11 Tips For Smelling Awesome All The Time

Feeling like we smell amazing feels, well, amazing. There's nothing like knowing you smell great to give you that extra spring in your step. And there are actually incredibly easy ways to smell great all the time, we often just don't know the little tricks and trips that make the biggest difference.

I first became scent obsessed when I worked with a woman who always smelled incredible. No matter the time of day or how stressed we all were, her perfume was always impeccable without ever being overpowering. Every time she'd stop by someone's desk to drop something off or ask a question, they couldn't help but tell her that she just smelled awesome (which sounds creepier than it actually was, I promise).

And let's be honest — the alternative (smelling less than fresh) is good for no one. Even when other's can't technically perceive that our underarms are sweaty or that we didn't have time to shower that morning, we still know. And sometimes that can make all the difference, especially on days when we might want to feel super confident, like before a date or big presentation.

If you're looking to up you personal scent game, here are eleven full-proof ways to smell amazing all day long. You'll wonder why you waited this long.

1. Watch The Spice

In a piece for Refinery 29, Julia Zangrilli, perfumer and founder of custom-fragrance company Nova, noted that, "A diet full of spice, onions, and garlic is good for you, but, boy, does it come out through your pores." She recommended avoiding those foods for up to 48 hours if you don't want to have any residual odor.

2. Be Choosey With Your Detergents

The Laundress Signature Detergent, $21, Amazon

In the same piece, Linda Song, perfumer at Givaudan, noted that some detergent brands are actually mimicking the scents and theories behind perfumes-making. This means their scents can be layered and elegant. So if you're willing to splurge a little extra on detergent, consider looking into some more sophisticated brands, like those offered by The Laundress.

3. Apply Perfume To Your "Hot Spots"

According to a piece in The Daily Mail, we shouldn't just be applying perfume to our wrists and behind our ears, but also on your collarbone, inside your elbows, behind your knees, your ankles, and the small of your back. These places emanate heat, which will activate the scent.

4. Don't Rub Your Wrists

After applying perfume, that is. According to scent expert and perfumer Harry Frémont, while rubbing your wrists together doesn't ruin the scent by any means, it "rushes it along," meaning that you'll smell those medium and bottom notes much sooner than you normally would, and bypass the top-note phase of your perfume altogether.

5. Layer Up

Leau Dissey by Issey Miyake, $47, Amazon

This is a personal tip and also one I've seen a lot on the interwebs. If your favorite perfume also comes in a scented lotion or body powder, you way want to consider layering your perfume on top of the lotion. This will help make your signature scent last way longer.

6. Choose Long-Lasting Scents

Tory Burch Absolu Eau de Parfum Spray, $104, Amazon

In that same Refinery29 piece, Lurk natural fragrances founder Anne Sanford pointed out that not all scents have the same lifespan on your skin. "Citrus-based scents and eau de colognes will dissipate quickly, so go for perfumes that are more concentrated and have heavier or more viscous base notes such as sandalwood (or other woods), oud, vanilla, tobacco, etc," Samford noted.

7. Invest In Some Hair Perfume

Miss Dior Hair Mist, $60, Sephora

Hair perfume is one of the single most awesome yet seemingly least well-known parts of any smelling-good routine. Since most perfumes for your skin contain alcohol that can dry out your hair, alcohol-free hair perfumes are perfect for freshening up before a date or after a work out.

8. Keep Scent Pouches In Your Drawers

Ortigia Lime Di Sicilia Drawer Satchet, $27, Amara

Scent pouches are a great and low-effort way for good-smelling scents to permeate your clothes, even when you haven't done laundry in a while. Just grab a few from the store, throw them in your drawers or closet, and let them do the work.

9. Use An Alcohol-Free Mouthwash

Act Fluoride Rinse Mint Anticavity, $9, A mazon

According to Michael Apa, a cosmetic dentist in NYC in a piece for Cosmopolitan, "Alcohol dries out your mouth and minimizes your salivary flow (which could lead to dry mouth), meaning it can actually cause bad breath." Instead, he said to "swish around an alcohol-free rinse like ACT that will keep your breath smelling the best."

10. Carry Baby Wipes

Always Clean Feminine Wipes, (Pack of 5), $24, Amazon

Sometimes we need to freshen down there but don't necessarily have time to run home and shower. It's times like these that feminine wipes especially suited for this issue — or even plain baby wipes — work wonders.

11. Grab The Roller Ball

Chloe Eue de Parfum Spray Pen, $28, Macys

This is another personal tip that has never failed me. All the hacks and tricks in the world sometimes don't work as well as simply reapplying your perfume a couple times a day. Which is why I always like to carry my favorite scent in its more portable-roller ball version.

Smelling great all day long require minimal effort and make us feel amazing, so it's basically a win-win. Just make sure you have a few basic staples at home and in your purse, and prepare to get compliments.

Images: Getty Images(4)