Whether you're a Francophile or not, you have to admit that French women seem to hold the key to many feminine secrets: how to stay slim on a wine-and-cheese diet, how to look stylish without trying, and how to use fragrance to be even more rapturous. "The French have a strong relationship with perfume—for us, it's just like any other beauty item we must wear every day to feel confident and to express our personality," says French perfumer Veronique Nyberg. And according to Pamela Dalton, Ph.D., a sensory psychologist in Philadelphia, "evidence shows that fragrance can enhance your mood by reminding you of things you love," so it may be smart to step up your spritzing.
Find your signature scent.
"When you are a teenager, fragrance becomes glamorous. You associate it with your mother, or your friends' mothers," says Women's Health fashion director and native Parisian Jacqueline Azria. "And that encourages you to find one that conveys your vibe."
To figure out your scent identity, consider your personality and the vibe you want to exude. Mysterious and sexy? Choose sensual notes of jasmine, amber, or sandalwood. If you're more the fun and adventurous type, go for fresh florals like peony, violet, or freesia.
Commit to it.
French women would sooner leave the house without a phone than fragrance. Elisa Lempicka, daughter of French perfumer Lolita Lempicka, remembers being spritzed with Annick Goutal Eau de Bonpoint as a child and, to this day, "feels naked" without perfume. Stash a small bottle or sample in your jacket pocket or in the center console of your car so you can spritz before you head, well, anywhere (the French don't save fragrance for evening). Applying the scent on your clothes works too (as long as the garment isn't silk; fragrance can stain the delicate fabric). "In the winter, I love to spray the inside of my wool coat, so the scent is with me all day," says Sabine Chabbert, director of the Fragrance Foundation France (she mists her hair, too).
Double up.
The French are known for restraint when it comes to eating—not when it comes to fragrance. "We smooth on a scented lotion right out of the shower, then spray on the matching perfume after dressing," says Nyberg. It extends the longevity of your scent and helps you leave your "trail"—something French women love to do. We Americans, on the other hand, are stingier with scent and often blow the chance to make an impact. "Having your perfume wafting in the air—even after you've left the room—is very seductive," adds Azria.
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