Scentiquette: Great Business Scents

I liked julia941’s comment very much. I also like Shalimar the most, it is my signature scent and yes – I wear it in the office. But don’t be afraid, I’m aware of olfactory offenders very well. It’s winter now, and Shalimar goes well this season. So I spray it only once in the early morning and when in 1,5 hour I arrive to the office the top note is already gone. It’s even already gone when I just enter public transport to get to work. Thus when I’m finally in the office it’s already sits close to the skin. On the day I used it for the first time I made a “poll” and asked every colleague, if she feels my perfume. All of them needed to sniff me very close to notice it, and all of them liked it. Actually, I’m working in the office where all the ladies like Orientals, and even spicy ones – only one doesn’t like them and she has a very, I must say, loathful character. Is it a coincidence? :) Also I never spray it again in the middle of the day when it’s power is dying. But the majority of our ladies unfortunately don’t follow this rule and re-spray their perfumes at lunch time approximately. And that’s how I know which Olfactory group is their favorite! If they hadn’t re-spray their perfumes during the day I would never know.

So, my advice would be – spray your perfume at home before going to work and don’t re-spray it, because the most noticeable are the top notes. And one more – ask your colleagues does your perfume bother them or not! It’s always better to ask beforehand than to deal with their silent hostility later. You want to work in a friendly collective don’t you?

I also looked through the list of “for office” fragrances (thanks to zoka) and that made me wonder:
Donna Karan DKNY Be Delicious – the most gimcrack and dowdy scent of nowadays that became very much popular (which is not surprising…) – we smell it everywhere, at least don’t bring it to the office. Sorry, I sound harsh, but ladies – be unique, don’t get hooked be the ubiquitous ads!
Dior Dune, Chanel Chanel N°19, Dolce&Gabbana The One – these are very strong scents, and if you choose them, please, don’t re-spray.

As for men – that is true they don’t like when a woman uses a strong harsh scent, but they just NEED to feel the scent that they like, and so they re-spray again and again when the scent becomes not that noticeable for them, and as a result they are overdosing it. But they don’t notice this overdosing. The others notice it :) So, men should remember that when they don’t feel their perfume anymore that doesn’t mean that neither anybody notice it. That only means that they accustomed to it.

This is such a topic of converstaion in my office....men seem to be the worst. I think theya re more "olfactory offenders' than women. thye bathe in cologne.... I liked the advice by Mark behnke and also from Zirh's founder...I am goign to send this around my office. thank you for this article...

I work in a local yarn store (small, independent boutique, not a large hobby shop). We only have five employees (counting the owner), and I am the only one who wears scent. I have to be very careful with what I wear for several reasons - first of all, I work in close proximity with my customers and students and I don't want to wear anything that could offend or trigger a headache. I have trouble with aldehydes and they give me a headache, so I know it can happen. Secondly, when I started experimenting with fragrances I asked the owner to tell me if if was too strong because sometimes you can't tell on yourself. She has a strange nose, and she has taken this task to heart. Many times, it is "too strong" because she doesn't like it or just because she can smell it when I sweep past her. I never violate the two sprays rule, and usually only spray once and dab my wrists together. I keep it on my wrists at work in case I need to wash it off, and I never try new or expensive things at work. I washed off something that was about $300/bottle one time and I won't do it again. I've learned what she likes (or is anosmic to) and what she doesn't like (no musc or tuberose, most patchouli, incense or strong woods like cedar). It also depends on her mood. Apparently she likes Shalimar, my HGP, but if I have on a scarf that I got a little Fracas on (transferred, not sprayed on the scarf) three days ago she starts to gag. Really. And weirdly, she claims to love Poison and says that she wore it all through college. She liked the Bvulgari Omnia that I had on a card I was throwing away. I can't really smell it and am not crazy about the white chocolate note, but she does so I might give it a try. Lots of people enjoy it and it might make a good work scent. My standard is Shalimar, dabbed not sprayed - I like to dab perfumes for work because I use less and it only goes where I want it. I avoid spraying my clothes in case it is "wrong" and I need to get it off. I've just "discovered" Elixir de Merveilles which she likes okay. Maybe the chocolate thing? It is so strange because she is a real francophile and I have tried to systematically introduce her to the best French perfumery has to offer, classic (and vintage) and current, but she just seems to not get it or not want to get it. I consider perfume a work of art that I can wear and enjoy the way it is meant to be enjoyed every day. It is not always appropriate to enjoy fine French wines, but you can always wear perfume which I consider to be wine's equal as a fine art. I tried out VC&A Bois d'Iris and she didn't say anything about it, but it was my birthday and I was up there on my day off doing inventory. She also perceives honey as rancid soap, so I have to be careful with that, too. Last thing I want is for it to become a scent-free workplace, and if it did it would be a direct result of something I wore. Sorry this is so long, but I've been stewing over this for a while now and it is nice to see an article addressing an issue that has been heavy on my mind. I got so many great perfumes for Chanukah and my birthday, but so few I'm willing to wear to the store to be judged by people don't know about fine fragrance and prefer crap from the Bath & Body works because it is "light and clean" over something by my dearest Jean-Claude Ellena, Roucel, or Christine Nagel...Douchafour and Nicolai,.... I think Eau de Merveilles is light and clean and it smells so much better.

just found this article...it is so appropriate this is a big concern in my advertising open office and i must admit, I am very conscious npot to be a scent offender

I have that luck to escape cooperate world (at least for now) and I have no problems of this kind but I remember time when I was teaching at the University I could not wear strong scents.

Usually users comment fragrances that are sensible like 'too light', 'too weak'...

We have under each fragrance rating list and one of occasion is 'Office' and here is list of fragrances who got most recommendations for use in office:

Dolce&Gabbana D&G Light Blue
Davidoff Cool Water
Issey Miyake L'eau d'Issey
Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil
Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue
Chanel Chance
Versace Bright Crystal
Bvlgari Eau Parfumee au The Rouge
Sarah Jessica Parker Covet
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
Elizabeth Arden Green Tea
Calvin Klein CK IN2U for Her
Burberry Burberry Women
Donna Karan DKNY Be Delicious
Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio
Kenzo L'Eau par Kenzo
Cacharel Noa
Giorgio Armani Armani Mania
Marc Jacobs Daisy
Gucci Gucci Eau de Parfum II
Burberry Weekend for Women
Burberry London
Dior Dune
Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline
Prada Prada Amber Pour Homme (Prada Man)
Clinique Clinique Happy
Chanel Chanel N°19
Carolina Herrera 212
Hugo Boss Boss Woman
Escada Into the Blue
Thierry Mugler Mugler Cologne
Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche
Prada Infusion d'Iris
Chloe Chloe Eau de Parfum
Lancome Miracle
Guerlain Champs Elysees
Dolce&Gabbana The One
Azzaro Chrome
Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme
Bvlgari BLV
Dior Dior Homme

Note: some more popular fragrances got more votes so it is understandable why they show up in the list even of they are not mainly aimed for office use. Also some very nice fragrances are not listed because they are less known to wider audience. Thanks to articles like this we get to know such pearls. Very nice article M.C.

Michelyn, great advice and excellent recomendations! Timing is everything and this article is right on the mark. One needs to be considerate(especially in the current economic climate) on a job interview by not coming on too strong with your scent and the same holds true on the job with your co-workers. No one will tell you to your face and they will usually complain behind your back. So, the takeaway is to be thoughtful not imposing your scent on others by have some sense finding the right balance with the amount you wear or find a more appropriate scent(s) for the office enviroment. Great advice!

I enjoyed this article and could relate personally since I cannot abide people who wear overpowering perfume. It is very rude and I wish EVERY perfume wearer would read this article Great advice from the author, the experts and from the members of this site.

Nothing is worse than people wear too much cologne and perfume. I wear cologne every day, but I am very careful just to spray a little. I usually wear a lighter cologne to work than in the evening.

This morning in the elevator, there was a woman who had so much perfume on everyone got out at the next floor.

I like this article, it is important that we respect other people all the time, not just at work.

It annoys me when I'm with a person who douses and bathes in perfume. It's really painful on my sinus. But I have to admit that on occasion I can be too excited when wearing a favorite and well loved perfume. I also learned that I can wear anything, even orientals at work as long as I apply very very lightly. That way I can still enjoy the scent, and avoid annoying others.

very good article!!

in my opinion the main problem is dosing!i agree here with pitbull friend. for me you can even wear a-men to a workplace (i hate it) untill it's minimal dose. one spray or drop on your wrist and that's it! nothig more. just for your pleasure. oderwise you may really make that your coworkes will hate you. so for me main problem is amount!

so once again - thanks for that aricle

Great recommendations for a very important topic. It would be a sad world if scents got banned from the workplace, and a few power sprayers could take the rest of us down with them, not that I have a workplace as such, though I do visit other people's! I think I must be fairly "safe" ie sparing in my application though, as I get through vials at a fraction of the rate of a friend of mine who was using 5ml a week of one scent I gave her. Also no one had ever, ever commented on any perfume I had worn until a SA in Paris said the other day that I was wearing Tuberose Gardenia "very well". But then she was working for Estee Lauder...

I'm always amazed when I hear the amounts that others put on. This may have something to do with all of the folks who think they're allergic to what others are wearing. When I am spraying, I put one spray on my left wrist & then rub some of that spray on my neck & other wrist. One, total. This means that I can quietly enjoy my scent and people a few feet away can't even detect it. The only exception is when I am at home & want to give myself a little extra enjoyment.

I use roughly the same amount from a dab/splash - I usually get at least 4 wearings from a 1 ml sample.

I'm guessing that, if you start to do this, you will sensitize yourself slightly so that you will notice the smaller amount more. That will be good for everyone.

This should be required reading for anyone that likes to wear fragrance to work! You definitely have to be more aware of what and how much you apply when you go to the office. My work recommendations for men are Creed Original Vetiver, Hugh Parsons Traditional, Anucci Man, and Montale Boise Fruite. A very useful and intriguing article - great work Michelyn!

Wonderful article, Michelyn!

Use of too much perfume by one person is undesirable in a job candidate, and I will go a step further to add that use of too much of ANY perfume by too many workers could lead to fragrances being banned in the workplace. My worst nightmare!

I keep all my fragrances discrete and make sure no one can smell me unless they are within arm's length of me. When a co-worker commented on the scented breeze I created as I walked by her office, I knew I was wearing too much.

Excellent article. I love fragrance, but my coworker wears so much Shalimar I sneeze and hate to get too close. I wish I could say something to her as do one of my male coworkers . maybe I will get her a sample of one of the fragrances mentioned,like Kenzo eau de fleur tea

Excellent article. My rule of thumb is to treat my scent as a fashion accessory. When doing that I always ask myself is it appropriate for where I'm going? Just as I am unlikely to wear evening wear to the office. I am equally unlikely to wear a scent that seems appropriate for evening wear to the office. Think something like Frederic Malle Musc Ravgeur in this case.
The other rule I try to follow is to wear enough on me that I can enjoy it but not overwhelm my co-workers. On my skin that is a spray on each arm one to the chest and one to the neck.

Examples of scents that work very well in my work setting are Guerlain Vetiver, Chanel Allure pour Homme Edition Blanche, Comme des Garcons Avignon, and the aforementioned Kenzo Power.