No one wants to be that person. If you’ve ever had a seatmate on a long haul flight who had particularly bad BO or suffered through a packed subway car next to someone with terrifically bad breath, you’ll know that person. It’s not necessarily their fault. Traveling, especially for long periods, can leave you smelly, sticky, wrinkly and all-around unhygienic.
Luckily, there are ways to combat the uninviting odors and stale feeling that accompany traveling. On your next adventure, follow these tips to stay fresh and hygienic on the road.
If you’re feeling tired and gross, it might just be a lack of water. Even certain bodily odors, like bad breath, can be significantly exacerbated by dehydration. The next time you step onto a long-haul flight, make it your mission to drink more water than you think you need, even if it means making the occasional trip to the washroom. As a bonus, staying hydrated can also prevent jet lag.
And your skin needs some love as well – keep it hydrated by regularly moisturizing. Airplanes are notoriously dry environments, so a few applications of moisturizer wouldn’t go amiss.
If you’re experiencing musty, smelly clothing on a long trip, part of the problem is your clothing. Cotton and polyester, the two most common materials found in clothing, have a bad habit of trapping in odours. They also fail to wick your sweat properly.
For the ideal travel clothing, reach for mens merino wool clothing – this sweat-wicking, antimicrobial, wrinkle-resistant clothing stays fresh for a very long time. Some travelers even report wearing their merino wool shirts for weeks on end without any noticeable odor. Merino wool has long been a secret of the travel community, but it’s in the public interest that everyone knows about it.
Even the most well-hydrated traveler will run up against bad breath sooner or later. It’s not always feasible to run to the washroom to brush your teeth, so pack some mouthwash strips for when you get that telltale sour taste in your mouth.
If you’ve ever fumbled through your pockets or the many compartments in your bag, desperately trying to locate your hand sanitizer, you’ll understand the merit of a keychain Purell. Especially nowadays, with the global pandemic still in full swing, it’s important to keep easy access to your hand sanitizer.
Have you ever pulled clothes out of your bag in a humid destination to find that they’ve gone musty or mildewy? It’s a common gripe in the travel community, but one with an easy fix. Separate your clothing in packing cubes, which keeps them away from moisture. If that isn’t an option, toss a dryer bag into your luggage to keep everything smelling fresh.
When you travel abroad, you want to present your best self. Part of that is staying fresh and hygienic as you travel. Follow these five simple tips to be the kind of traveler everyone wants to be around.