Aibu to ask how people manage to smell nice?

[Lostatseason5]

I'm a bit overweight and a bit sweaty :( I have been suffering from depression and although I was managing to drag my ass to work every day I wasn't always showering. :( My new year's resolution was to shower every day. I've been doing this but I still feel unfresh by afternoon, I have colleagues that smell AMAZING! I am too embarrassed to ask them how! Aibu to ask for those of you who are always smelling great your "secret" I now shower each morning wear deodorant but I don't wear perfume as I feel I put too much on, but I'd happily wear one of anyone can recommend a fresh one not overpowering - this will probably sound horrendous that grown adult is asking for help with this but depression can be really debilitating and .trying very hard so of you could be kind I would be grateful thank you (i'm.nearly crying writing this!)

I love nice clean smells, and the biggest compliment anyone can give me is I smell nice or my house smells nice and, best of all , my children smell ‘clean’ (from teachers, sports coaches when I do kit). So I have no problem asking people who smell nice for their secrets - it makes people feel good so don’t be ashamed of asking x

U have already made an excellent start and sound very motivated so you should be proud of yourself for taking control!

I find some shower gels make me smell worse and some are better so try different ones. I like the tingly mint ones but also use Sanex and dove as my skin can be sensitive. During hotter weather I also switch to soap - detail soap and coal tar soap make me feel clean and seem to prevent swear in a day. This may be TMI but I have had full body laser so no hair and find I am aware of sweat quicker as a result so definitely daily wash and good rinse. Always clean towel. Sometimes on a night I need another shower and feel better going to bed for it.

I wash my hair as soon as I need to and dry it straight away too which I find helps. If I’m putting it up and it’s a day old or so I use a dry shampoo too which helps with my (shit) ‘styling’ but also makes it smell fresher.

I use anti-perspiration, but again sanex or Mitchum. Less strong scents and I prefer spray as I hate the wet sticky feel of roll on ( I swear bad and it makes me feel sweaty before I start)

I wash my clothes, bra etc every day and regularly wipe my Shoes inside with an anti bac wipe. I love fabric softeners etc but find my clothes smell neat when they are washed dried and ironed/ put away as soon as possible no matter what I use.

I used to take a lot of medication that made me sweat really bad - so maybe look at that too? I found as I was happy with the mess the best way to combat that ‘from the inside’ was loads of water and cutting down in any spicy or strong smelling food. It gave me a dry mouth too so I used mouthwash twice a day and just drank loads in between. (Plus not having any stronger foods meant for me no take always so I managed to lose soon weight too). Never smoked and try to avoid smoky places. If I have walked dogs etc I wash everything - boots, coat regularly and keep some clothes for certain ‘jobs’ garden, dogs, work etc.

I keep my house clean - not Mrs Hinch clean spraying everywhere - just general good hygiene and daily cleaning, food waste straight out, dishes done and pets confined to certain rooms, open windows. Clean towels, clean bed, clean car too so there are no ‘stale’ smells.

I love perfume, all different scents put use just one or two squirts and always ask for sets for Xmas etc so I can layer up on shower gel and body lotion too.

I’m not obsessive or use too much products but find these things make me feel cleaner . Best wishes to u ! Keep ur chin up x

I use a bar of soap rather than shower gel. Clean hair. Clothes washed in Lenor and for perfume try Pure Grace by Philosophy - it smells of clean laundry

Fucks sake
I do also swear bad but obviously meant sweat! !
And Dettol soap !
(Must do preview, must do preview)

I second @nursebuttercup - was coming on to say Zara perfumes. I wear Tuberose and can honestly say I've never had so many compliments.

And definitely soap rather than shower gel. Read that on MN a good year or so ago and it's made such a difference.

As well as what’s been said before, use a shower puff thing or brush, to rub the back of your neck and exfoliate areas that get the skin bumps (back of upper arms, tops of thighs), otherwise the dead skin just sits there, smelling greasy. A shower that was a tiny trickle of water left my hair smelling greasy too.

Dove bars are not soap and will not act like soap, use actual bars of soap. Antiperspirant not deodorant, Crystal salt stick also helps deaden smells, applied before anti perspirant is applied. I only spray perfume on my back and torso when I get out of a shower and have moisturised my body and face, couldn’t bear it on my neck.
Clean hair, clothes and body= you won’t smell. Unless you smoke or use a deep fat fryer.

I wear a body cream and spray and also perfume. I’m told I smell amazing - can’t smell it myself!

Always wear Laura Mercier creme brûlée body cream and a lush spray. Currently ‘Yog Nog’ which seems to compliment the body cream. Their ‘Rose Jam’ spray is amazing and lasts ages.

I also wear just a bit of perfume. Currently wearing a blue Aqua di Parma one (Mandelo de scicila??). This particular combination is getting lots of positive comments.

I have to say though-I shower daily, clean clothes and bra daily, wash towels and bedding regularly but I do find having big boobs makes you sweat more especially on a hot day.

Do people use anything special between/under boobs in the summer?!

Mitcham deodorant really does keep you dry. If you suffer with sweating quite badly try using it in other places, not just under arms, but under your busy for example. Rather than perfume try a body spray, slightly less strong. Also what do you wash your clothes with? Have a sniff of all the fabric softeners in the supermarket, some are devine and will keep clothes smelling good for a while, also fabric fresheners if you are wearing something for a second time. Good idea from PP about hand washing. They do some yummy smelling hand washes and does make you feel clean to have clean hands. And YANBU depression stops you from caring about things like things, so the fact you care about how you smell is great!

I agree with the recommendation for soap instead of shower gel, it makes a huge difference. I also use exfoliating gloves in the shower about twice a week.

I find most scented deodorants 'turn' on me after a couple of hours and make me smell worse. So now I mostly use the Nivea unscented one (I think it's called pure and sensitive) and that works a treat. Roll on is better than spray.

If you find perfume too much, try a body spray or scented lotion. I'm a big fan of the green Vaseline body lotion.

Also agree about Zara perfumes. I have Gardenia and it smells just like YSL Black Orchid.

I was using Mitchum solid deodorant and I was still smelly. I have recently tried sure 72hr advance and it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s a roll on so have to let it dry before dressing but I’m not going back.

@fedup21 I bought some liquid talc from Asda, it's meant for babies and it's their own brand. I've heard good things so will give it a go when the weather warms up. Couldn't get any in the summer as it had all sold out! It's less than a quid so maybe grab some.

And one last tip, if any of your clothes are a bit whiffy, spray some vinegar on the armpits before putting them in the wash. Works every time. Vinegar can also be used as an alternative to fabric softener, I always do this when washing gym gear.

Dettol bar soap, great if you’re a bit of a sweater, we used to have occasions in this house where even after a shower and a vigorous underarm scrub, somehow we could still smell BO when getting dried off. Dettol bar soap cuts right through it, We all use it underarm and I use it under and between breasts.

As we are quite sweaty people I also discovered another tip-my oldest son in particular makes his clothes smell of BO even after washing, I now buy big bottles of cheap white vinegar and periodically soak his clothes in a bucket of cold water with a good amount of white vinegar, something in the vinegar destroys the sweat enzymes and after washing as normal in the machine they no longer smell of sweat.

Perfume wise, Armani diamonds is amazing, my favourite and I always get complimented and get asked what it is. Smell stays all day without imo being overpowering.

Don't use roll on or spray, get a crystal or rock deodorant. They are 👌👌👌

Spray perfume on before dressing. Two spritz of it.

Shower and brush teeth every morning.

Make sure your hair is clean and not greasy.

Wear clean or well aired clothes every day.

Don't eat smelly food, like garlic and onions.

Don't use roll on or spray, get a crystal or rock deodorant. They are 👌👌👌

Spray perfume on before dressing. Two spritz of it.

Shower and brush teeth every morning.

Make sure your hair is clean and not greasy.

Wear clean or well aired clothes every day.

Don't eat smelly food, like garlic and onions.

I tend to use body spray rather than perfume. When I get hot, I can smell it doing it's job. There is nothing that comes.close to Impulse.

Make sure your house smells fresh too. Mil’s house smells really musty and damp (she would be mortified if we said anything). She never, ever opens her windows. It catches in my throat and she and her clothes reek of it. If she gets in the car it’s overpowering. I can smell it off DH’s hair and clothes if he’s been over. I washed her clothes when she stayed here and even after washing twice they smelt musty and damp.

Shower daily
Clean clothes daily
Deodorant and teeth brushed am and after lunch (teeth again after arriving home and before bed)

Change knickers either after lunch or when you arrive home
Trim pubic hair (the hair itself doesn't smell but it traps urine)
Make up am and again after lunch, evening as well if you are socializing
Use a nice smelling laundry detergent
Perfume for special occasions

I think feeling fresh is the ticket, you usually feel fresh when you are clean, properly laundered and groomed!

I would say make sure when you shower, use a bar of soap as that works better then gel. Take care of dental hygiene as well and make sure to wash hair . You could buy some scented lotion to freshen up from body shop. Or something similar. Just use it on your hands and arms at work and it gives a nice smell. Have minty gum available if you need to freshen breath.

Also, wash and change bedding weekly. As it helps you feel fresh sleeping in clean bedding.

Don't wear heavy perfume to work. As a migraine sufferer there is nothing worse than being trapped in a room with the stuff. Anything stronger than light body spray sets me off. It doesn't smell fresh, it's nauseating and overwhelming. I remember a previous thread where someone said use proper soap to wash in the shower rather than shower gel. That one is a game changer.

I have a nice lightly scented hand cream on my desk that I put on a couple of times a day which helps I think.