You fluff your ‘fro, powder your nose, and put on that last layer of lip gloss before you give yourself a final once over. Add the earrings, shoes and matching purse. There’s only one thing left to do, which surprisingly, studies show actually does make you seem more attractive.

Perfume. Yes. Perfume. From the Daily Mail:

The research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center reveals that women’s faces are rated as more attractive in the presence of pleasant odors.

‘Odor pleasantness and facial attractiveness integrate into one joint emotional evaluation,’ said Janina Seubert, a cognitive neuroscientist who led the research.

Jean-Marc Dessirier, Lead Scientist at Unilever and a co-author on the study said, ‘These findings have fascinating implications in terms of how pleasant smells may help enhance natural appearance within social settings.

 

But before you go off to take a perfume shower before you go to your next social mixer. Here’s some tips on how to do perfume the right way.

https://youtu.be/rP-ShtOuEy8

Other tips to remember:

Don’t make the rookie mistake that more is better. Perfume should be sort of a tease…you smell just a whisper, it intrigues you, and you want more. Overpowering perfumes are generally offensive, especially in the workplace.

Don’t spray yourself indiscriminately with perfume. Spray strategically on the throat, wrists, armpits and along the thighs. The throat and wrists are pulse points and thus generate more heat the amplifies the fragrance. The armpits and between the thighs (not near the girly parts, please!!) are places we women often sweat and possibly generate embarrassing body odors, especially during the hot and humid days of summer.

Top Perfumes for the Spring 2014

Elie Saab Couture; opens with almond and white florals, before revealing orange blossom and vanilla notes. Around $66

Euphoria; combination of cherry blossom, mandarin and bergamot is a summery reworking of the brand’s classic Euphoria fragrance. Around $35

Burberry Brit; lively and romantic fragrance with top notes of bright yuzu and mandarin. Around $66

Balenciaga; rose perfume with a twist. Around $75

For a mid-priced option that’s deliciously screaming SUMMER!!!, I’m a fan of Pacifica’s Hawaiian Ruby Guava. It just smells like you’re on vacation. Combine it with the body wash and lotion and you’ll be smelling like Maui, which according to the study, means you’ll also look amazing.

For an even cheaper option, I SWEAR by Dove Energizing Body Mist in grapefruit. I think it’s discontinued, although it smells absolutely delicious. I found some at Big Lots, and they’re selling them for around $3 for a 3 oz bottle. I’ve bought several different Dove scents, and keep one in my car when I’m feeling especially sticky and need a shot of freshness. You can buy it online on Amazon here.