What do shows like The Bachelor, My Mum/Your Dad, and MAFS have in common? Other than being binge-worthy, you get to witness people exchange painfully embarrassing banter in the hopes of a romantic connection. Though it is highly entertaining to watch, it’s not as cute when you have to go through it IRL – especially if flirting doesn’t come naturally. So, what exactly do you say to avoid flinches, winces, and eye-rolls?

Linda Prescott shares the secrets in Fun Flirting Techniques that are Not Cringey. Enjoy!

Not everyone has game and even if you do, flirting can be nerve-racking and scary. It is a vital part of courtship and not something you can avoid completely. Flirting techniques are used to first establish a connection and, over time, to maintain a relationship. Whether someone’s caught your interest or you’re keen to show someone that they’re highly desired, here are 8 non-cheesy tactics you can try to up your flirting game.

Exude confidence

Confidence is sexy but there is a fine line between being confident and having too much confidence. How do you strike a balance? Quiet confidence is what you should aim for and it’s about knowing your self-worth minus the arrogance. It starts by knowing your strengths and limitations and being sincere as well as humble about them.

Pay compliments

None of those “Did you fall from heaven?” type pick-up lines. Give genuine compliments. This shows the other person how you really feel about their outfit, personality, looks, etc. Noticing and acknowledging their unique quirks and characteristics are great ways to make them feel special as well.

More then one compliment may come across as disingenuous – so only one!

Touch them subtly

The trick is not to make it too noticeable that you’re touching. You don’t want to come off as being too touchy-feely in the beginning stages. Subtle skin-to-skin contact which happens when you’re sitting shoulder-to-shoulder or gently dusting away an ant from their arm can indicate romantic interest. If they move away from the casual touch, you’ll know the feeling isn’t mutual. If it’s mirrored e.g. they lean against you in response, then your interest is likely being reciprocated (because you tend to move closer to people you like). But be careful not to make advances that are inappropriate, that could land you in hot water.

Smile like you mean it

No one can resist a smile especially when it’s an honest one. When a smile is genuine, you’ll display crinkling on the side of the eyes and there’s a noticeable sparkle in them too. When you are truly attracted to someone, your whole face will light up when you smile at them; and that is the look you want them to see.

Make them laugh

When you make an effort to make someone laugh or smile, you’re trying to impress them with your sense of humour. It’s also a way for you to gauge theirs. Gentle teasing is playful, a flirting technique that works to capture the person’s attention and create playful banter. Just remember to keep teasing kind and lighthearted.

Do something nice

Offering to walk them to their car, deliver dinner to them during a late night at the office, or help fix a leaky tap (with no hidden agendas and because you want to) show you care about their wellbeing. Which in turn can tug on their heartstrings.

Slip their name into the convo

Using the person’s name when you’re talking to them is an easy way to try to create an immediate connection. Hearing someone use your name in conversation is more personal and shows that they are interested in you and keen on making you feel closer to them.

Hold that eye contact

We all intuitively know there is power in eye contact, especially in dating and gauging someone’s attraction to you. Holding eye contact when you’re talking to a date for a few seconds longer than usual adds intimacy to the situation. If your love interest is across the room, try to catch their attention then hold their gaze and smile before looking away. That should ignite some sparks.

Fragrances for Sexy Date Nights 

Scent is a powerful element in the laws of attraction so there’s nothing that bolsters our confidence and sets the mood like a great date night perfume. Here’s a list of our favourites…

WOMENS

Giorgio Armani Sì – Fans call this fragrance sophistication in a bottle. It’s a sweet, floral scent that dries to a musky finish and lingers on the skin with notes of mandarin and vanilla making it super sexy.

Dior Pure Poison – a sultry scent for the woman who commands attention. The blend of florals with amber and musk is the perfect balance of femininity and masculinity.

Tom Ford Santal Blush – a fusion of creamy sandalwood and exotic eastern spices enhanced with intoxicating florals and sumptuous woods.

Stella McCartney Stella Eau de Toilette Spray – notes of Bulgarian rose, peony, and amber for that perfect balance of floral and warm. It’s sophisticated and empowers you to feel your sexiest.

Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme Intense – musky in all the best, most mysterious ways, and smells of neroli, jasmine, and tuberose to boot.

MENS

​1 Million Prive Paco Rabanne for Men – honestly, this perfume smells like sweet, warm apple pie. But it’s perfect because it’s the opposite of those traditional men’s scents that can sometimes be too strong.

Yves Saint Laurent L’homme Ultime For Men – powerful and woody, fresh Damask rose meets raw Sage over a woody base to make this a sensual fragrance.

Jimmy Choo Man Intense – smoulders with masculinity and sophistication, this scent combines lavender, patchouli and black pepper with a almond-meets-tobacco edge that’s warm and intensely masculine.

Bvlgari Man in Black – an intense composition of amber, leather, spices and woods that results in a sophisticated and boldly seductive scent.

For more advice and tips to prepare you for the Dating and Relationship world watch this space.
If there is something you would like to read about, or a topic you would like us to cover, please let us know!