Choose a scent that suits you

By Jackie Ojiambo

Just like the clothes you wear, perfume reflects your personality. The purpose of perfume as is the purpose of garnish on a fruit platter or a salad, is to make us more appealing. Needless to say, perfume, if not worn right, may cause misery to those around you.

Here are tips on how to wear perfume:

There are various kinds of perfumes that are available in the market. These can range from floral, fruity, fresh, energetic perfumes, heavier musky smells, or sweet chocolate and vanilla bean scents.

There are also oriental perfumes that are really exotic and woody fragrances that can make you feel you are amidst the greens — the list is endless.

Perfumes should match the occasion. Fruity and floral fragrances suit daywear and the exotic oriental perfumes go well with the evening mood and events and sensual fragrances when you want to set a romantic atmosphere.

Strong scents are not for the office. Wear a perfume that projects a very professional image and not one that projects you negatively.

Layering scents

Perfume reacts differently on individual body scents. Every person has a different scent, which is why most perfumes smell differently when applied to different people.

Therefore, when you try any new perfume, you must ensure you try it on your skin instead of the little strips of cardboard.

Once the perfume has been applied on the skin, wait for a few minutes. Always spray on the pulse points — around the neck, elbow and wrist pulse points. This ensures a better diffusion of the scents.

Employ layering to your advantage; it is defined as, "the process of applying all the various forms of bath preparations in the same fragrance." This method is used to make the most of the fragrance and to give it a longer lasting strength.

Fragrance layering happens when an individual applies at least two or more scented products.

However, the more products one uses, the greater the benefits. Scented shower gels or soaps clean the skin, leaving it gently scented. Body lotions or moisturizers offer a terrific foundation for a fragrance.

A body lotion that also provides moisture will leave your skin soft and hydrated while at the same time giving your skin a gentle scent.

Finally use a fragrance talc or dusting powder, fragrance deodorant, then eau de toilette (perfume).

To keep the consistency of your fragrance, always store it in a cool; dry area where there are no extreme variations of temperature or intense lighting (including sunlight).