Fragrance Free(ish) - Keeping Your Signature Scent
- Pam Tatom
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 11
Choosing a Signature Scent (and Letting It Stand Alone)
Fragrance should feel intentional, not accidental. When everything you use is scented, it’s hard to even know what you actually smell like. But if you streamline your routine—swapping out most of your daily products for fragrance-free ones—your chosen scent can finally have space to breathe. Whether it's a spritz of your favorite perfume, a beautifully subtle body oil, or a lotion that just smells like comfort, one well-loved fragrance stands out more when it’s not buried under six others.
Some tips:
Pick one or two go-to scents that feel truly “you.” Try wearing only one for a week to see how it wears.
Apply lightly—just enough for someone close to you to notice, not the whole elevator.
Choose fragrances that layer well with your natural scent and don’t require “supporting” products to smell good.
Why Go (Mostly) Unscented?
Living fragrance-free doesn’t mean you don’t care about how you smell—it means you care about how much and what you’re putting into the air and onto your body. When you cut back on fragranced products, a few things happen:
You avoid scent overload and product clashes (no more floral-body-wash fighting with citrus-shampoo).
You reduce your exposure to allergens and irritants (especially if you're sensitive or have skin issues).
You become more considerate of people around you—especially in shared spaces like offices, public transport, or medical settings.
And maybe best of all? You get a clean canvas.
What to Swap out First
You don’t have to throw everything out at once, but these are great starting points if you want to declutter your fragrance life:
Body Wash & Soap: These wash off anyway, so there's no need for them to linger.
Lotion & Moisturizer: Scented ones can clash directly with perfume, and the fragrance can stick around all day.
Deodorant: A subtle scent is fine, but many are overpowering and conflict with perfumes.
Shampoo/Conditioner: These seem harmless, but they leave scent in your hair, which can really interfere with perfumes.
Laundry Detergent & Dryer Sheets: Fresh laundry is great—but you can get that clean feeling without the heavy synthetic fragrances.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not All or Nothing
Cutting out all scents isn't necessary or realistic for everyone... You can absolutely love fragrance and be mindful about how you use it. It’s not about deprivation—it’s about intention. Here are a few really amazing scent free products:
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