Smell Pretty
Greetings:
I just never know which Days from 365 Days of Coaching are going to spark the most interest. To tell you the truth the response on the Day from today, Sunday October 12, surprised me. The Day entitled, How You Smell Can Influence a Life, was about how your actions can have an impact on someone without you ever saying a word. I shared my story of how one of my classmates mothers always took really good care of herself and always smelled so good that at a young age I was inspired to smell good too. I achieved this goal and think of my classmates mom quit often. I am not sure we ever spoke but her actions impacted my life. I learned about self care from my classmates friend at a very young age.
I received several comments on the day and all asked me what my favorite smell pretty is and how they can make their scents last all day. I decided that I would share this answer on the blog - and I do have an answer. I actually was trained how to make scents last all day long!
So here is my answer to the question:
Would you share the trick to 'always' smelling pretty? I know there is a technique for it to last through the day.
I was fortunate enough to work for the Estee Lauder company and it was there that I learned to "layer" my scents. This is the secret to making them last all day long. I use a soap that is in the same flavor (I use the words flavor and scent interchangeably) as the other products I will be layering with. I also use a shower gel that is the same flavor I will be wearing. I like washing up with the soap and then putting the shower gel on a scrubby and exfoliating with the gel. After my shower I put on lotion in the same flavor. I have been using lotion since I was a teenager and it is one of the things I attribute to my soft skin. My skin is in amazing shape and I believe it is because of the daily lotion routine. I never skip it. I then spritz with a body splash. I do one spray at my neck, one spray at my chest area, one spray at the mid section and one spray on my legs. Not sure why I do this but I feel like it distributes the fragrance and doesn't just saturate one area. And that is it. I don't refresh my flavor during the day, never had to. I get compliments all day long. I have become so use to my scent that I don't smell it myself.
The only smell pretty products I use come from Bath and Body Works. Their scents are light and fresh and I think more wearable. They are also very affordable. Some scents can actually be over powering when layering and Bath and Body Works isn't, it works really well with the technique. My all time favorite flavor is Plumeria. Unfortunately this flavor has been discontinued and I can only find it during the two large sales they have each year. For some reason they bring in back just for those and I snatch up as much as I can. However since it isn't easy to find during the year I have taken to switching up.
My newest favorite flavor is Dancing Waters which is just a nice light scent with a touch of lily.
I am so known by my scent that at a birthday party I threw for myself over half of the guest brought me Plumeria scented products. I was shocked because I had never told anyone what I wore. When I asked about how they knew they said, "I wanted to find a smell pretty for you and when I smelled the Plumeria I recognized it as your scent." I was really amazed by that. Not sure why, I have a friend who washes her air with a certain type of shampoo and I identified the shampoo without knowing what she was using. I also am reminded of my friend every time I smell that scent.
The key is to find a flavor that you really like and that wears well on you. Some flavors can turn nasty on a person because of the chemistry. You might have to try a few before you find what works for you. When I am shopping for a new flavor I go to the store and smell as many as I can. I then will select one, spritz it on and walk around for at least 15 minutes or so. If it still smells good I will get it. I also go by the compliments I get. My husband still compliments me on how good I smell so I know it is working.
I would love to hear your tricks for making your flavors last all day long.
Here's to taking action,
Rachelle
posted by Coach Lee @ 1:54 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I have been using scents less and less--especially when I'm in a business meeting, around a bunch of people, or in closed quarters (like an airplane). I have found too many people are sensitive to smell and "naked" seems to be the scent of choice in Colorado. I'm now very sensitive to other people's noses--recalling the woman we used to sit behind in church and how I always wanted to move because her choice of scent was not mine.
Likewise, a woman came to my home for a meeting and I had a bunch of scented candles burning. I got an email from her the next day telling me how painful it was for her to endure the smells--with her allergies or sensitivities. Of course, she should have told me the night before when I could have done something about it. Nonetheless, I no longer burn those scented candles with large groups.
That being said, I love scents. I choose to use herbal and earthy scents like lavender, rosemary, and the like. I keep bottles at my desk and indulge every so often. And I LOVE burning scented candles for myself and husband.
Alyson:
This seems like a great coaching moment to me. For your friend who had to suffer through your candles, I would coach her to speak up. She is the one that has allergies or is sensitive and needs to learn to let her needs known. Her behavior was passive aggressive and I would wonder where else in her life she isn't speaking up for herself and suffering through. For you I wouldn't stop burning the candles when guest are coming. You might ask in advance if anyone has sensitivities to such things. I always let people know that are coming to my home for the first time that I have dogs. This way someone that has allergies or other sensitivities can decide if they want to be in my home or not. I have a friend that smokes and I just cannot tolerate being in her home so we don't meet at her house and she doesn't smoke when we are together.
As far as the scents go I would say that there are ways to wear them in public and not offend. The scents I wear from Bath and Body are soft and light and natural. I also use a Body Splash as a spray which by design is lighter in fragrance. I would highly recommend saving the full on perfume for when you will be in a more open area.
Thanks so much for your comment because I really think it brings much more to light than just wearing scents and that is it is our responsibility to speak up for ourselves. If something is offensive the best thing to do is let the other person know or remove yourself from the situation. I have asked to be moved several times because I found the person sitting near me was offensive, not from smell pretties but from other scents or situations that didn't appeal to me. We all need to speak up and take responsibility for ourselves.
Here's to taking action
Rachelle
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