The Charm of a Fragrance

Today was one of those quarantine days for me when I just didn't feel like moving. However, the feeling of doing nothing isn't a personal preference of mine. So I figured wearing my everyday perfume would make me more productive. Why, you ask? Because the emotional part of my brain is a little dumb. I thought I could trick it into thinking if it smells like going to college, it must be time to work.

And what do you know; it worked.

If you've ever had a person walk past you smelling all kinds of fresh, chances are, they look more attractive to you. Now, I can either go on a tangent and explain to you how little details and discipline make a person more refined, or we can do this the easy way and I could go on a shorter tangent about why it's important to smell good.

I had a mathematics teacher in high school who was one of the classiest ladies I knew as a teenager. Apart from just looking elegant in general, she had a signature perfume that she wore every single day without fail. She was one of the first people who made me realize that while it may not be an issue when one doesn't smell like anything, smelling good could uplift one's aura by multiple notches.

I believe a person makes an impression the moment they step into a room, way before they even say a word. People perceive you through almost every sense organ- eyes (appearance), ears (intonation, enunciation, etc), touch (physical greeting), and one that's often forgotten, smell. The processing is subconscious but very much existent. Therefore, if you think scents have nothing to do with your mood or perception, you might be wrong.

Whenever I'm feeling down, a scented candle or a refreshing shower can elevate my mood exponentially, and I have come to realize it goes beyond the visual effect or physical feeling. Whether you believe in aromatherapy, or the placebo effect, or if you just like the idea of refinement and productivity like yours truly, fragrances can help you in all three departments.

When one treats something like a chore instead of a part of a routine or a habit, one can often devalue that task unwittingly, but attention to minor details can make a huge difference.

In my case, these include-

1. Taking a Shower I am well aware it's a no-brainer that one should take a shower every single day, but if you're finding it hard to do so during the quarantine… hello, I'm a sign from the universe. The first step to elevating myself is to remove the unwanted, hence, beginning with a clean slate is essential. But besides the obvious, taking in the scents of the products I use while I'm in the shower as well as when they linger while I get ready, sets my intentions for the day to be productive, straight.

2. Applying Moisturizer Most of us have a skincare routine for our faces, but we often forget to take care of our arms and legs. A moisturizer with a fragrance that matches or compliments my shower products, is ideal, as oftentimes, two or more scents that clash with each other, end up smelling… interesting… together. This not only makes me smell good but also, compliments about soft hands are always lovely.

3. Wearing Perfume

This is no-less than a treat in the morning before I leave the house, or in the current situation, before I go to the kitchen to make breakfast. I am currently experimenting with different scents and they all make me feel different, hence, I pick my fragrance depending on what mindset I am/want to be in, on a given day. A perfume is not a deodorant and I can write a thesis on how they're different. I do not use deodorant because I'm not someone who sweats a lot. A perfume, on the other hand, is an additional step, a therapeutic experience in theory and in practice.

4. Breath Mints

Even if sometimes others don't know I need it, I know I do, and isn't this entire thing about self awareness and care, anyway?

Again, these are not the same as chewing gum, because I don't consider gum elegant, but that's a discussion for another time.

5. Scented Candles

There's just something absolutely therapeutic and divine about lighting a candle. It's one of those things I wish I could experience throughout the day but the fact that that's impossible, makes it sacred. The act of physically lighting a candle and also the fragrance, are a signal for my brain to relax. After all, we all need our mental cues that separate work hours, you know, for sanity-reasons.

6. Airing out the Room Open. Your. Windows! I make sure to open my bedroom windows and door every single morning to make constantly staying indoors suck less. Not only does it help with ventilation but I can also smell the fresh morning air and the musk from the trees behind my building, everyday at 7 am sharp. It's the perfect start to the day and helps in setting the tone for the rest of it. As an added bonus, it makes you feel like a Disney princess if you have an imagination wild enough.

7. Walking in Nature

This is something I was just starting to appreciate right before quarantine, so I'm not going to pretend I was born earthly. It's very important to connect scents with not only with how they make you appear, but also how they make you feel. Either way, I'd just started to take incredibly short strolls in the park (baby steps, no pun intended), taking in the smell of freshly cut grass. This is also why having plants around can be therapeutic.

We are all going through various degrees of challenges right now, and without being insensitive to that, I'm absolutely not pushing myself to shoot for the stars here. I'm just trying to get some things done and find a little piece of heaven wherever I can. Besides, who doesn't want to feel like a queen?

I wish you all find peace in these trying times.

-Sam