How to Pick a Scent: Dos and Don'ts

Hey, y'all, it's Caroline.

Here's a quick guide to scents.  Let me know if you have any questions, and I'll answer them in the comments below!

{Types of Scents}

1. Perfume: The strongest scent other than just pure concentrates.  This is usually the most expensive, and it lasts all day long on your skin. It's best to apply solely to your skin in small amounts. 
2. Eau de Toilette:  This is the second strongest type of scent spray.  You can usually reapply this once or twice throughout the day, and you can spray it on your hair, clothes, and skin.
3. Cologne:  The weakest of the three, cologne can be applied multiple times and can be misted in the air and walked through to catch the smell.  This is usually cheaper than the other two.

{Don'ts}

• DON'T purchase a scent for someone else unless you know it's one that they like already.  Scents are incredibly personal and change based on body chemistry.
• DON'T purchase a scent online unless you've tried it on your skin before.  Just because it smells awesome on your friend doesn't mean it will work with your skin.
• DON'T keep your scents in a really humid, hot, bright place.  Try to store away from direct sunlight.  I like to keep mine in a fabric baggy under my vanity.
• DON'T rub your wrists together after applying a spray.  Instead, spritz one spray on one wrist and then gently press your wrists together.  If you rub the spritz, it breaks up the scent.  Give it time to just soak into your skin and be gentle with it.
• DON'T spray perfumes in the air and step through them.  You can do this with colognes and eau de toilettes, but perfumes are expensive and it can waste product.  It won't stick to your skin as well this way, either.
• DON'T over apply.  This is common sense, but just be careful.  Some people, especially pregnant women, can't bear overpowering scents, and it's just polite to hold back a little.

{Dos}

• DO apply eau de toilettes and colognes to your hair.  People will get a nice whiff when you move and when they hug you.  One spritz usually does the trick; anymore would be overkill.
• DO spray in specific locations.  Usually one spray to the wrist, and press your wrists together gently, one spray to the neck, and one to the hair if it's an eau de toilette or cologne.  Other good places are behind your ears with a perfume and on your scarf or shirt (if it's an eau de toilette or cologne.)
• DO mix and match.  Find scents that work well together.  You can layer eau de toilettes and colognes, but be careful not to over do it.  Maybe try a spritz of one on your wrists and a spritz of a different one on your neck.
• DO buy little bottles.  Unless there's one scent in particular that's your "signature," buy small bottles so you can use them up and buy new ones.  Big bottles can last for ages without emptying, but will go bad before you can finish.  So to prevent waste and save money, buy travel sizes, half sizes, or samples unless you know you'll finish a large bottle.
• DO figure out your "smell."  If you generally like sweeter scents, don't buy Taylor Swift's "Wonderstruck" just because that's the cool thing to do!  Use what smells good on you and don't worry about brands.
• DO ask for samples.  A lot of stores will give you itsy bitsy sizes or roller balls that last a surprisingly long time. But to be polite, always buy something if you're going to ask for samples.

I hope that helped!  If you have any questions, just ask away and I'll respond.  

Have a good day and don't be smelly.

-Caro