Some offices outright ban the use of perfume, even on casual Fridays. Sure, it has a lot to do with allergies, but if the gluten-free era has taught us anything, it’s that when it comes to allergies, most people are just fakin’ it. Besides, for some of us guys and gals, we feel naked without a fragrance to top off our look in the morning. Nevertheless, you still don’t want to be the office outcast who makes everyone cringe when your smell takes over a room before anyone even looks up from their computer. Here’s how to wear a fragrance to the office without alienating yourself.
Opt for a fragrance with green or citrus notes
So what’s a green note, anyway? Think rosemary, geranium, jasmine and lily. And citrus, you ask? Think orange and bergamot. Green and citrus notes sit lighter on the skin than more powdery notes like patchouli. Besides, wearing patchouli to the office will discredit your ideas as being too left-wing, anyway… at least from our own experiences.
Try it out on a day off
Even scents that claim to be light can be accidentally overpowering, and you also want to figure out just how many spritzes it takes to smell out-of-the-shower fresh and not perfume-drenched. The key is to smell like you just have an amazing body wash and shampoo. In fact, if you can find a body spray that’s from the same brand of shower products that you like, even better. In the summer months, rocking The Body Shop’s new Satsuma Eau de Toilette fragrance after showering with the shower gel and soap of the same name is an awesome way to smell a little more fabulous without letting anyone know you’re sportin’ a scent.
Spray it on right after you towel off
If you spray your fragrance on after you get fully dressed for your work day, it’s going to get on your clothes, and that’s a dead giveaway that you’re breaking rules. Spray it on your body right after your shower and let it sit on your skin for a couple minutes before getting dressed. There! Now you’re ready to have a proper lunch date with your coworkers without anyone being any the wiser. Gluten-free lettuce wraps, anyone?