6 Cheap Things That Make Us Smell Amazing In Our 40s
We’re not ashamed to say it takes just a little more effort these days.
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by The Candidly Team
If you’re old enough to remember these ads, you too might be noticing your smell changing of late:
As if itchy ears and hot flashes and dwindling muscle mass weren’t enough, perimenopause and menopause can also make our body odor stronger.
For starters, we sweat more, but according to Harvard Health, “the menopausal drop in estrogen also leaves our bodies with relatively higher levels of testosterone … This can attract more bacteria to sweat, making it smell funkier.” Funkier - such a lovely scientific term.
We don’t bring this up to bum you out. We’re actually just here to say if you’ve noticed your former hygiene routine isn’t leaving you as fresh for as long, SAME!
We’re in this shitty little boat together, and the least we can do is share our tricks that have made our increasingly sensitive nostrils feel like they’re living in a 5-star spa on the cliffside of a wildflower field in Provence. (Because, oh yeah, our sense of smell/disgust also gets sharper in our 40s.)
There are 6 things that have recently transformed us into the best-smelling versions of ourselves. They’re all inexpensive, and, in their own small way, they make life better on a daily basis. Smell is powerful that way.
1. This Body Wash That People Have Stopped Us On The Street To Ask About
WHAT: Saltair Shea Soleil Cream-to-Lather Moisturizing Body Wash*
This body wash is so rich and silky but still actually lathers, so we feel both squeaky clean and hydrated. The scent is everything we love about a luxuriant beach vacation. And somehow, it lingers. On us! On our towels! It’s transfixing! Even though there are notes of coconut and vanilla, it’s deeper, more lustrous, more mysterious, more the way you dream your body would just naturally smell. Strangers have asked us what we’re wearing, and we get to thrillingly toss them the Diane Keaton line from Something’s Gotta Give. “It’s just … soap.”
Price: $16
2. The Gentle Yet Powerful Bar That Completely Gets Rid Of Underarm Odor
WHAT: Megababe Space Bar Underarm Soap*
There is one place where “soap” is not always enough, and that is our armpits We like to think it’s because of all the strength training we do to preserve our precious bones, but it’s also just sort of a less clean feeling/smell that can follow us out of the shower. We were surprised a product like this existed but it made us feel seen. And it absolutely obliterates any trace of b.o. from our pits.
Price: $15 for 2-pack
3. The Most Popular Scent We've Ever Worn
WHAT: Dedcool Mochi Milk Eau de Parfum*
Look, to say we’re obsessed with this warm, soft, marshmallowy scent filled with fresh nectar and sweet rice milk is an understatement. Every friend we have has asked us about it. It is the “signature scent” we’ve been looking for for years, and the roller bottle we carry in our bag is just $30. We’re actually so devoted to it and its price that we buy the dryer sheets* (life-changing), the room spray* (how half our friends discover it), and we buy THIS set* for people in our lives we really love who deserve complete happiness.
Price: $30
4. The Body Cream That Makes Us Smell Like A Chic, French Lady
WHAT: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Fluid+*
This is one of our favorite French pharmacy products - the scent that somehow captures what an enchanting Parisian woman surely smells like when she brushes past you on the Rue des Rosiers. It absorbs in seconds, and the big bottle lasts forever. Also, we LOVE a pump disposal. It’s the little things, my friends. Amélie taught us that.
Price: $39
5. The Aluminum-Free Deodorant That Smells Like Heaven But Works Like The Chemical Stuff
WHAT: Salt & Stone Bergamot & Hinoki Deodorant*
We’ve never loved the idea of slathering a bunch of toxins onto our armpits, but we need the real stuff that does the real work of keeping us from becoming the cowering girl in the “Unsure” commercial come 3PM. Salt & Stone does everything a deodorant should do but is made without aluminum, alcohol, parabens, or phthalates. And Oh, the scents. There are too many we love, but we stick with the Bergamot & Hinoki because it makes us feel like elegant adults who have mastered all aspects of life. It’s just that kind of scent.
Price: $20
6. The Beautifully Absorbent Hand Cream That Improves My Mood 22x A Day
WHAT: Cyklar Bergamot Bond Urea Hand Cream*
We all need a powerful anti-aging hand cream, correct? This one nourishes and protects the skin barrier function with something called ectoin, which helps prevent moisture loss and squalane which makes everything deeply soft and smooth. It doesn’t sound cheap for a hand cream but this bottle really does last. The citrus orchard smell is so divine we actually put it on instead of perfume when we want to make a wildly good impression on a sensory level when we enter a room.
Price: $22
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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