Smelling delicious every day is feminine and polished. To find a fragrance that suits us is not always easy. Once we’ve found it, we’ll want to apply it correctly so that we get maximum mileage out of our pricey purchase. Expert opinions differ on the subject, but here are my two cents worth:

• Choice of fragrance – perfume smells differently when worn on the skin so it’s best not to rely on the whiff from a bottle. Skin acidity (affected by skin type, age and hormones) also affects the smell of a fragrance once applied. What smells nice on a mate might not smell nice on you and vice versa. A fragrance takes almost an hour to develop fully so don’t go on first impressions. There are no rules to follow here – if you like a scent, apply it to the outside of your hand and see what it’s like after an hour. Don’t try more than 2 at once – your nasal senses will get confused.
• Oily versus dry skin – dry skin does not absorb perfume as well as oily skin does. Perfume therefore lasts longer on skin that is not dry. Fragrances are absorbed like moisturizer because they contain oil. If you have dry skin, you might want to reapply your scent half way through the day.
• Cold versus hot – fragrances will last longer in hotter weather because of the moisture in the air and on you skin. You’ll need to wear more scent in colder weather.
• Correct application – a fragrance will last it’s longest when applied to pulse points such as the wrists, folds of the elbow, base of the neck and cleavage. Experts have suggested that the back of the knees and ankles are also good areas. I like to apply my perfume at the back of if my hairline. This is especially effective if you have long hair that you keep down because the scent travels through your hair, giving off a whiff every time you move your head.
• Rubbing your wrists together – do not rub your wrists together after you’ve sprayed your fragrance as this will flatten the scent.
• Mixing scents – scents should not compete. When you wear deodorant and body lotion, make sure that the scents are either the same as that of your fragrance, or wear odourless options.
• Sealing in your scent – using scented soaps and lotions that are the same as your perfume will make it last twice as long. Spray your scent first and then follow with the scented moisturizer.
• Spraying your clothes and jewelry – good quality perfumes will not stain your clothes but may ruin costume jewelry (the alcohol content can strip a layer off your pearls as well).   It’s a good idea to spray your clothes instead of your skin if you are sensitive. If I’m wearing a collared shirt or girly top – I like to spray the collar instead of my neck.

You can either invest in an assortment of fragrances that you like to wear depending on your mood and the climate; or you can stick to one that you wear all the time. If you haven’t managed to find a fragrance that you love – take yourself to the fine fragrance counter of any department store as soon as possible!

Fragrances are part of the fashion industry. Their use suggests glamour, sophistication, romance and ultra-femininity. Applying a fragrance can be considered the final touch to perfect polish. If I don’t put on my perfume, or have unexpectedly run out – I feel incompletely dressed.

Fine fragrances can be categorized according to type and scent.

While some prefer fragrances to be strong, others prefer them to be subtle.  Perfume is made up of denatured ethyl alcohol and essential oils – the higher the percentage of the latter, the stronger, longer lasting, and more expensive the scent. Opinions differ on the exact quantities of essential oils that define the different types of fragrances, but here are the big categories:

• Perfume (most essential oils - more than 20%)
• Eau de Parfum
• Eau de Toilette
• Eau de Cologne (least essential oils - less than 5%)

Different scents work for different people, matching their personality, fashion persona and skin chemistry. I find that the following are useful categories for narrowing down personal preferences:

• Fresh – citrus fruits and green leaves
• Floral – jasmine, roses and white flower scents
• Oriental – vanilla and spices
• Woody – musk and moss

Fragrances are offered at an assortment of price points – most of which are on the pricey side. Why? Because rose oil is the basis of all perfume and it takes over a ton of rose petals to produce a pound of this essential oil, which can cost between $3000 and $4000!

I strongly recommend using a fragrance every day. It is one of the most personal messages that you send to those with whom you come into contact, and it will increase your sense of well being. Stay tuned for tips on which fragrances to select and how to apply them.

Coco Chanel invented what is probably the most famous and successful perfume to date. It was the 5th bottle of scent in an assortment that her design house created, so for lack of a better name she called it “Chanel number 5″. It stuck, and the product was marketed under this name.

Stylish people are not only well dressed, they are usually also perfectly polished. Style icons like Kate Moss and Sienna Miller that exemplified the “just got out of bed look” are a rarity (and have the advantage of being adorned with designer clothing). The rest of us need to be immaculately groomed.

This doesn’t always come naturally, so here are some tips that will make it easy for everyone: 

• Dress well – your clothes need to be current, fit well and suit your body type irrespective of your fashion persona.
• Stay neat, clean and crinkle free – make sure that your clothes are ironed, stain free and in place when you wear them.
• Wear well cared for clothes and shoes – refrain from wearing anything that’s shabby.
• Make sure your eyebrows and lips are defined – eyebrows frame your face and shaping them is imperative (see “Make-up, or Make-down?“). Nourished lips (gloss or a bit of lipstick) always seem to finish off an outfit.
• Style your hair – acquire a hairstyle that is simple, easy to manage and that you can keep down if you want to. A hairstyle that requires you pull it back with numerous hair slides, clips and anything else resembles clutter (especially if they have to compete with accessories), and clutter is not good grooming. If you are going to pull your hair back, a neat low pony tail with a side parting is always classy.
• Care for your hands and feet – keeping your nails one length is important but wearing nail colour on your hands is not. If you wear open toe shoes – it’s always a good idea to have buffed your feet.
• Accessorize correctly – be mindful of how you match your accessories. Wear pieces that compliment your outfit without resembling a Christmas tree.
• Shave and wax regularly – There is nothing more polished then smooth shiny skin.
• Maintain good posture – standing up straight always makes you look taller and slimmer.
• Wear a scent – people should be able to tell when you have arrived if they can smell you before seeing you.

Looking polished is not just for those that need to look professional. You can look polished while you garden, shop, cook, travel, take the dogs out for a walk or play with children in the park. It’s not about being smartly dressed – it’s about being well groomed.

Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly epitomized immaculate grooming.

With dress codes at work becoming more casual, the tendency to “under dress” is rife. While, arriving at a beach party in a suit and heels is clearly the wrong attire. Having style also has to do with dressing appropriately for an occasion. Overdressed people often look out of place, but then so do those that make no effort. 

Consider the following:

• Overdressing is the safer option – if you are unsure of the dress code for a particular occasion (even if it’s a dinner party with friends), it’s always a better to overdress. Not only is it respectful to your host, but who doesn’t want to be the best dressed person in the room.
• Good grooming is imperative – be well groomed when you wear casual clothing. Casual dressing is no excuse for looking sloppy, wrinkled or unclean.
• Watch the accessories – accessories are key to making you look either overdressed or underdressed. Dress them down for a casual occasion and dress them up for a more formal one. Pay particular attention to your shoes – heels will always be dressier.  

It’s important to understand the difference between being “polished” and being “dressed up”. Done up hair, too much make-up, and over accessorizing is distasteful, but a polished look is perfect for every occasion.

This is a subject where I have no formal training or experience, but I do have strong feelings about it nonetheless. The correct amount of make up can certainly enhance our features and therefore improve the way we look. The incorrect amount will make us look like an opera star. I cannot stress enough that “less is more”. Very few people can get away with wearing absolutely nothing on their faces, but chances are high that they are actually wearing more than you think – it just looks as though they aren’t. This is the trick!  With a little bit of attention to the right detail, you can look polished in an effortless and natural way.

• Skin – spend money on treatment rather than colour. Your skin is the most important part of your face. There is nothing more appealing than skin that is well taken care of (and remember to wear sunscreen every day).
• Make up – if you feel that you need to wear foundation, spend time finding the correct one for your skin type and tone. Most importantly, you’ll need to look like you aren’t wearing any.  
• Eyebrows – take special care grooming the second most important part of your face. A person’s face is framed by their brows. Eyes can be opened up and the face completely realigned by giving eyebrows the attention that they deserve. Have them shaped professionally if you can’t manage yourself. If they are light, dye them. If they are thin, pencil in the cracks. Make sure that the colour that you use matches your eyebrow colour perfectly. And apply the pencil in shadow form – harshly applied eyebrow pencil is unsightly.
• Eyelashes – if you were blessed with thick dark lashes then good for you. If not, use dark brown mascara instead of black unless you are very dark. It will always give you a softer and more natural look. Apply just enough to keep you clog free.
• Lips – gloss will look just as nice as colour. Keep your daytime colours extremely natural and go darker at night if you need to. The interest on your lips will always make you look more polished.
• Cheeks – if you don’t have naturally rosy cheeks, apply a bit of the correct colour blush to your cheekbones. This is especially true in winter when we tend to look a bit more pale. It will give the impression that you look healthy and well despite the fact that you feel you are on the verge of collapse.

Eye shadow, eye liner and lip liner are best left for Oscar night. At the very least, take care of your pretty skin, groom and colour those brows and pop a bit of colour on your lips. In my opinion, you in your “almost natural” form is most stylish!