the Ingredient for Weight Loss

The Perfume Scent That Makes You Appear Even More Attractive

If you feel prettier after a spritz of perfume, it might not be all in your head. Women’s facial attractiveness is rated higher in the presence of pleasant odors, according to a small study published online in POLS One.

Researchers from the Mellon Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia had 18 participants look at pictures of 55 women ranging in age from 35 to 50. While the subjects were looking at the images, the researchers exposed them to one of five odors that ranged from fish oil (the most unpleasant odor) to rose oil (the most pleasant odor)—the other three scents were mixtures of the two. When the study participants were asked to rate the attractiveness of the faces in front of them, researchers found that the more pleasant the odor, the higher the attractiveness rating.

Though the study (funded in part by Unilever, which owns personal care brands including Dove and Axes) looked specifically at rose oil, the researchers believe their results would apply to any scent perceived as pleasant. “Our findings demonstrate that odor pleasantness and facial attractiveness integrate into one joint emotional evaluation,” says Janine Schubert, PhD, a cognitive neuroscience who was a postdoctoral fellow at Mellon when the research was conducted. That means it’s possible that these two traits are processed by the same area of the brain.

Interestingly, even when the images were manipulated by adding more wrinkles or blemishes, pleasant odors still resulted in higher attractiveness ratings—meaning you shouldn't worry so much about visible "imperfections." "The broader emotional context plays a much bigger role for how attractive a person is perceived," says Schubert.

Amazing All-Natural Perfumes

Perfume for Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a romantic gesture, not a toxic one. Which is why we’ve rounded up the best new natural perfumes that won't kill the mood with chemicals.

Our perfume picks are mostly handcrafted in small batches with plant extracts, distilled flower essences, and essential oils. So giving or getting one feels luxurious and special. Here are our 9 favorites of the season...

A Perfume Organic Mejia. Perfumer Amanda Walker's small batch, botanical blends are super desirable, and "Mejia," might be the sexiest of her five USDA certified-organic scents. It's a delicious blend of three vanillas, rare resins, and spices. The petite bottle is actually a roll-on, and the flower seed-embedded box can be planted.

$65, www.spiritbeautylounge.com

Red Flower Barrette Roll-On Oil. Aside from making exquisite natural candles, Red Flower creates masterful fragrances, like "Barrette." It's the name of a seed used in Indian culture to perfume the hair, and is sometimes burned as an offering. When blended here with patchouli, orange, and black pepper (all certified USDA organic), it's both alluring and restoring. Wear it to yoga to lift stress-related fatigue or anoint your pulse points with it as an aphrodisiac.

$48, www.redflower.com

Strange Invisible Perfumes Black Rosette. Perfumer Alexandra Bailouts is all about luxury craftsmanship. Her forte is creating scents with certified organic, wildcatter dandy bio-dynamic ingredients that focus on "aroma profile, evocative narratives, and the beauty of scent." Black Rosette ear departure, for example, tells a subtle story of seduction using roses, black tea, and spearmint with a hint of bad-boy leather.

1. TO CHOOSE: Lush California Sass (right) packs a wallop of healthy monounsaturated fat. A Florida avocado (left) has less flavor and less fat.

2. TO HALVE: Cut avocado in two lengthwise around its pit. Twist halves in opposite directions to separate them, and then pull apart.

While there are tons of different diets out there, filling up on fiber is perhaps the healthiest and most successful way to shed the pounds. A groundbreaking study at Harvard showed the importance of fiber as it relates to weight loss. The study, which spanned over 12 years, showed that the women who increased their fiber instead of decreasing it, were half as likely to become obese. Simply adding fiber to their diet changed everything for their health. Not only will fiber help you lose weight, fiber also helps to prevent nasty illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. (via Fitness Magazine)

What is fiber anyways? Fiber is found in all plants, but not meat or dairy. Fiber helps you to feel full for longer as it keeps blood sugar levels stable, keeping those cravings to a minimum. It is important that women get at least 25 grams of fiber per day in the form of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and is responsible for lowering cholesterol, maintaining a healthy colon, and preventing digestive problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and diarrhea. When mixed with water in the body, soluble fiber becomes a sticky gel-like substance that healthily slows the digestion of food. (via Dietitians of Canada) Be sure to add these soluble fiber foods to your diet:

Insoluble fibers can be described as the “roughage” of the digestive tract. It adds bulk to the diet and has a laxative effect in the body, helping to prevent constipation. Insoluble fibers are found mostly in whole grains and vegetables. (via Web MD)

The awareness that fiber is essential for weight loss is becoming better known, and big companies that produce processed foods are picking up on it,but beware. Many companies are creating “f aux fibers” that are synthetically made in a laboratory or highly processed. They add this f aux fiber to their products as a ploy to lure in consumers. This fiber does not have the same beneficial qualities as fiber found in plant based foods. So if you’re looking to up your fiber intake, it is best to stick to real, whole foods. 

Lack of time is the main obstacle that prevents us from keeping our focus to eat healthy and reach our fitness goals, despite our best intentions. Most of us know what healthy foods we should be eating, but putting it into practice during our nonstop days is another story. That’s why I've got two breakfast ideas, two lunch ideas and two dinner ideas for you that are ready in 5 minutes flat. hat’s less time than take-out!