The Ripe Traveler

Ripe -adj. -of mature judgment or knowledge: ripe scholars; a ripe mind.

That’s the good kind of traveler to be, but that’s not the kind I’m talking about. I’m talking about the kind of traveler you don’t want to be…the stinky one. Ya know that strange smell on the train, or that lingering scent on your 7 hour plane ride? You don’t want that to be you. It’s easy to gain a “travel funk” when you’re sitting stagnant for hours at a time. Ward off the ubiquitous travel stank with these cheap and easy tricks.

1) Keep it fresh on the fly with baby wipes. They’re a cheap and easy way for a quick wipe down in the restroom. Your mom called it the PTA, and it’s very important, not only for your own hygeine but for that poor person sitting in the seat next to you. You can take them everywhere in a zip lock baggie, they take up virtually no space and come in handy in tons of situations. And now they’ve rolled out (no water needed) facial wipes for a refreshing face wash on the go. They smell good and leave you feeling refreshed!

2) Solid perfumes are great for traveling because you can’t break the bottle, you don’t have to worry about the 4oz. rule or some TSA nazi throwing away your expensive perfume. We found these great solid perfumes by Pacifica at Sephora. All three of these scents were amazing and fresh smelling. The tiny container is a space saver for your carry-on or your purse.

3) Mints and gum are always a must have. When you’re waking up to the speakers welcoming you to your destination and you realize it tastes like the nice Columbian man on the coffee can died in your mouth, you’ll wish you would have stopped at Newport News for a pack of mint gum. Plus, you can snag a piece to avoid the dreaded ear pop!

4) Baby powder in a travel size is simply a life saver to keep you dry and smelling fresh. I don’t think I need to give much explanation here…but it’s especially helpful when you want to kick off your shoes on the long trip without worrying about feeling self conscious. Baby powder is also great in place of dry shampoo when you haven’t had the chance for a shower. Yup, I know it sounds strange but it works really well to turn a greasy mop into manageable thickened hair. Just sprinkle a little into your hands and rub it around your scalp. Cheap, easy and a space saver.

5) Stear clear of stinky foods. Before you reach for that salami sandwich chalked full of onions, ask yourself how are you gonna feel and smell later on. Potent foods often make you potent. Onions, garlic and other strong smells actually come out of your pores and stay on your breath. Ditch the (amazing tasting) Wolfgang Puck’s pizza and opt for the salad or fresh fruit. You’ll feel and smell better on the plane.