Adam Zyglis/The Buffalo News
Hello, my social distancing, hand washing, perfume loving friends out there! Are we all going slightly crazy? I’ve sometimes thought that I’m glad I can’t see into the future and that’s certainly the case now.
Wherever we are in the world, whatever our individual situations, we are all going through this mayhem together. As we all navigate these uncharted waters we are finding our own ways to get through it.
My small town in California hasn’t yet been hit with the full force virus exposure (supposedly, though who knows since there hasn’t been much testing done). Most people are carefully following recommended safety protocols from what I’ve heard and seen. But we are all stressed out on various levels. There is no end in sight. I’ve been hearing that while most crimes are down domestic violence is up. Well duh, no explanation needed for that.
Regardless of our circumstances we need to try and put as many healthy little practices into our cocooned lives as we can. Whatever habits that make us feel grounded and more hopeful during what has become our new normal.
If you’re reading this you already know how powerful scent is, and you probably have at least a couple of fragrances you find calming and transporting. If you have any that remind you of a favorite vacation or a person who is dear to you you’ll be surprised at how it can make you feel so much better .
DON’T BE MONOGAMOUS
I see no benefit in sticking to my top few perfumes right now. The more the merrier! It’ll make your day more interesting to delve more deeply into those who’ve been sitting on the shelves and waiting for a second chance. What exactly was it about them that turned you off? Could it have been you not them?
FEEL FREE TO PLAY
People have different opinions about layering fragrance and I get it. I happen to be a huge advocate of the practice as you probably know if you’ve read other posts here. Whether it be layering a fragrance over a scented moisturizer or spritzing on two or more different perfumes, it’s fun to mix and match. Don’t forget to remember the combination though or you’ll regret it.
REACH FOR THE LARGE AND IN CHARGE ONES
Bring on Fracas or Shalimar any other big guns in your arsenal! You can’t help but feel more empowered and fearless. Plus you’ll be sure to get some sort of reaction from your fellow housemates who are also stressed-out and need something to divert them from their smartphone and hourly new updates. Whether their reaction is good or bad really doesn’t matter, at least they’ll be getting a diversion.
DITCH THE SANITIZERS FOR GREAT SMELLING COLOGNES
As soon as the sh*t hit the fan everyone ran out and bought as much of this stuff as they could get their hands on. The few sites like Amazon and eBay are charging ridiculous amounts. Plus with the crazy fake advertising surge and price gauging going on there’s no guarantee you’ll be getting even what you over-paid for.
There are a number of pleasant smelling colognes that contain enough alcohol to blast any germ that comes close. My current go-to is Jean Naté. Its fresh and citrusy aroma is way better than any antiseptic-smelling hand sanitizer. Its also enriched with Vitamin E and aloe vera so it doesn’t dry out your hands the way Purell does.
MAKE YOUR HOME YOUR SANCTUARY
If there’s one thing we know for sure it’s that we’re all going to be spending A LOT of time at home. And if it already seems like the end of a very long Christmas break, the fact is that none of us know how much longer we we’ll be holed up. Fear, captivity and too much togetherness can make this seem more like a prison sentence than a staycation but there are ways to make it more bearable.
Candles to the rescue! Long known for their soothing, healing properties candles will help create a peaceful ambiance for any room in the house. My candle collection includes statement pedestal candles to small votives and everything in between.
Many people find the sounds of nature to be relaxing. We’re currently living in a hundred year- old home with virtually no closets which isn’t ideal obviously. However, it does have a pretty back patio with a water fountain. When I say I’ve had it turned on most days from dawn to dusk while sequestered at home I’m not exaggerating. There’s just something so calming and relaxing about the sound of running water.
Remember that most of us WILL get through these crazy times. Let’s all try to look for something positive in every day…even if some days you have to look a little harder.
Until the next time,
Helooo I want to say a big thank you for these tips. Basic hand sanitizer has been my go to but Jean Nate might be even a better option. I also like the fact that Its enriched with Vitamin E and aloe vera so it doesn’t dry out your skin. Never tried it though so I hope I like the way it smells!
Hey there Sheddy,
I hope you do like it or at least not dislike the scent. It’s pretty gender neutral and tends to fade quickly due to its high alcohol content. Anyways, the bar is pretty low if you’re comparing it to Purell.
Stay safe!
Erica
Hi Erica, I totally agree with you – there are particular scents that help me relax every time I am so stressed out.
Great article. Stay safe!
2020 has been a boom for self-care in general. Many of us have been seeking the relaxation, comfort and nostalgia that fragrance provides.
Thanks for your well-wishes. You stay safe too!
Erica
Hi Erica. I love to mix and match. But you’re right, we must jot down the combination. I did a few combinations that were not good and one day I did one that was fabulous. I think fabulous is a small word to describe it. But the point is that I didn’t write it down and now I’m trying to come up with the combination but none of them are the one I liked! Yeah, lesson learnt.
Hi Ann,
The thing about layering is it’s really like a recipe. If you add too much or too little of the ingredients it can really throw things off. I’m sure you’ll be extra careful in noting the exact combo next time. Best of luck with future experiments.
Erica
Hello Erica,
I am happy for you that the virus isn’t where you are and I pray we get a cure to it before it gets close to where you live. Making use of hand sanitizer has been a newly cultivated habit that even my 3 years old daughter automatically applies without any assistance. However, I love the idea of scent which sounds far more. interesting. But what percent of alcohol do these cologne need to have so it can kill a virus?
Hi there Benson,
Thanks for your well-wishes. i hope things are okay near you as well.
From everything I’ve been reading alcohol-based solutions (from household cleaners to fragrance) should be around 70%, although some reports say 60% is sufficient. Most colognes have anywhere from 80-90% alcohol. This is why they are much cheaper then perfumes or EDPs (Eau de Parfum).
Erica
Hello there! This is awesome. Sincerely speaking, staying at home at first wasn’t going so well but right now it’s about to become helpful for me as I’m learning new things. Apart from observing personal hygiene I’m getting use to the sanitizer thing.
I think this pandemic is maybe teaching us some new things😀. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Lizzy,
We are all learning new things, new ways of just being. Staying at home wasn’t easy for any of us either but it is what it is. We adjust.
Stay healthy!
Erica
A special fragrance can change the outlook of an individual, When you put on a nice perfume which you know smells amazing people tend to want be closer to you to get a good whiff of it. I had a friend of who used to sniff people’s perfume and used it to judge them.
In these crazy times at least we can all try and smell our best.
This is very true. We don’t have control over much but we can control how we smell!
Stay healthy!
Erica
It’s been so disturbing and crazy lately. These bad times will pass and I believe that eventually everything will be better. You know, I feel like maybe I truly need a good scent too, something to help me get through these times. Like you said, why don’t I replace all the sanitizer with a good smell and make my home my heaven.
Hi Riley,
If you have a fragrance or particular scent that you find calming, now is the time to let it work its magic.
Thanks for stopping in and stay safe!
Erica