I don’t know about you, my friends, but I need to write about something LIGHT this week. That’s why we’re going to take a dive into the subject of hygiene. At our events, hygiene is important, but not everyone has the same definition of what it means. 

Personal hygiene is defined as the practice of keeping yourself clean especially in order to prevent illness or the spread of diseases. Besides the health benefits, good hygiene is a social courtesy. At Cuddle Sanctuary, we want to remove any obstacles that might prevent you from happy cuddling. That’s why we include hygiene as part of our suggested etiquette. The basics that we request for our events and private sessions is that you have a clean body and fresh breath. The tools for success are simple and include:

Soap

Shampoo

Toothpaste

Toothbrush

Water

Towel

Sometimes, less is more.

Some people like to include fragrances in their hygiene ritual, and that can cause problems at Cuddle Sanctuary. Donning cologne or perfume is counter productive at our events because many people have sensitivities to fragrances. Scents can repel your fellow cuddlers and yes, even your compassionate event leaders. 

The US Centers for Disease Control follows a fragrance free policy which explains that “the use of some products with fragrance may be detrimental to [those] with chemical sensitivities, allergies, asthma, and chronic headaches/migraines.” And the CDC takes it even further. They recommend that people “avoid scented detergents and fabric softeners on clothes…” At Cuddle Sanctuary, we agree with all of this and request that you not use fragrances or fragrant products if at all possible. 

Smoke

Smokers, we love you. Please make sure that your clothes, hair and breath are smoke free. Thank you!

Breath

Some folks bring along a toothbrush to freshen up when they arrive to sessions or events. Others bring their favorite breath freshener. I would add that you could plan ahead and lay off the raw onions and extra garlic on your pizza before you come. I’ll do the same!

What about deodorant?

Body odor is the perceived unpleasant smell our bodies can give off when bacteria that live on the skin break down sweat into acids. There are a lot of products out there to remedy it. Most people use antiperspirant to decrease the amount of sweat and deodorant to mask the smell. Personally, I’m a fan of unscented products. So for my personal happiness:

Your clean body + unscented underarm product = nice

For Cuddle Sanctuary, I’d say it this way: Make sure the smell of your underarm product stays where it belongs – in your armpit. If it’s so potent that your deodorant smell is wafting all over your person, you’ve overdone it. This may be an issue of the quantity used or the quality of the product.

May I rant?

We’ve come to the end of this blog about hygiene. Before I say goodbye, please indulge me in just a little rant.

For the love of God: Please, no Old Spice Body Wash

Old Spice Body Wash – okay any body wash –  is the bain of my existence as a professional cuddler. It transfers itself onto my sheets, pillow cases and clothing. It remains long after the pleasant moments are over and therefore is like the herpes of professional cuddling.

#RantOver