8 Simple Ways to Smell Amazing and Drive Him Crazy

When you're trying to look your best, the effort usually shows: you put on flattering clothes, style your hair and wear makeup. But if your scent doesn't match the effort you put into your look, a lot of that work goes to waste.

If you want to appeal to a specific guy, you need to think beyond the visual and win over his sense of smell too. Smelling great is one of the fastest ways to draw him in and turn him on, so it's worth staying on top of your scent game as often as you can.

Below are several ways to smell amazing:

1. Shower on a Regular Schedule

Nothing matters more for smelling good than a regular shower routine. Aim to shower at least two out of every three days — some women can even go every other day and still smell fresh. There are, of course, exceptions. If you worked out, rode a packed bus or subway, or spent time near people coughing and sneezing around you, that's a day you need to shower, no question. You know your own body best, so clean up whenever it's actually called for.

Related: Try out these 12 steamy sex positions in the shower.

That said, it is possible to overdo it. Daily showers — or more than one a day — aren't great for your skin, especially in winter when it's already prone to drying out. Hot water in particular strips moisture from skin.

If you do skip a shower, you can still spot-clean the essentials. Comedian George Carlin famously listed the body parts that need daily attention: "armpits, asshole, teeth and groin." He had a way with words.

On shower days, use a scented gel or soap everywhere except your vulva, which shouldn't get scented products. If you're also washing your hair that day, do that first, then wash your body with a plain, unscented soap. If you want the scented gel or soap to actually linger on your skin, lather it on last, let it sit for roughly thirty seconds, work it in a bit more, then rinse and step out. That sequence helps the fragrance stick around longer.

Consider a bath with your man — it's a great way to get clean and enjoy yourselves at the same time.

A consistent shower routine is also one of our go-to techniques for getting rid of vaginal smells.

2. Layer On a Matching Lotion

If you own a lotion in the same scent as your shower gel, apply it right after you towel off. It also works well applied at night before bed — one of the easiest habits for smelling good all day. Body oil is another option that moisturizes while leaving behind a pleasant fragrance.

3. Don't Skip the Deodorant

Deodorant is probably the most obvious tool for smelling good, and it works best applied right after your shower. Wait too long and you risk sweating first, which means you're just layering deodorant on top of odor instead of preventing it. On non-shower days, wash your armpits first, then apply.

Here's a fact you might not know: your body can build up a tolerance to a specific deodorant over time. Rotating which one you use every six months or so keeps it working effectively.

Antiperspirants function differently than deodorants — they block sweat rather than mask its smell — and they work best when applied the night before, ahead of bedtime.

4. Keep Baby Wipes On Hand

Here's a trick fewer people talk about. If you notice yourself getting sweaty during the day, freshen up with baby wipes. They work well on your neck, armpits, behind your knees, the crooks of your elbows, after a bathroom trip, and under and between your breasts.

5. Freshen Up Your Closet

Unless you're lucky enough to have a spacious walk-in closet, a standard-sized one will eventually pick up odors from all the shoes, jackets and clutter packed inside. If you smoke or just came home from a bar, your clothes will carry that smell too. Small closets simply don't allow much air circulation, and those trapped odors transfer onto your clothes — undoing all your scented lotion and perfume.

Revive your closet by emptying it out and cleaning whatever needs it. When possible, let items air out in the sun.

Add a potpourri sachet or a cedar block to help keep things smelling fresh, store shoes in boxes or clear drawers, and use Febreze to knock out lingering odors.

6. Carry Gum and Tackle Bad Breath

Fresh breath matters most right before that big kiss, but wanting good breath and actually having it are two separate challenges. Here's how to get there:

• Brush at least twice daily. Plaque is the number one culprit behind bad breath — it attracts odor-causing bacteria. Regular brushing clears it out and makes you more pleasant to kiss.
• Floss once a day, minimum. Trapped food between teeth is another leading cause of foul breath, and flossing eliminates it.
• Don't neglect your tongue. Bacteria cluster there too, so brush it or use a tongue scraper.
• Reach for mouthwash. Pick one formulated to kill germs.
• Swish with water when needed. No toothbrush handy? Rinsing with water clears out food particles in a pinch.
• Steer clear of garlic and onions. They may taste great, but they cause breath issues that brushing alone won't fix — the compounds enter your bloodstream and lungs, so you end up exhaling that odor with every breath. Garlic can even affect other bodily fluids.
• Quit smoking. It causes bad breath and stains your teeth — not a great combo.
• Chew sugar-free gum. It beats mints for lasting freshness, since sugar feeds the bacteria you're trying to avoid, and the extra saliva helps guard against plaque.
• Visit your dentist. They can flag any gum or tooth issues contributing to odor.
• Stay hydrated. A dry mouth is a common cause of bad breath.

7. Keep Your Laundry Fresh

Smelly clothes mean a smelly you, so wash them consistently. A few extra tricks can help your laundry stay fresh longer:

• Rewash anything left sitting in the machine. We've all forgotten a load and come back to a damp, musty mess. The fix is simple: rewash it using a cup of plain white vinegar instead of detergent to kill the mildew causing the smell, then run it again with your usual detergent.
• Add lavender essential oil. A few drops in your detergent — or a detergent that already contains it — leaves clothes smelling better and helps fight mildew odor.
• Keep your washer itself odor-free. Mildew can build up inside the machine, so leave the door open after each load to let it air dry.

8. Watch Out for Foods That Cause Funky Odors

Garlic and onions are known breath offenders, but certain foods can affect your overall body scent too. You can avoid them altogether or take steps to counteract the smell.

• Red meat: Vegans tend to have a more pleasant natural scent than meat-eaters. You don't have to skip the steakhouse or backyard barbecue — just be strategic. Order a smaller portion of meat alongside a bigger salad, or grill chicken or fish instead.
• Cumin and curry: These spices are notorious for seeping out through your pores. Try swapping cardamom for cumin, and you may need to skip curry entirely.
• Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage: These trigger gas. They're great for your health, so keep eating them — just maybe not right before a date.

This advice won't necessarily help with certain vaginal odors, particularly ones caused by yeast infections.

Learn more about the causes and treatments for yeast infections.

Side note: Dealing with a yeast infection? Boric acid might help. Boric acid can make your vagina smell and taste better.

Now you've got a full toolkit for smelling amazing. After all, the goal is to attract your man, not send him running. Smelling good is genuinely easy once you know the top techniques — just don't layer on too many masking scents at once. Sexual interest can be triggered by pheromones, so your natural scent still needs room to come through.

September 1, 2020