Ladies, let’s talk about perfume

I absolutely love fashion. There is no greater feeling than waking up in the morning and putting together an amazing outfit to strut in. When you know you look good, you feel good, and you also sometimes get lots of silent credit from passers-by on the street.

There are many pieces of fashion that I love including rompers, ripped jeans, bracelets, necklaces, lipstick and nail polish, but my absolute favorite aspect is fragrance, and here’s why.

When it comes to the senses, the one that serves memory best is smell. Nothing will ever make you forget the smell of your mom’s best dish, you grandma’s cookies, your favorite beach, or your first love. Smell creates a permanent imprint on your mind, and in my opinion, is our most powerful weapon. Wearing a sexy scent can lure in potential mates and make your entry to an event unforgettable.

I used to go for Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue, but a year or so ago I found a new perfume at the outlets with my parents. We go every year to see the stuff they don’t carry in mainstream stores, and of course, the fragrance shop is on my must-see list.

I ended up talking to the woman who owns the store and she found me a perfect scent, which just happened to be limited edition and only carried by specific outlet stores. Literally, my step mom’s friend who lives in New York City cannot find my perfume anywhere, and I love that because it has become my scent.

While I won’t disclose what is it because it’s mine, I will say that finding a scent that is unique to you is quite effective. My RA from freshman year said she could always smell me coming, because I was the only person she’d ever met with that scent. I left a jacket at my friend’s house, and he said he kept thinking of me because of the smell. Having a scent that is unique to you can go a long way.

Though I do recommend finding your signature scent, perfume can be dangerous to your skin and clothing so it is best to practice safe fragrance use.

Personally, I never apply perfume directly to my skin. They say that you should put it on your neck and wrists so that it radiates off of you, but my skin breaks out of I do that. In addition, most people apply it to their neck or shoulders, but according to beautyheaven, perfume is likely to contain alcohol, “when applied to your exposed skin during daylight hours, causes it to become oh-so-photosensitive to sunlight. This means your skin is more likely to suffer from sunburn, leading to wrinkles, pigmentation and possibly even skin cancer.”

I found another place that does the same if not more for your scent than your neck- your hair. Though it can dry it out, spraying your perfume up above you so that it falls lightly onto the top of your head can make your upper body smell oh-so-good.

My advice is to apply it to areas that emit heat but are not exposed to the sun or between your shoulders and forehead. Your underarms, hair, inner elbow or even your lower back underneath your shirt are great places to apply perfume. I would not suggest areas that are overly sensitive or sweat prone like your chest.

So go out there and find your signature scent if you have not already and spray away, with caution of course.