The sense of smell is a tricky thing to manage. It can be very subjective, What smells pleasant to one person can seem unpleasant to another. There is also the issue that some people can be allergic to certain scent components. The nose also becomes desensitized over time to continual exposure. This is a good thing for unpleasant smells but means that if you wear a favourite fragrance continually, the perception and enjoyment of it will be reduced over time. That is the benefit of having a few personal fragrances to choose from and alternate.
There is the potential for us to collect numberous fragrances and have them gather dust on the dresser or in the bathroom cabinet. A number of years ago I decluttered my perfume collection as I do not wear much perfume and I was sick of dusting the bottles. I was also concerned with their shelf life.
I have since found out that if the fragrances are stored in a dark environment at room temperature, they can last indefinitely! Heat and light will affect the quality, so if you find that the liquid has gone thick and sticky or the smell is no longer pleasant, it is time to ditch it.
Smell is a powerful tool to consider as the messages from the smell receptors go straight into the brain and affect the emotional subconscious without first being processed by conscious thought.
When it comes to wearing fragrance in the working environment, the recommendation is:
1. Don’t wear too much – less is more.
2. Apply the fragrance before dressing to avoid the potential of staining clothing.
3. Wear a subtle fragrance to minimise any possible irritant or allergic reaction from other people in your proximity.
4. When choosing a fragrance. try two or three in different locations on the body and wear them for the day so you can test how they react on your skin and how the fragrance develops over time. The initial pleasant smell (the top note) may not be the one that lingers later.
5. If you have dry skin, moisture first and the fragrance will last longer. Or layer using a body wash and moisturizer with a matched fragrance. There is a growing range of products applying this principle.
6. Fragrances can also be used as room fresheners. Especially if there are any lingering unpleasant odours in a room. An old bottle with a little left in it can be used for this purpose.
7. If you work closely with someone with an unpleasant body odour and you cannot bring yourself to discuss the issue with them. You can manage it by reapplying fragrance to yourself during the day, spraying the room, or purchasing a fragrance for them as a gift 
8. Use caution when buying fragrances for others. We can each prefer different kinds of smells. In general, go for a subtle fragrance that seems to be popular and has been around for years, or make a note of what flowers and foods they like. When in doubt, there are packs of small bottles of different fragrances available. These are commonly available at airports as well as large stores.
9. A spray of fragrance on a handkerchief can also be a pleasant addition to underwear draws.
10. It is not a necessity to wear fragrance, but it does add to people’s experience of us. Certain fragrance associations can become anchored, so that every time they smell that particular scent they think of you. This is a subtle form of Personal Branding that can be fun to explore.
So if you love a fragrance don’t feel guilty about getting a large bottle. Just store it properly. Then get small bottles of fragrances that you want to try or only wear on special occasions.
Happy exploring.
