits smelling fresh, remember to always apply a deodorant or antiperspirant after your shower.
Deodorants are formulated to help mask odors with a more pleasant-smelling fragrance. Antiperspirants, on the other hand, often contain aluminum-based ingredients, which help reduce how much you sweat. Some products will even contain a combination of both deodorant and antiperspirant. Regardless of which type of product you choose, this step is crucial—especially if you like to work out, live in a hot or humid climate, or tend to sweat frequently.
4: Choose your body lotion carefully
Perfume isn’t the only product that can deliver a long-lasting fragrance. After showering and applying deodorant, reach for a body lotion or cream (preferably a scented one). Besides keeping your skin hydrated throughout the day, scented moisturizers can add an extra layer of fragrance to complement your other products.
Start by applying a scented lotion, ideally with notes that complement your perfume, all over your body. If you don’t have a scented lotion that matches your go-to perfume, we recommend using an unscented formula to prevent overdoing it with competing scents.
5. Be strategic about perfume placement
Strategic perfume placement is another one of the best ways to smell good all day. So, instead of randomly spraying perfume before heading out the door, try these placement tips to help extend your signature scent. Start by applying perfume to your pulse points, which are located on your neck, elbows, the insides of your wrists, and the backs of your knees. Some experts believe that these areas are best for maintaining a long-lasting fragrance.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to rub your wrists together after applying perfume. Instead, lightly spritz your perfume on and allow it to dry naturally.
6. Layer on scented products
If you feel like your perfume doesn’t last very long, try layering it with other scented products. We already mentioned layering your perfume with a matching body lotion. However, if you want to take things one step further, you can also layer on a scented body oil or fragrance oil that complements your perfume.
Many fragrance oils and solid perfumes have a high concentration of fragrance, so they are great options if you’re seeking a long-lasting scent. After fragrance oils, parfums are next in line in terms of intensity, followed by eau du parfums (EDPs) and eau de toilettes (EDTs). You can try applying one (or all) of these options to your pulse points, as mentioned above. Pairing a scented body wash with a matching lotion, fragrance oil, and perfume is a great trick for ensuring you always smell good.
7. Don’t go overboard with different fragrances
When mastering the art of smelling great, remember that moderation is key. To avoid an overpowering scent, keep your application light and ensure the fragranced body care products you use complement one another.
Alternatively, opt for a fragrance-free moisturizer instead of a scented one to allow your perfume to shine without any interference. You can also use a fragrance-free face moisturizer on your face and neck, like the L’Oréal Paris Collagen Filler Moisture Filler Facial Day Cream Fragrance Free. This skin-plumping, fragrance-free formula with collagen restores moisture and helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
8. Refresh your haircare routine
Just as your skin can accumulate dirt, oil, and other grime, so can your hair. That’s why, as mentioned above, it’s important to keep your strands clean and refreshed. However, overwashing your hair can also take a toll on your strands—potentially leading to dry, brittle hair and a dry, itchy scalp. Here are some ways to keep your hair smelling great between washes and when styling your tresses:
- Use a weekly clarifying shampoo: Lathering up with a clarifying shampoo once a week—like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Clarifying Shampoo with Antioxidants—can help effectively remove product buildup to keep your hair feeling fresh.
- Reach for dry shampoo: Spritz your strands with a bit of dry shampoo to refresh your mane between washes and give it a clean scent.
- Give hair perfume a try: Hair perfume is another product you may want to invest in if you want your mane to smell amazing all day long. These perfumes are specifically formulated for your strands (usually without drying ingredients, like alcohol).
- Opt for scented styling products: When choosing styling products and hair treatments, look for scented formulas. We love the cherry blossom and vanilla fragrance in the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Moisture Plump Serum as well as the iconic scent of L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hairspray for Color-Treated Hair.
9. Wash your clothes with a nice-smelling detergent
If you want to always smell good—even on days you don’t apply perfume—consider splurging on a luxurious scented laundry detergent. You can even choose one with notes that complement your favorite scented body care products. Of course, your clothes need to be clean for the pleasant fragrance to stick around. Try to stay on top of washing your clothes regularly to ensure you always smell great.
10: Keep your breath smelling fresh
There’s no sense in smelling amazing when you have bad breath. While you may be well-versed in brushing your teeth twice a day, certain foods that you eat throughout the day (like garlic or your morning cup of coffee) may not have the best effect on your breath. One of our best tips for smelling good is to keep mints, mouthwash, and gum on hand for when your breath needs a quick refresh.
Note: Persistent bad breath isn’t always the result of poor oral hygiene—it can also be related to a variety of health concerns. Always speak to your doctor if daily oral hygiene practices don’t help alleviate bad breath.
11. Reapply perfume as needed
Even if you follow all the above tips, your perfume’s scent will naturally fade throughout the day—especially on days when you’re sweating a bit more than usual. So, it’s not a bad idea to keep a travel-sized version of your favorite fragrance in your bag to touch up your scent throughout the day. It can be helpful to include a travel-size deodorant, too, just in case.
Next Up: How To Layer Perfume and Lotion the Right Way
