How to Make a Good First Impression with the Right Fragrance

You walk into a room — a bar, an office, a convenience store — and instantly, people turn to look. They are drawn to the scent that wafts about you as you move. But are they looking for all the right reasons? Making a good first impression is all about the first few seconds of contact. Make them count with the right scent.

Why does the first impression matter? People can form their judgments, determine your trustworthiness, and decide if they want to talk to you or not, anywhere from a 10th of a second to half a minute. While studies may vary when it comes to the time, they agree that it is of the essence. Fragrance is something that you can use to your advantage. It arrives way before you do and lingers way after you leave. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, when someone inhales a fragrance, its compounds cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with the central nervous system. It means it can alter brain function. The Journal of Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications notes that odor influences people’s perceptions and bases attractiveness judgments on the presence of pleasant smells.

But what is pleasant?

Joint research by Sweden's Karolinska Institute and the University of Oxford found that although we enjoy many scents, we love those that smell familiar and, interestingly, safe to eat. Must you, then, strive to smell like your college cafeteria’s best-selling inihaw na liempo? Only if your heart desires it.

Otherwise, pick a scent that you lean to — further research by the above journal notes that fragrances people pick for themselves are perceived as more pleasant by other people versus those others choose for them.

Confidence is an attractive trait. You can boost yours with the right fragrance to make a memorable first impression. A 2009 study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that men who used scents to mask body odor (everyone has it!) altered their self-confidence. It also made them think they were more attractive to women. The same study showed that women also judged those who wore an active scented body spray as more attractive.

Moreover, according to the I-Perception Journal Vol. 11 published in 2021, actors used fragrance to help them embody a role they were playing and get into a particular state of mind. So don’t be surprised if you feel spritelier and unusually suave after spraying on a fragrance you like. It makes you more confident, which can, in turn, completely change your interactions with others.

For a scent perfect for this heat, try AXE Deo Ice Chill Body Spray. This fresh fragrance cools down your skin by up to 11 degrees and wraps you in a Frozen Mint and Lemon scent. This also protects you from body odor, which as science confirms, can boost your confidence level.

Making a good first impression is easier with the right fragrance — one that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and most of all, yourself.