Category: Frugal Living Tips

According to science, the human nose can detect up to 1 trillion smells.

While this is amazing and makes the world of perfumes that much richer and more varied—it also means that finding your signature scent might be harder than you thought!

If you have already begun the hunt for the perfect scent that is so you that you could wear it forever…Then you have probably already had a whiff of the difficulties involved in finding a signature fragrance.

Not only can it take time to find that special fragrance, but if you do not go about this in the right way, you might find yourself buying numerous bottles of perfume that you end up disliking, not wearing and feeling guilty about whenever you think of them. 

I don’t know about you—but to me, that is one of the most annoying shopping scenarios! This is why I have compiled this list of tips and tricks that you can use to simplify the process of finding your signature perfume. So that you can enjoy scent hunting, and not break the bank in the process. 

To find out what these tips are, read on!

Don’t Be in a Rush

First up, don’t be in a rush about discovering the perfect perfume for yourself. Aiming to nail down your signature scent in a week is asking for disappointment and frustration. And probably a couple rushed purchases.

Instead, approach the process like you would finding a future partner! After all, you wouldn’t rush that, so why rush finding your soulmate in a perfume?

Taking your time to really explore the different perfumes that are available will also be a lot more fun and exciting than trying to hurry through the process. 

Get Clued up on Scent Categories 

One of the top perfume buying secrets lies in understanding the different categories of scents. Once you have an understanding of the different categories and what their vibes are, you can decide if there are any which scream ‘you’ more than the others. 

This can then help as a guide when you are out shopping for scent.

Some of the main scent categories are:

• Woody: Rich, earthy and clean, these scents bring in notes of not only wood but also of things like petrichor (the smell that comes when the rain meets the earth)
• Floral: This category encompasses all the floral notes that exist (and the list is extensive!)
• Oriental/Spicy: These fragrances are sultry and comprise of things like cardamom, black pepper, musk, amber, and incense
• Fruity: Into this category falls all of the fruit-based terpenes which are a vibrant mix of spicy and citrus
• Citrus: Citrus on its own is a category because it is a useful component in many perfumes, adding freshness and energy to other scents
• Aquatic: Reminiscent of water and sea, these scents usually have elements that remind one of fresh coastal air, salt, and even algae
• Green: Scents in the green category are grassy, light and fresh
• Gormand: This category comprises of dessert-like perfumes that smell sweet and powdery and often include notes such as vanilla, caramel, and chocolate

Most people will tend to prefer one or two of these categories. If you know which categories of scents you love, you can quickly refine your search to include mostly perfumes that are dominated by these.

You can also use these categories to pick out perfumes that suit a specific need.

For example, if you are having issues relaxing and dealing with stress, then you might want to try out a scent that incorporates vanilla tones. In published research, vanilla registered as being one of the most calming scents, bringing about feelings of happiness in test subjects.

Interestingly, vanilla is also one of the world’s favorite scents according to Ranker!

Suss Out Scent Strengths

Next up in perfume 101 is scent strength. Buying the correct strength of perfume can be just as important as the scent itself. 

These are the different fragrance strengths:

• Aftershave / Eau Fraîche: Very mild, and lasts for under two hours
• Eau de Cologne: Slightly more concentrated, and should last about 3 hours
• Eau de Toilette: Moderately concentrated, and lasts up to 4 hours
• Eau de Parfum: Has an essential oil concentration of 15-20% and should last between 4 and 5 hours
• Parfum: The most concentrated and lasts up to 8 hours

If you are someone who does not like perfume lingering on you too long, then selecting an Eau de Cologne or Eau de Toilette might be ideal. On the other hand, if you want to stay scented all day long, then go for a more concentrated perfume type. 

Take the Seasons into Account

Before you settle on a scent it is a good idea to consider the seasons. Lighter, fresher and fruitier tones work best in summer, with citrus being an all-time hot weather winner.

More exotic, muskier and heavier fragrances, on the other hand, are best suited to winter where they will not feel too weighty or cloying. 

In the case of signature perfumes, you can either choose to have a signature scent for each season or you can aim to pick a scent that works well in both hot and cold weather.

Do Not Try on More Than 3 Perfumes at a Time

The rule of thumb for perfume shopping is to never try on more than three perfumes at once. More than this will be confusing for your nose. 

You can opt to smell more than three scents of course but only apply up to three onto your skin at a time. 

Walk Away for the Day

The next hot shopping tip is to never buy immediately. Instead, leave the shop after applying up to three perfumes on different parts of your skin.

Carry on with your day, stopping to sniff the different areas every so often. As the day goes on the scents will develop on your skin and you will get an idea of how the subtle (and highly unique) scent of your own skin reacts with the smell of the perfume. This is called body scent compatibility!

Take a Sample of Your Favorites Home

Once you have zeroed in on a couple of fragrances that you like, you can also ask if you may take samples home with you. This way you can try out the perfumes at home, and get even clearer on how they smell on you throughout the day. 

And there you have it! If you would like to learn more about scents, then you can continue your research by reading up on Expert Perfume Advice.

Savor the Journey to Finding Your Signature Scent

Finding your signature scent can feel like a daunting task, but with these tips, you are equipped to commence your fragrance search like a pro.

Just remember, that there is no need to rush your search and that the more you savor it the more enjoyable it will be!

If you have any questions or something you want to share, please comment below. And if you enjoyed this article be sure to share it with your friends!

Congratulations! You’re expecting a beautiful addition to your family. 

But with that lovely bundle of joy comes a lot of expenses, including an average of over $10,000 just for the delivery. One way that many expectant families help offset the costs is through a baby shower. 

Are you throwing a baby shower? Use these sweet and original sayings for your baby shower invitation message.

1. Boy, Oh Boy! 

If you’re looking for baby shower invite wording, consider adding in your baby’s gender as an introduction. 

Type the phrase, “Boy, oh boy!” in large blue letters over the top of your invite. Then, the rest of the details can follow. This simple, yet eye-catching design is a great way to reveal your baby’s gender. 

2. Who Runs the World? Girls! 

On the flip-side, there are great sayings for your baby shower invitation if you’re expecting a girl. If you’re expecting to raise a powerful girl, channel your inner Beyonce with this intro — “Who runs the world? Girls!”

3. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

If you’re combining your gender reveal party with your baby shower, try the phrase, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how we wonder what you are!”

This cute take on the popular baby song will get your guests excited for the gender reveal. Decorate the invitation with stars and a moon to stick to the theme. 

4. The Adventure Begins

Bringing a new child into the world is a huge adventure, so get your friends excited by welcoming them to the adventure. Pair the saying, “The Adventure Begins,” with hot air balloons or a map background.  

5. Skip the Card for a Book Instead

Invite your baby shower guests to stock up your nursery library. Use the saying, “Skip the card for a book instead, we want our baby to be well-read!” 

Then, after you have all your shower details, ask your guests to leave a special message for your baby inside the book. That way, these books can be a keepsake for years to come. 

Beyond Your Baby Shower Invitation Message 

Now that you’ve picked your baby shower invitation message, you need to design and print your invitations. The sooner you get them in the mail, the better chances guests will be able to come. 

We suggest creating free certificates online. With your baby coming, you’ve got enough expenses to plan for. Try to keep the amount you spend for your baby shower as minimal as possible. 

Then, choose a color theme to go with your saying and design.

Plan the Best Baby Shower Ever

There you have it, how to plan your baby shower invitation message and design your invitations. 

Since you’ve already picked a theme for your invitations, carry that theme over to your shower. Hopefully, a few friends or family members will help out with the decorations and food. Just remember that this is a time to celebrate, not to stress about the little details.

For more great mommy advice, head over to the Family Life section right here on our site. 

Wanderlust kicking up strong? Sometimes it doesn’t matter where you go, just so long as you get there. 

And when you’re traveling on a budget, the biggest wiggle room is how much you’re paying for plane tickets. And airlines have a lot of tricks to get you to pay more.

Here’s exactly how to find cheap flights to anywhere. 

Compare Ticket Prices

Like any thrifty shopper, you know how to comparison shop. But there are some particular tips to make your comparison shopping a bit easier. 

When you’re shopping for flights, you may go back to a site only to realize a sweet deal is no longer available. That doesn’t mean someone else snagged it up. It means your cookies are giving you away. 

When you use the internet, most sites keep track of your cookies. This is the personal ID number for your computer, and it improves user experience. But not on flights. 

The airline companies track your cookies, and if they see you come back to the same flight, they’ll bump the price. How do you get around this?

Use an incognito window on your browser. Incognito windows reset your cookies, so the airlines can’t track you. This way you’ll always see the lowest prices, not the ones bumped up special just for you. 

When you compare flight ticket prices, check out sites like Skyscanner and Kayak. But remember most comparison tools don’t look out for budget airlines, so it pays to search them out. 

Get a Card With Miles Rewards

If you’re a frequent traveler, it may make sense to get a card to start racking up points to add towards your next flight. 

Of course, there are a lot of caveats with this. To make the rewards pay off, you have to be responsible with credit. Otherwise, you’ll lose the value of your points by paying interest. 

It also pays to comparison shop reward cards — there are quite a few on the market. Look for one without an annual fee, but know you’re shopping and spending personality. 

Also, keep an eye out for sign-up bonuses. For example, the Discover Miles Card matches points your entire first year. Essentially, every dollar you spend earns you three miles your entire first year. 

Look For Budget Flights

We talked earlier about how flight comparison tools don’t usually track budget flights. So it’s worth checking them out specifically. Some of the biggest budget flight brands in the U.S. are JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit Airlines. 

But there are many more. Furthermore, they vary by country. You can check out Wikipedia here for a full list of budget flights by country. 

Be Flexible

The ultimate way to find cheap flights? Be flexible.

Some flight comparison tools will let you look at entire months at a time. This can help you get the absolute best deal.

Skyscanner will even let you search by entire countries. So say you’re flying around Europe. You might find better flight deals outside of the iconic cities. 

It may even pay off to make your own connecting flights, and spend an entire day or two in your layover city. This alone can save hundreds. 

These Tips Will Teach You How to Find Cheap Flights to Anywhere

When it doesn’t matter where you go, you need to know how to find cheap flights to anywhere. These tips and tricks will help you get started.

Remember, use points, compare flights, and be flexible. Some of the greatest adventures come from spontaneity. 

Love great content like this? Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter so you never miss an update!

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in America. In fact, over 40 million adults are diagnosed with some type of anxiety. 

Living with social anxiety can be challenging, especially if you don’t want to fill your body with prescription medication. 

But there are other ways to handle social anxiety symptoms. 

Keep reading to learn how taking CBD for social anxiety can be a big help. 

How CBD for Social Anxiety Can Benefit You

There isn’t a substantial amount of research regarding CBD and social anxiety. But the research that has been done is promising. 

For example, there are many studies that show CBD does seem to serve as a beneficial treatment for anxiety. Some studies even show CBD can benefit people struggling with social anxiety specifically. 

But it’s important to spend some time doing your own research before you start taking CBD. However, it can make a big difference for some people. 

Here are some of the ways CBD can be helpful for people with social anxiety. 

1. It Changes Your Brain Chemistry (In a Good Way)

Don’t let this phrase scare you. 

Taking CBD affects parts of the brain that cause symptoms of anxiety and changes it for the better. 

For example, it is thought that CBD alters the serotonin signals in the brain. Low serotonin levels can cause both depression and anxiety in some people. By taking CBD, you can change the way your brain interacts with serotonin, which can relieve your social anxiety symptoms. 

2. It’s Easy to Take 

There are a number of different ways you can take CBD. 

You can use topical products on your skin—like lotions and creams. You can take CBD oil by mouth. You can even find tasty CBD gummies or other edibles. 

This makes taking CBD for anxiety a quick and easy process. You can even carry your CBD with you in public and take it without having to deal with judgemental or disapproving stares. 

But make sure you know the right dose for your body. This might take some experimenting, so it’s a good idea to start small and work your way up over time if you need to. 

3. You Don’t Need a Prescription

CBD is legal in almost every state. Depending on where you live, you might not even need a prescription to buy CBD products. 

This makes it both easy—and less expensive—to treat your social anxiety. 

4. It Makes Everyday Life Easier

Taking CBD can reduce your social anxiety symptoms. This can make everyday tasks, such as going to work or picking up groceries, a lot easier. 

When these things get easier to manage, you may also find yourself enjoying life more than you normally do, and you might be able to try new things you weren’t able to do before. 

Making Your Mental Health a Priority 

CBD isn’t for everyone. It’s a good idea to ask your doctor about taking CBD for social anxiety before trying it. 

But whether or not you start using CBD, you should make your mental health a priority in your life. Meditation is a more natural and simple method of fighting anxiety. 

Not sure how to start?

Check out our health and fitness blog to learn some inspirational meditation tips for beginners. 

 

Did you know that around 350 million people in the world deal with arthritis?

Arthritis affects many people in the world, and luckily some people have come up with solutions.

Medications can become expensive and sometimes might even be ineffective in treating your pain, but there are things that you can do at home to help yourself.

Continue reading to discover what arthritis is and the best natural remedies for joint pain.

What Is Arthritis?

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is a condition in which the person suffers from joint pain. Swelling, stiffness, loss of motion and pain are all signs that you may be dealing with this condition.

Arthritis can affect almost anyone, and symptoms can come and go throughout the years, but they typically get worse as time goes on.

This condition is not affected by sex, ethnicity, or age. However, arthritis is often more likely to occur with women and older aged individuals. There are over 100 different types of arthritis that people can get, so be sure to speak with your doctor if you fear that you have this condition.

The Best Natural Remedies for Joint Pain

Those suffering from arthritis understand how painful the condition is and typically have to take medications to deal with the symptoms.

Instead of filling your body with pain killers, there are many natural remedies for joint pain that you can try instead. Below are 7 natural and effective ways that you can use to help treat your symptoms.

1. Focus on Your Diet

Those struggling with arthritis should be basing their diet (or part of it) on their condition.

Fatty acids are an excellent addition to your diet if you are dealing with pain because they are anti-inflammatory foods. Fruits and vegetables are also filled with wonderful antioxidants that reduce pain.

Filling your diet with healthy foods can not only reduce your pain and inflammation but is also a great way to maintain overall health.

2. Get Enough Exercise

Although people who have arthritis deal with joint pain, it is still recommended for them to get consistent physical exercise.

Water exercises, or taking Tai Chi and Yoga classes are often easier on your joints and may not induce much extra pain. Exercise is important when dealing with arthritis because it helps build muscle and strengthen areas around the joints.

Stretching muscles will also reduce inflammation and the increase in movement will produce fluids in your body that help lubricates joints and lower pain.

3. Use Epsom Salt to Relax

Epsom salt is infused with magnesium sulfate, which is an excellent anti-inflammatory.

Soaking your pain areas in warm water and Epsom salts can help minimize inflammation and reduce pain. Relaxing in a warm tub can also help reduce and build up stress or toxins that contribute to joint pain as well.

It is important to minimize toxins within your body because as they build up, joints become stiffer and more pain may be experienced.

4. Pull Out the Olive Oil

Olive oil has been said to be as effective as common pain killers and reduce inflammation.

Olive oil can be used to help arthritis and it can be taken orally or be rubbed onto your painful joint areas. Along with rubbing olive oil onto painful areas, CBD is wonderful at helping with joint support, and may improve other ailments too!

5. Go for Green Tea

Green tea is popular for many reasons and one of the most important beings that it helps reduce inflammation within the body.

People who suffer from arthritis can benefit from this treatment and can take green tea supplements in the form of beverages, tinctures, or tablets. There is still much research that needs to be done on the effectiveness of green tea for arthritis but many people seem happy with the remedy.

6. Alternate Hot and Cold Treatments

Heat therapy works well when you have stiff joints and achy muscles. The heat boosts circulation and relieves stiffness. Cold therapy slows down circulation by restricting vessels, it helps reduce both swelling and pain.

If you choose this type of therapy, it is important to do cold treatments for 20 minutes at a time. Warm showers work well for heat therapy, or you can even use heat pads on the sore areas.

7. Get a Massage

Arthritis symptoms can be soothed by getting a massage on muscles and joints in the painful areas.

Massages help by relieving stress and tension in the body, which makes arthritis more painful when tense. They also help people get better sleep at night and this could be helpful for those suffering from arthritis and wake up in pain.

Getting a massage has been shown to reduce pain and people who suffer from arthritis see an increase in serotonin levels. Serotonin regulates mood.

Say Farewell to Pain

Using these natural remedies for joint pain can save you money and give you relief from pain. Most of these remedies are inexpensive or include household items that you likely have already.

Many of these remedies can also be easily included in your daily activities, waking up and getting exercise for taking a walk or swim can benefit you and help with the pain. Using hot and cold treatment, along with getting massages can also minimize discomfort.

Be sure to check out our health and fitness section located in our frugal living blog to find more articles, like this one, that promotes a healthier life for yourself.