If you’ve ever sat next to someone who smells bad on a long flight, you know how unpleasant the experience can be.
All you can do is think about landing and taking that first deep breath of clean air once you’re outside. Depending on your destination, you might not get that relief until several hours after you first notice you chose the wrong seatmate.
Out of comfort and courtesy, you likely want to do everything within your power to prevent someone else from experiencing that unpleasantness because they’re sitting next to you.
You’re in luck. We’ve teamed up with our friends at type:A deodorant to come up with a list of four carry-on approved items that will make sure you stay fresh wherever your travels take you.
1. A tiny amount of cologne or perfume
A little bit of your favorite cologne or perfume can go a long way toward making you smell delightful throughout your trip.
Some less experienced travelers hesitate to pack these liquids because they’re worried that they’re not allowed to. However, if you’re flying in the United States, the TSA lets you pack liquids, gels, and other aerosols so long as they’re in containers that hold 3.4 ounces or less and can all fit in a single quart-sized plastic bag.
Since no one needs to bring an enormous about of cologne or perfume with them on vacation, you’re best off getting a sample-size vial or two, filling those, and sticking them in your carry-on.
Worried you’re starting to stink? A few drops of cologne or perfume will save the day! But remember, you’re in a contained space and a little goes a LONG way. Freshen up, but don’t overpower.
2. Non-toxic deodorant that actually works
The last thing you want is to be the guy or gal stinking up the aisle on the plane.
There’s an easy fix here: packing a high-performance deodorant that helps you stay confident throughout the day. For example, type:A deodorant is an aluminum-free, completely non-toxic deodorant that doesn’t leave any marks or stains. It’s better for you and those around you as it contains sweat-activated technology, working harder as you sweat and passing the sniff test.
The company offers all sorts of varieties—like The Visionary, a clean crisp citron scent; The Maverick, a modern spice scent; and The Adventurer, an evergreen forest scent—so no matter which smells please your olfactory sense, you have options.
type:A deodorant is travel-friendly; it comes in a tube (not a stick) and is easy to apply. Just need a little refresher? They also make deodorant wipes that perform double duty, cleansing AND deodorizing. Even if you’re flying halfway across the world, you can dip into the bathroom (or not!) and reapply the deodorant to keep your travel neighbors happy.
3. Mind your stinky feet
Pretty much everyone’s feet are capable of producing noxious stenches, at least every now and again. While you might be comfortable with the rancid smells emanating from your own feet, take our word for it that no one else will be.
Don’t be the person who takes their shoes off on a flight and lets the odor fill the air. Keep your shoes on. Full stop.
If you need to bring along a couple of pairs of shoes on your journey, don’t just stick them into your carry-on or checked luggage. Use protection—in this case, we mean travel shoe bags, which you can find on Amazon.
You might also want to look into charcoal odor absorbers which can help neutralize your stinky shoes—and whatever else is stinking up your luggage, for that matter.
4. Be aware of your bad breath
A recent study found that sitting next to someone with bad breath is every traveler’s biggest nightmare—believe it or not, worse than sitting next to a crying baby!
The longer your flight is, the more likely you’ll wind up with bad breath sooner or later.
Avoid that fate by coming prepared with items like breath mints, breath strips, mouthwash, and products like Colgate Wisps, which are disposable mini-toothbrushes you can turn to in a pinch.
And don’t forget to hydrate!
Basically, just make sure you have a few products designed to combat bad breath with you while you travel, and you’ll be good to go.
When you’re traveling, the last thing you want to do is make the person sitting next to you angrily because you smell bad. And you also don’t want to wind up in your destination smelling like garbage.
Keep these four tips in mind next time you’re traveling, and you’ll bring a breath of fresh air with you everywhere you go.
Here’s to staying fresh on your next journey!
