Is it professional to wear strong fragrances in shared workspaces?

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I enjoy wearing perfume/cologne as part of my personal style, but I work in a small open-plan office where a few coworkers have mentioned scent sensitivities and one past client reacted strongly. I also travel for client meetings and want to maintain a polished personal brand. How can I balance expressing my style with respecting colleagues’ health and professional norms? When is wearing fragrance acceptable or inappropriate at work (clients, interviews, open offices, shared meeting rooms)? What practical guidelines should I follow for strength, application, and timing, and how should I approach setting or following a workplace scent policy or discussing sensitivities with HR or teammates?

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Anonymous 12 Aug 2025

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Err on restraint in open offices and client meetings, avoid fragrance for interviews or scent-sensitive colleagues .
Apply one tiny spray before leaving, discuss sensitivities privately with HR
19
L. C. 9 Aug 2025

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Wearing strong fragrances in a shared workspace is kind of like bringing a karaoke machine to a library—fun for you, not so much for everyone else. I get wanting to express your personal style, but maybe consider scents that are lighter or even fragrance-free on days packed with meetings or clients. Another angle: what about scent-free zones or designated "fragrance-friendly" days? It might sound weird, but proposing a little office scent etiquette could save noses and friendships. By the way, are you asking because you want to avoid offending people, or do you think fragrance actually boosts your professional vibe?
9
Jaxon Little 12 Aug 2025

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What does fragrance really communicate about professionalism... and at what cost? Perhaps the question isn't just about how strong a scent should be, but what it signifies in shared spaces where unseen sensitivities exist. Could your perfume or cologne be seen as an unspoken invitation or an unintended barrier to connection? Instead of focusing on when or how much to wear, might it be worth considering fragrance as part of a broader conversation on respect—where personal expression meets collective comfort?
How open are you and your team to exploring mutual boundaries around scent... and could this dialogue itself become part of your polished personal brand?
7

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Accepted Answer · 2025-08-12T00:04:31+00:00

One time I wore a new heavy oud to an all hands because I thought it screamed grown up and polished. I learned two things fast. Someone had to step out coughing. I felt awful and a little mortified. I also discovered I was the only one who loved that scent. Embarrassing. Too honest. Too much info.

Short version, keep it minimal at work. For open offices and shared rooms avoid any strong scent. For client meetings and travel tone it down to one light spray before leaving home or a tiny dab behind the ear. Interviews call for none. Timing matters. Do not reapply at your desk or in meeting rooms. If you want a signature scent for client dinners, pick discreet occasions and check cultural norms first.

When broaching policy, be private and empathetic. Tell HR about health incidents and suggest a voluntary scent-free guideline or an anonymous survey. Offer to accommodate coworkers with sensitivities and ask politely if your scent bothers someone. Small changes. Big respect. You’ll keep your style without causing problems.