l’Eau d’Issey – sephora.com

In our coffee break feature today, we are addressing one of the questions that many a corporate sister asks herself. When it comes to perfumes and fragrances, is it ok to sport your favorite fragrance to work? Or should you think twice about incommoding your co-workers with a particular sensitivity towards smells? Or even run the risk of projecting a certain image of yourself?

I happen to consider perfume as a part of dressing, out of sheer habit and personal taste. While I consider that one should be tasteful in their fragrance choices and careful not to incommode others, I do also believe in respecting each other’s preferences. I have been wearing perfume to work for decades now, and have only gotten one negative comment after wearing a particularly strong fragrance with a stubborn and quite obnoxious smell (which I won’t disclose for fear of bad publicity). While this experience did not make me give up on wearing perfume to work, it did teach me to carefully pick my fragrances and just spritz a bit, as opposed to getting drenched in it (which the sheer cost of perfume would probably stop me from doing!).

For my $0.05, I have been in the presence of influential women from all career paths whose delicate yet powerful fragrances I still remember. I think wearing perfume to work is definitely ok, granted it is permissible in your line of work and office, and that you are careful to choose delicate, light scents in moderation.

Here are some of my favorite fragrances for work:

• L’Eau D’Issey by Issey Miyake: love love the floral with musky and woody tones of this perfume. It’s a classic!
• Elizabeth Arden Green Tea: I’m addicted to the aromatic citrus scent of this fragrance. Not only does it smell heavenly, but it will definitely wake you up in the middle of the afternoon when all you want is crawl under your desk!
• Hermes Eau de Pamplemousse Rose: Absolutely delicious, that’s all I can say about this one!
• Last but not least, Henri Bendel’s White Gardenia Petals, worn by none other than Princess Kate on her wedding day. Simply stunning! There’s a reason why this perfume is referred to as a “bouquet of white flowers”, subtle yet oh so elegant!

Do you think it’s ok to wear perfume to work?

The Corporate Sister.