Imagine this- you are rushing into the building and the lift doors are about to shut and you make it just in time. Good, right? But...there is another breathing occupant with you, staring straight into the oblivion, poker faced.  It is an awkward moment. You know what else is awkward? Not breathing. The person in this shared space unfortunately does not smell like an English garden and holding our breath is turning you into a puffer fish. We’re not sure what’s worse - BO or cheap perfume. 

It is the harsh truth - not everyone has been able to master the art of wearing a good scent and here’s a tiny crash course to help you out.

Deodorant vs Perfume

Often people just spray a generous amount of deodorant along with a dash of perfume and walk out of the house. The French would consider this blasphemy. Think of a deodorant and a perfume as friends helping each other out. Most of you know that a deodorant is an antiperspirant, make use of that feature. Never spray it on your clothes (ignore those lady magnet ads). It works best if the fragrance is on the lighter side. You need it under your arms and possibly along the contours of your torso - your sweat areas. Once you’re dressed you can spray your perfume on your heat zones but do not rub it - this can change the chemical balance of it. 

Tip: Apply a small amount of body lotion or Vaseline first. Hydrated skin retains fragrances for longer.

Body Grooming

Body odour is natural. However, you must realise, you don’t have to embrace it. Underarm hair further enhances this odour. I guess it may seem weird to some of you to stand in front of the mirror and watch your arm raised in the air while you trim that bush down but it is for a good cause. A well-groomed body always smells good. 

LayeringI am a big fan of layering. It is a concept where you layer two different perfumes. The fragrance with a lighter note should be your base, followed by the stronger aroma. The perfect result would of course come from a lot of hits and misses but if done correctly, it gives birth to a lovely scent that could help you positively stand out.

Tip: If you wish to test it on something else other than your body, try using the surface of a business card. It works just as well, much like tester strips at the perfume store.

Heat Zones

Coco Chanel believed that you should apply perfume wherever you’d like to be kissed. It does romanticise the idea, yet, you must be careful. Wherever you do apply your perfume i.e. behind your ears, your collarbones, your wrist, do not completely cover it up with clothing. However, if you are in a hot climate then it becomes a challenge. This is where you apply it on your clothing but lightly, since the smell will be stronger than what it could be on your skin and possibly stays longer.

Tip: Try to carry a small bottle of pleasant smelling ittar on you to apply on your heat zones, especially if you live or are visiting an area that witnesses hot climate. 

These are just some basic tips but always remember a fragrance should be discovered, not announced!