A couple quick pieces of business: I'm off on my last summer vacation. Tomorrow, Jessica will have a review of a few scents from MCMC Fragrances. Next week, Angie will be reviewing some mass market favorites.
Today, we're thinking about fragrances that work well in public settings. More specifically, we've had requests for appropriate fragrances for those situations — church, say, or the office, or school — where you want something that will help keep you soothed and alert, but not annoy those around you. And what about something light you could wear to the gym, or a theater?
Your host today is Aparatchick. If you haven't met Aparatchick, please let me introduce you:
Note: image is coldplay: a message [cropped] by visualpanic at flickr; some rights reserved.
Happy weekend, all!
This is a subject I’ve spent a lot of energy considering! I am a teacher, and as Robin has noted , I am highly “sympathetic” to others (or overly-conscientious?). In any case, I have developed a semi-official mental list of work-acceptable and non-work-acceptable scents.
In general, I look for scents that are relatively sheer, although I like a little sillage, and not too sexy. Teaching is understandably a “sexless” profession, and I wouldn’t want to give anyone the wrong impression!
On my regular wear list:
L’Eau D’hiver (although it is so precious to me, I use it sparingly)
Balenciaga Paris
EL Bronze Goddess
EL Sensuous
Tocca Collette (while the samples lasted)
Chanel Egoiste
As for movie theaters, live shows, and other public events, I generally wear what I want to make up for my carefulness during the work day!
Nice list, Marjorie. And I agree, “sheer” is a good choice.
mmmmmm L’Eau d’Hiver… so lovely…very good choice!
Yes, it is one of my great loves! I mostly prefer fragrances with more presence, but LD’H is SOOOoooo beautiful, I forgive it for being so polite!
Ah, a rare mention of my beloved Collette. Do you also get the Pine note? I love it, and wish it carried longer into the fragrance.
There is something dark and earthy, and I can see how it could be called pine. That note, whatever it is, is part of what I like about it. It feels like a lovely woman with a complicated past, if that makes sense?
Colette really is nice…
Another teacher here 😉
I’m going back to teach in High School after a two years break. And wondering what kind of scent would (like my friend said) ” nock these adolescents into obedience” 🙂
Ha! I have switched between high school and middle school over the past 5 years, so I know the audience well!
My first thought is Chanel No. 19 for that “I’m the boss” feel (assuming you’re female?). I would avoid anything too sweet or adolescent (no chocolatey gormandes or fruity florals). Definitely not the new Justin Bieber!
Good luck on your return! Have you taught the curriculum before? Is it a new school for you? So much to learn in those transitions!
I’m a female and that was exactly what I thought: Chanel 19 or L’Heure Exquise!
It’s the same school and pretty much the same curriculum, but the demands and expectation are higher – it’s a private school and there is a lot of competition.
Good luck!
Ha! Sun, if you find the forumula to that perfume you’ll be a billionaire. 😉
“formula” Send me back to remedial spelling.
LOL!
I love L’Eau d’Hiver, too. It smells completely different in the summer. Barneys Route du The is a good office/close quarters scent as well.
These days I’m home most of the time and can wear whatever pleases me. But on occasion I’m in an office sharing a very small place with several co-workers, so I’ve had to come up with some perfumes that “play nice.” I’d love to hear everyone’s suggestions for scents that work in these situations, so let’s get started!
Happy Saturday to you Aparatachick ! Thank you for taking the time to host this weekend! 🙂
For work I try to keep it toned down – AG Neroli, L’Artisan Dzhongka, Hermes Hiris, and Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline are ones I cycle through. Lately I’ve been a bad girl though. I got a new leather jacket so I’ve been experimenting with layering fragrance with my jacket’s leather scent. Leather and more leather? Leather and tuberose? Leather and iris? I think there needs to be a scent that is the combo of my jacket and 28 La Pausa, because that is my favorite so far. Any suggestions?
Hi calrayo, I love La Pausa, too, but it’s true that it’s a very refined scent. For something a little bit tougher try Parfum d’Empires Equistrius. It has a big gorgeous iris note – no leather though but the drydown of sandalwood, amber and vetiver would go very well with your jacket in my opinion. 🙂
Thanks! Will do.
Leather + iris = Cuir de Russie, surely?
Or how about Jolie Madame (leather & volets), Kelly Caleche (leather & rose with your leather jacket amping up the barely there leather note). Miss Balmain, Azuree, Daim Blond, Lancome Cuir, Bandit, vintage Tabac Blond and Cabochard….I could go on. Yeah, leather is one of my favourite notes and while I don’t love them all but I’m yet to come across a boring one.
You should try Montana Parfum D’Peau.
mmmm…. maybe PG Cuir d’Iris ? yeah leather, leather…and iris…
Mmm, I LOVE Cuir D’Iris. Keep talking myself out of getting a decant though.
Just noticing below mentions of SL Daim Blond (apricot and leather) and Traversee du Bosphore (apple flavored Turkish delight and leather), which would be great with a leather jacket. Or TDC osmanthus, which smells rather like apricot. I’m also very fond of PdE Cuir Ottoman, a sandalwood leather that would also work well, I’d think.
I’ll have to try both of those combinations – I think I have samples floating about somewhere. Thanks!
Last New Year’s eve, I oversprayed my leather jacket with Daphne by CDG. (Daphne is a sweet tuberose). It was one of the only times anyone complimented me a on fragrance, and the coat smelled beautiful all winter.
Oh no! The first lazy poll without a flower photo! This heralds the looming presence of fall more than anything!
For things to spritz without worrying, I agree with Marjorie Rose that light sillage/sheer skin-scent territory is the best way. For this I would suggest Prada L’eau Ambree or Like This. However, sometimes at work I also like something “sturdy” with authoratative “presence” and I find Bas de Soie is both suitably clean and non-intrusive but firm and standoffish in a way that gives me confidence.
After seemingly endless weeks of circa 100 degree temps, I for one can’t wait for fall! My only fear is that it won’t arrive here for another two months or so.
I agree that light sillage is the key, and I think the format of the fragrance matters as much as the notes. Extrait or perfume oil seems to have much less sillage than EdT, seemingly going no more than a foot or so from the skin. In contrast, many supposedly “light” scents (most fruity florals, for example) actually have considerable sillage and are clearly discernable from many feet away.
I did not know that about extrait and oils: I assumed they were difusive powerhouses. Winter 1972 is on my buy list and I have been undecided about the whether to get the oil (long lasting) or the water perfume (more fleeting but more sillage).
I totally agree about the far-travelling fruity florals. yeck.
I used to assume that extraits would be sillage monsters as well, but I find that is not generally the case. When it does happen, it is likely a result of overapplying. If you are used to spraying or splashing on an EdT, it can be easy to overapply the stonger concentrations. It is probably best to avoid spray bottles for extrait, as they will tend to dispense too much at one time. Usually, two or three drops is enough. I will apply one the wrists and one drop to the cleavage/neck area. Because extrait contains less alcohol than EdT or EdP, it tends to lift more slowly, resulting in a scent that is longer lasting, but less diffusive. Perfume oils typically contain no alcohol, and the base oils typically used have little or no volatility, so the scent lifts even more slowly than extrait. I don’t have any experience with water perfumes, so I cannot speak to that.
Interesting point about the more subtle sillage of extrait. Alas, I don’t have much extrait in my collection bar No 5, and Sonoma Scent Studio Rose Musc. The No 5 is dabbed and is the essence of refinement and completely appropriate for work IMHO. The Rose Musc is sprayed which must be why I feel it is a bit too much for work.
The most compliments I ever received on a work fragrance went to Lotus Blossom and Water Lily by Jo Malone. That received a LOT of love, from fragrance fans and haters alike. It’s a clean and gentle floral with a lot of radiance, although I haven’t felt like wearing it for a while. It would def be in the top three contenders for a job interview fragrance (teeny spritz only) along with Liz Earle Botanical Essence, and Beige.
@ Sunsetsong: it is always good to know what perfumes other people get tons of compliments on; I will have to try that Jo Malone if I can ever find a store that carries them in my part of the world. I can definitely see how a dab of N. 5 extrait could be a great work choice.
Thank you for the info, you are definitely making a good case for the oil. I have had a different water perfume by CB (Cedarwood Tea) and it just did not last on me at all, thus my hesitance over the Winter 1972.
50 Roses is spot on. Extraits have less lift…they wear closer…which is generally why I prefer Edp or Edt’s and use my extraits to layer and extend the longevity of a scent.
Meg, when you head to the big city in a couple of weeks (as you mentioned on another blog) you can find a Jo Malone boutique within Holt Renfrew. Don’t know if they’ll have the Lotus Blossom and Water Lily that Sunsetsong refers to. I think they’re pretty decent about giving samples too.
@ Vindaloo: Thank you for the tip! Perfumistas are so attentive and thoughtful. I am going to have a busy and awesome sniffapalooza when I am next in Van!
The thing I wear when I don’t know what to wear is Shalimar (of course 🙂 )or maybe Jicky for a little variation. If I’m unsure of the situation I will just dab a little bit of extrait in my cleavage so I can enjoy it but it has very little sillage.
And I totes agree about fruity-florals. They seem to amplify in the heat and become cloying to me.
I find that vetiver scents work very well for me in the office, they have this kind of boardroom charme and are never obtrusive yet complex enough to keep my interest thoughout a long day. My favorites: Malle’s Vetiver extraordinaire and Chanel’s Sycomore.
And vetiver has the added plus (to me, anyhow) of feeling “cooling” which can be very helpful in an intense work situation.
Have you tried Guerlain Vetiver Pour Elle for a nice floral + vetiver for summer?
Yes, and somebody pointed out a few weeks ago that they considered 28 La Pausa to be as much a vetiver scent as it is iris. I felt like it wasn’t iris enough but when I started thinking of it as a mainly vetiver scent with a beautiful iris note my perception of it changed. I went on a big iris sampling kick last spring and found many things to love but VC&A Bois d’Iris remains my favourite.
I also like vetiver for work, Kristina. To me it just smells intelligent!
Agreed! It actually seems to help me focus, too.
I am a grad student who often has to ‘run’ people in experiments. On days when I have such experiments scheduled, I try to wear universally pleasant scents like OJ Frangipani or a light spritz of FM Iris Poudre.
Have you ever had any of your subjects remark on your perfume?
Interesting…. I wonder if they are filling out “self-reporting questionaires” if scent would affect their answers…..this takes me back to my days doing this! eeek! it was at least a million years ago!
+/- 1 standard perfume deviation….
😉
Oooh, let’s conduct that study! Such a shame, as part of my research I MUST buy these lovely fragrances; it’s in the name of science!
Now I’m going to have an SPSS nightmare and I thought I was finally rid of them. 😉
Iris fragrances seem to be getting many mentions and I’m no exception. My go-to I-want-to-wear-something-but-not-make-a-statement-with-it is Hermes Hiris. It works year round and in most settings, has a decent lasting power and never distracts.
Sounds just about perfect!
It does the job! It’s not one of those fragrances that I adore as much as some others but, as you said, sometimes you need a wallpaper kind of scent that you can spray and not worry about what reactions it might provoke
Like you and Calrayo, I, too, lean on Hermes Hiris. I work a few days per week in a library and I find Hiris fits in perfectly there.
Happy weekend, everyone. Robin, I hope you have a lovely vacation, and I look forward to reading Jessica and Angela’s reviews. Great topic, Aparatchick! 🙂
If I need an unobtrusive fragrance for whatever occasion requires it, often my go-to list includes Chanel No. 5 Eau Premier, Prada Infusion d’Iris, Balenciaga Paris, Gabriele Strehle Strenesse original since it is so soothing and keeps me hcalm and tranquil, Guerlain L’Instant since it mellows into something just a little more than a skin scent on me and is so gorgeous, L’Occitane Rose Jardin Delice since it is so soft and pretty I can’t imagine it would offend *anyone*, Shalimar Light for more upscale situations or either Eau Clair des Merveilles or the original EdM, both of which make me feel really confident.
Sometimes if I’m really craving a heady scent but don’t want to overwhelm those around me, I’ll either dab it on (works for Rose 31 or some of the CDG Incense series) or will spray it just under clothing and not on exposed skin. If I have the luxury, I might spray it on a good hour or two before I have to leave just so I leave a soft scent trail rather than a battering ram of Fracas or the like. 😉
I’ve used the dabbing method when wearing incense-based perfumes and that seems to work well.
Dabbing is the only way I can make Opium behave on my skin.
To the gym; I vote for nothing.
I did try once with something light, but when I started sweating the sillage bloomed uncontrollably and it felt like I radiated scent into the whole room. I burnt through the fragrance quickly but I felt very self-conscious about the whole thing.
Yes, the gym can be tricky; I wonder if anyone has ever found something light enough that it didn’t “bloom” so that the wearer felt self-conscious.
I find that scented body lotions often work better than perfume. I used to have a Jo Malone one which I frequently used on gym days.
I personally wouldn’t wear a ‘proper’ fragrance either but there’s a personal trainer at my gym who wears….wait for it…Angel. No joke. I avoid her as much as possible.
There was a woman in my office who wore Angel. I love Angel but a dab will do usually. It was way too much to deal with at 7:30 in the morning.
One, just one spray of Angel can be amazing, ever on hot days…
I meant EVEN, not ever as I wrote!!! Sorry…
Angel – wow! Did she seem to have many clients?
I’ve a soft spot for Angel because it reminds me of an old friend but there’s a time and a place for it and gym is just not it.
She seemed as busy as most other trainers although how many clients stuck around for more than one session I do not know 😀
I had a procedure done earlier this summer and the nurse who was getting me prepped had on the most lovely perfume. It smelled vaguely familiar and I was pretty sure it was Lolita Lempicka with a very light hand. I asked if it was LL which she had never heard of. She told me it was her signature scent – a perfume called Angel – and asked if I had heard of it. After my eyeballs went back in their sockets I told her I had indeed heard of it but would never have guessed that’s what it was. It seems like a terrible choice for somebody working with people who are going into and waking up from surgery but it was so light and pleasant on her. Not a bit of patchouli. She told me she wore it everyday and can’t smell it on herself anymore (which is usually when people over apply) and that she gets compliments on it everyday. I guess her skin eats patchouli?
I hope you are doing great Julia : )
big hugs to you
Sometimes I’ll spritz a tiny bit of Geranium Pour Monsieur before heading to the gym on a hot day. The key with any fragrance is really minimal application.
That sounds like a good choice!
I use L’Occitane Verbena Agrumes for work…. everybody loves citrus…and this one is a very nice blend… 🙂
Citrus does seem to be something that no one complains about, doesn’t it? And there are some very nice citruses out there.
I love citrus, but I must admit that I was in the Macy’s dressing room yesterday, and they had this overwhelmingly sweet orange-y room spray! Sadly proving that even citrus can be done badly! 🙁
But I’m sure kaos smells great!
L’Occitane’s line is really very balanced!! Eau des Bavx is one of my favourites from the brand. Are all the products handicraft?
I like Eau des Baux very much! I’ve walked in and sniffed it many times and ALMOST bought it. I know some day I’ll give in. . .
Strange, it also happens to me every time I go to a L’Occitane store. Maybe it’s the lack of something overpowering! It could be just one note!! Or just the a higher dose resinous notes…
Now, L’Occitan is a very bettered Le Male to me, do you agree?
I have not yet sniffed Le Male. Sounds like a project! *sly grin*
I bought a bottle of the Eau de Baux two years ago for my DH so I could wear it. Love it!
I haven’t tried that one, but Cynthia (where is she?) sent me a sample of L’O Labdanum de Seville and it is lovely. Not at all like Lab 18, which I also love, but this one has a citrus note and it is just beautiful. It is easy to wear on a hot day or when you need something unobtrusive and the bottle is great, too.
Can be used on hot days is one of the goods characteristics of Eav de Bavx although its notes tell the opposite.
I’m currently in love with a couple of scents that I think work well in an office: Traversee du Bosphore, Nuit de Tuberuese and Amaranthine.
At the gym, I am super sensitive to smells (nothing is as shocking as a Saturday morning class where you can smell booze seeping out of people’s pores!). I don’t scent myself for workouts and really appreciate fellow gym members who show the same consideration. Honestly, I can take the smell of body odor much better than perfume at the gym. I remember one guy who sat in the front row at spin class who doused himself in something wafting all the way to the back of the room. I’m already gasping for air and working hard – I don’t want to actually taste someone’s cologne…I don’t mean to sound harsh, just expressing my personal experience.
This is making me glad that I swim and do water aerobics – I don’t think I could take a combination of sweaty body odor, too much perfume, and last night’s booze.
Sounds like the 80’s to me. Aerobics + Poison (or worse Giorgio Beverly Hills) tempered with half a bottle of Aqua-Net hairspray. Good times.
I’m a water exerciser, too. Hate to sweat! I like to wear a little something in even in the water. Today was Sel de Vetiver.
The point is that people don’t know what is appropriate for the situation!! Perfumes are like clothes, or for woman, like clothing requisites. You have to know what to use each time. I’ve seen too many people whom I felt the smell and thought myself: “This frag doesn’t match with this person” or “This frag doesn’t match with this situation. Uugh, bad taste.”
Earlier in the year, the pilates studio where I take lessons sent an e-mail asking clients not to wear fragrance out of consideration for others. I also visited a gym recently with signs in the locker room with the same request. Probably a trend.
Hey, you really have problems with perfumers at gym!!! Here we have no problems like that! Maybe cause usually gym are very aired (hot days are so common). The problem is much worse at work and sometimes the unscented people, better, the stinking people. 🙁
You’re right, smelly exercisers are the greater risk, especially those who’ve decided to give that ol’ T shirt one more wear than they should have. Gaaah!
I recently stayed at a bed & breakfast in the Berkshires and there was a polite letter in the front of their information guide in the room saying that perfumes were not allowed in the rooms. The innkeeper said he’d had a few too many people (men and women) who were a bit heavy handed with the fragrance and basically stunk up the guest rooms they were staying in. Not to mention the complaints from other guests about the overwhelming fumes at breakfast. There’s a time and a place for everything. He felt bad about posting that but he said he had no choice. So hubby and I spritzed in the car. No shot I was going scentless.
I don’t agere about prohibiting the use os perfumes on some places!! I think politely is everything although it lacks to a lot of people… But we don’t need to arrive at the point of prohibiting the use of frags!
Lol, I’m something of a gym junkie and inconsiderate behaviour there is something that I could rant about for days 😀 Certainly at my gym the unsavoury behaviour is not limited to fragrance alone. I already mentioned the Angel-wearing trainer but I also had to move away from people who reeked of stale cigarette smoke, nauseatingly bad BO (decidedly different from fresh sweat) and people who were clearly ill (thanks for the germs! exactly what I was hoping for when I came here). Then there’s excessive use of aerosols in the confines of a changing room (because nobody minds inhaling a cloud of deodorant AND hairspray, right?), not wiping the sweat off the equipment, hogging said equipment just to sit on it and text one’s buddies…the list is endless. Some people are just oblivious *shakes head*
You’re so right, Abyss! I’d add people who take their things out of the locker and spread them out over more than half of the bench changing room (including their shoes!), crowding one to the other end. Totally oblivious!
I usually don’t wear perfume to concerts, gym, etc., except for an occasional touch of something super light and natural like Guerlain Meteorites, Chanel 28 La Pausa or IUNX L’Ether (wish I had more than a sample of that one). At work I have enough distance, usually, that I can wear a wider range. To me, vetiver is the ideal work scent, and AG Vetiver is my fav.
And, Robin, have a great vacation – you’ve really earned it keeping us informed, entertained and wonderfully scented all year!
Thank you!
Definitely second that! Robin, you and the entire gang here deserve our unstinting gratitude.
That’s it, some situations need moderation!
moore, I love your van Gogh gravatar!
Thanks! It’s one of my favourites paintings, if not my favourite. I love crazy genius: they do so much to art- they usually give their lives to it…
I was at a show at the Portland Art Museum last week and had a little time to wander about. . .I spent much of my time staring intently at Van Gogh’s Ox Cart painting. Such a grim and fabulous painting, and I love how you can almost feel the artist’s discontent/discomfort!
His way to painting was almost a chisel.
Yes! Sculpture with a palette knife!
I love crazy artist genius types, too – so I married one! Sometimes I wonder what my 25 year old self was thinking (he also had two small children and a non-genius but truly crazy ex-wife).
He doesn’t pay much attention to my perfume anymore (and doesn’t even want look in my perfume closet) but out of my zillions of samples, decants, and bottles of he never fails to notice and compliment two fragrances. One is Tabac Blond parfum (doesn’t like the EdT and asked if I had been smoking), and the other is Bvlgari Omnia. I was lukewarm about it and the lady at Saks told me that men love it, her daughter wears it and men follow her around, etc. I buy perfume to please me, not to catch a man, but she sent me home with a sample anyway and the first time I tried it he went out of his way to ask about and compliment it. My perfume hating boss also likes it which is actually what made it FBW for me. I can wear it safely to work and in public places where I don’t want to offend anyone. It also layers nicely with many other perfumes so I can add to it after work without having to scrub my arms with Tide.
I noted that I need to try Bvlgari’s feminine line…
Ooh, AG Vetiver. My favorite vetiver, too, and another good one to spritz on the upper chest and back of neck for water exercise.
I guess I lucky enough to pull of almost anything with bothering no one thanks to my skin chemistry, sillage in me seems uknown! 😉
I even worn Kelly Caleche to the gym and love it, I spritzed on my tshirt and after 30 minutEs the sensation was really sexy. But most of the time I choose something light as Bvlgari green tea or Prada Infusion d ‘Homme.
ah, I forgot to include Bvlgari Green Tea in my list–it’s the perfect non-offensive scent! I don’t think it could offend anyone anywhere.
The Bvlgari teas are an excellent choice! Not sillage monsters, not offensive, but not boring, either.
…I suddenly want a bottle
Kelly Calèche to the gym??!! It would suck my forces and give me a great headache!!! Bvlgari’s are much more appropriate for this!! (Hey, I could’t say this: I always wear Fahrenheit on torrid days!!!). I love Infusion D’Homme- I’ve never seen anything similar to it!!!
Enjoy your vacation Robin!!!
This a great topic. I work in a good sized med-large office environment. Scents that I like for work include:
Chanel No 5 Eau Premier
Hermes Kelly Caleche edp
SL Daim Blond
Prada Infusion d’Iris or L’eau Aumbree
Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise
Atelier Cologne Bois Blonds or Grand Neroli
EL Sensuous Nude
Cartier Baiser Vole
For the gym I like Jo Malone Grapefruit. For the theater or upscale situations, I like Hermes 24 Fauborg edp, Bvlgari Jasmin Noir or Guerlain Chypre Fatale.
Looking forward to seeing what others wear.
I keep meaning to try EL Sensuous Nude – thanks for the reminder. It sounds like it would be very good for public places, even if the name sounds better suited to privacy. 😉
I sniffed it this week, and it’s not bad! I’m a fan of Sensuous, which I also consider NOT a sensuous or sexy scent, but the Nude has a nice lightness to it.
LOL – Yes despite the name it is perfect for public places and in many different instances :-). Definitely give it a whiff.
Today I sampled Chanel No 19 Poudre. I rathered enjoyed it and it was much more pleasant than the experience I had with it last week. Last week was nothing but green moss and not in a pleasant way, Today I get a start of fresh green and than after 20 mins it settled down to a powdery iris. It was quite lovely. I am adding it to the office appropriate scent list. I am going to sample again, but it may also go on my FB worthy list.
We are so far, thanks!
I used to work out unscented, but after having to deal with some people’s BO invading my work-out space, I’ve taken to wearing a spritz of Miller et Bertaux’ Green, green, green and green to counteract any bad odors around me.
As for work, I do private tutoring, and I make sure I am unscented, as I don’t want any possible distractions.
Good point – I imagine the intellect gets distracted enough without adding something that distracts the senses to the mix.
Plus, you don’t want your students falling in love with you – that could really wreck someone’s focus! 🙂
You could use some circumspect ones. I’m like you: a perfume can distract me for a long time although I can’t live without using. The idea of being uscented distracts me much more. 😉
Here are my favorite “go anywhere” fragrances (in no particular order). I can dress them up or down, and they don’t seem to offend anyone. Neroli Portofino and Kelly Caleche always draw the most compliments.
Paestum Rose
Fleurissimo
Neroli Portofino (people always tell me I smell really clean)
Kelly Caleche
Un Jardin en Mediterranee
Bvlgari Green Tea
28 La Pausa
Nice choices on that list.
When I tried Kelly Calèche the first thing that came to my mind: “Feminine version to Terre D’Hermès”, don’t you think??
Yum, and you gave me a good idea: wear UJEM!! thanks!
Love Mediterranee, great choice. I’m so looking forward to summer (I’m in Australia) and wearing it again. It took me a while to appreciate it, but now it’s a fave.
Me too. I bought Le Nil before and was habituated to it. Then I bought Méditerranée, wich was a little salty, what causes some stranging, even some repulse (like TM’s Womanity). But it quickly gets our “friendship”.
my favourite office scents are my to go scents:
Rose Ikebana
Rose Poivree
Un Jardin sur le Nil
No 5 Eau Premiere
28 La Pausa
and I apply them with light hand
Goodness, I wish I worked near you – you smell great!
I wish I worked near you too : )
it would be so much fun : )
hardly any working but discussing and sampling of favourite scents : )
would loooveeee thaaat : D
Sur Le Nil is one of my all to-go frags! You like so much roses, like me, isn’t it?
hi Moore
in my grandmother’s garden there were all kinds of roses, (and plenty of dogs) so it is in my veins, together with the rain-wet puli hair scent : )))) I adore both : )
I know perfectly what you’re saying. I’ve already noticed that smell at the graden of my house, but there weren’t so much roses, only a little…
Do you know any perfume that smells like earthy after rain???
CB’s Black March smells like wet earth. Lovely…
It seems that’s the perfect one KRL! Thank you so much!
Have a great vacation Robin! I try to be sensitive in my choice of scents for symphonies, large meetings and the like. The Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere mentioned often above is great, as is anything vanilla-based. Cartier’s new Baiser Vole, spritzed lightly, might als. work,
Eau Premiere is an all-around great scent!
Absolutely!
So far so good, thanks!
Loving Baiser Vole!
The new Chanel No 19 Poudre is completely wearable in any situation. I wear No 19 EDP (the original) to work all the time, but that’s just me!
I agree with the many suggestions of Eau Premiere and Kelly Caleche. Chamade is fine, especially the EDT. Andy Tauer’s Reverie au Jardin, as long as it is applied lightly. Diorella. All of Hermes’s Jardin series. I would suggest EL’s Pleasures, but I find it hard to apply lightly and to me these days I detect an artificial note I dislike.
I notice that relatively few ELs, apart from Sensuous, are getting a mention here. They can be pretty big can’t they?
Oh, and Balmain’s Ivoire (thanks dee!) and Jacomo’s Silences.
True about the ELs. I’ve worn Pure White Linen Light Breeze quick a lot this summer, and that’s the only one I can think of that’s not “big.”
Default office scent: CSP’s Bois de Filao.
I’d like to hear more about this one – do you get a lot of citrus from it?
No citrus at all, and no coconut, which I always thought HAD to be in a CSP perfume! It’s simply a gentle woody smell, possibly of actual filao wood, which I haven’t ever come across…
I have been testing some cheap thrills from Yves Rocher and one of them fits the bill for today: tendre jasmin. I found it very light and forgettable at first but I find myself reaching for it frequently. I usually like my jasmin more
Sorry, I am not ready for a touchscreen yet…
Hee. We just got a touchscreen for the family but I’m sticking to my ancient inspiron laptop. I also failed to foresee how much the finger prints all over the screen would bug me. 🙂
I have been testing some cheap thrills from Yves Rocher and one of them fits the bill for today: tendre jasmin. I found it very light and forgettable at first but I ended up wearing it frequently. I usually like my jasmin more on the indolic side but this is refreshing in the heat and would never offend anyone.
I have also tried their Vanille Noir and So Elixir. The vanilla is dry and I found it not sweet at all. It is great for layering and would be perfect for a guy. The elixir is a Coco Mlle or Miss Dior Cherie clone but still very nice.
I have that one too (love their travel sizes – a cheap thrill, indeed!) and that would be a good one for office/church/school.
Whoops! I meant the YR Jasmine.
What a perfect, poignant image for today!
I agree with so many scents listed and will add a few more :
Donna Karan Cashmere Mist edt is nice for church type situations, including weddings and funerals. This summer, I have enjoyed Fresh Sugar as a quiet background scent. And Bulgari Omnia is perfect year round for office & movie wear. It’s sheer, woody-spicy and creamy. You won’t smell like anyone else. All my favorite Chanels, Pradas, etc have already been covered. Fun topic! Enjoy your vacation, R.
I know this says more about my own problems with spatial ability, but I have such a hard time getting that Omnia bottle open!
You are not alone – I like the juice but the bottle doesn’t want me to wear it!
🙂 🙂 LOL
You know, I was going to add Omnia to my list, but I couldn’t because at least one male friend of mine finds it distractingly sexy! I don’t quite get it, but knowing he has this response keeps me from wanting to wear it anywhere near my middle-schoolers!!!
It’s true. I don’t really get it either but they do!
Histoires de Parfums’ 1725 Casanova is my quiet perfume for quiet settings such as the library I work in (appropriate, since Casanova was a librarian himself). Subtle, low sillage, calming, and smooth.
The things you learn here at NST! I had no idea that Casanova was a librarian.
Great topic and one which I considered this morning as we got ready for a road trip to a family reunion. What to wear in the heat, outside while visiting with family? I chose A Goutal Eau de Camille because it was green, refreshing in the heat and not overpowering. It also has a soapy quality that works well in really muggy weather when I rarely feel chic.
For church/work in spring or summer I would wear Worth Je Reviens, Guerlain Chamade, Balmain Ivoire, YSL Yvresse, Donna Karan Gold, Lolita Lempicka Si Lolita, Caron Bellodgia and Hillary Duff With Love.
For the fall/winter months it would be the previously listed perfumes along with Bulgari Black, Chanel Coco, Chanel No5, Lolita Lempicka a Masculine, Boucheron Jaipur Homme and Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights.
First thing I thought when I saw you like Bvlgari Black: “Does she know Au Masculin?Then,still reading I saw you know and thought: “Does she know Burberry Touch Man?” Third: “Does she know 212 Sexy Men?” Here goes some nice trying… 😉
Thanks for the suggestions, I will look those up!
… so I might be the only person to wear a tiny dab or spritz of a BWF (big white floral) to the office? or the theater, or a dental appointment? Emphasis on the *tiny* dab. It’s my fond opinion that white florals tend to sink in on my skin and get cozy, instead of wafting for thirty paces.
Others I like for public wear: MJ Daisy, Infusion d’Iris, Mariella Burani, Eau Premiere.
Hmmm. I don’t think they are considered “big” white florals, but I have been wearing L’Artisan La Chasse and Chanel Beige to my library job. I guess I would consider them to be demure white florals.
Other frags in my library rotation for summer are L’Artisan The Pour un Ete, Hermes Hiris, Atelier Orange Sanguine and Goutal Eau d’Hadrien. I plan on adding Atelier’s Vanille Insensee to the rotation in the fall. Not sure what else will make the fall cut.
Vanille Insensee would be a great choice for work, I think, especially when the weather cools down a bit.
I like Atelier Orange Sanguie too — makes me feel, well, sanguine.
I think application is the key! I wear just about anything to work, but only a spritz or 2.
This is a very useful topic, considering how much of our time we spend in the aformentioned situations. In addition to some of the frags already receiving praise here today, my office scents include:
Paul and Joe Blanc
SJP Lovely
Gaultier Classique X
Mythique
Costes 2
Ferre Rose (Clinique Happy top notes on a warmer, sweeter base, C minus on longevity)
In colder months, Bond No 9’s Fashion Ave and Lexington Ave are warm, creamy, and discrete at the single-spritz level. I’ve been complimented on Armania Mania (white bottle) – a sensitive coworker said it smelled good and didn’t bother her at all. Powdery scents – Love Chloe, Eau Claire des Merveilles, Weekend A Deauville – are less well received. I think the dry air and paper dust create a ‘musty’ silage, because even I don’t care for them by the end of the day.
For working out, I am in the frag-free camp, but have been meaning to try some colognes afterward. My nose is not well versed in citrus. I’d also like to test some masculines.
For anyone searching for an office white floral, I recommend Badgley Mischka Fleurs de Nuit extrait. Second the La Chasse and Beige from a post above.
Powder seems to read as “perfumey” to many people, whereas something with say, a lot of citrus, most people seem to find inoffensive.
Honestly, I only ever get complimented on Eau de Cartier, which I don’t even wear often. I didn’t even buy it! It was a freebie in a swap. I get all the time, though: “Wow, your cologne smells so good. I’m allergic to most fragrances but this one’s nice.” Of course, comments like that, while nice, make me want to put on my Shalimar.
That’s the thing. I guess maybe I’m just a jerk but I don’t think, “Oh, this is kind of weird. Maybe I shouldn’t wear this to this situation.” To be fair, though, I LIVE out of sample vials and everything I wear I dab softly (unless it’s one of my meager 11 FBs).
I will say, another I get big compliments on (and thus deem universally appealing in “public”) is Aromatics Elixir. People love it. I wonder though if they’d like it less if it was a woman wearing it, i.e. as a “perfume.” It’s not the typical woman’s fragrance by today’s standards. Which is a shame. 😛
🙂 Lovin’ your attitude and open-mindedness, Ol Rait! You smell good!
Hey, great taste!!! Eau de Cartier is always complimented and I almost never use it in public. Aromatics Elixir is out-of-this-world: incensy, chyprè, herbal, sunblock smell!!! My sister used it (I indicated) and she said me too much people stopped her at street to asking what she was using. Unfortunetly she doesn’t use it anymore (she feels suffocated) and gave it to my mum. I bought Eau du Soir, that have a lot of similarities and is much more masculine. I’ve read Aramis 900 is too much similar too.
I used to wear AE and I love it when I smell it on someone else. A woman in my office wears it and one day she had on something else – D&G Light Blue – kind of a shock, but luckily she went back to AE…
Yuck!! What an unhappy change!! From the heaven to the hell: Light Blue litterally makes me nausea and gag!!
I wear whatever I want, wherever I want. 🙂 For the stronger scents I do only apply one spritz when at work and the like. Scents that I’m not afraid to apply more heavily for work include:
FM En Passant
FM Lys Mediterranee
Bvlgari Amethyste
L’Artisan Chasse Aux Papillons
DG Light Blue, ubiquitous but I still like this a lot for high summer
JM White Jasmine and Mint (though really anything from JM would probably be great for public places)
Possibly the new Cartier Baiser Vole that I just got a sample of.
Looking at that I guess I usually go for sheer floral or light citrus scents for work and other public places.
I agree that I don’t think you can go wrong with the JMs in public places.
Great topic. For work my “safe” scents are Hermès Osmanthe Yunnan and Guerlain Après l’Ondée. They’re subtler than many shampoos and deodorants.
On occasion I have to work with individuals who are…how shall I say…pungent. Then the naughty in me wants to wear three sprays of FM Portrait of a Lady or Byredo Pulp. But I was brought up right, so I don’t.
The naughty in me once said “oh, what the heck!” and sprayed Femme before going in to the office one day. A day in which the A/C stopped working, I ended up smelling like an unmade bed, and my co-workers looked at me strangely all day. Which is a long way of saying it’s a good thing you were brought up right. 🙂
Those horrible days that one hopes to NEVER to repeat. I was working in a coffee shop on a project with some other people. It was my first day in that city and I didn’t realise quite how hot it got. The a/c was not working. I was wearing Bronze Goddess for the first time – after all – its a skin scent, right? It nearly made me ill – even though no one else could smell it. It seems SO strong on me and to me.
I couldn’t tolerate a spritz of Pulp on my own wrist – so I’m really glad you are ‘well brought up’!
Almost nothing has sillage on me so its not something I worry about anymore. I know because I do sometimes ask, just to make sure: I actually say to people, ‘am I wearing too much perfume, cos I went a bit wild with the bottle today…’ And they always say ‘no’. Then I follow it up with ‘can you smell anything at all from where you are’. And I get a head shake. And then I think to myself, ‘how much was this frag again?
As for ‘safe’ perfumes, Kenzo Amour and even more so, Flower, TDC Sublime Balkiss (and the whole range is so light they would probably all be OK), Paul Smith’s Rose, and from Parfum de Empire, Eau de Gloire, Iskander and Osmanthus Interdithe. Talking of osmanthus, Flora, even in edp would be safe. Chanel’s Crystalle eau de Verte would be good on the citrus/tea front. Also a refined white musk like Claire de Musc.
I was wondering what everyone thought about Malabar. I tried it the other day and thought it really nice, but I tried so many that day I’ll have to test it again.
Sorry – meant Malabah, not Malabar.
Ah, another case of perfume-eating skin!
Oh yeah, I have it bad!
Majorie Rose, I think Amour, like Sensuous and Lieu Ambree are among the exceptions: warm frags that are either soft or subtle enough to be ‘safe’?
Interesting question! I am definitely drawn to warmer scents, and rarely find an Oriental that I don’t at least kinda enjoy, but it’s true that many of them are either too bold or too sexy to be listed as “office-friendly.” I would add L’eau D’Hiver to the list of warm, but soft, fragrances. I have not yet tried L’eau Ambree. Must add it to the list!
This concept “pefume-eating” is so good! I’ll incorporate, should I?
I agree with Kenzo Amour being a safe scent. It is lovely and a touch unusual without being too much of a “statement” scent. Nice choice!
Kenzo Flower either: it’s so comfortable. Remeber laying on a comfortable carpet and sleeping when I was a child.
All I want to say is the photograph is absolutely stunning and reminds me of my Hiris bottle 🙂
It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Hard to believe that fall is right around the corner.
I’m not back at work yet so I can wear anything I like most of the time. I am very careful when I go to the infusion center because everybody there is so sick and prone to nausea but it makes me feel a little better if I put on makeup, “real clothes” and a little perfume. Sometimes I will spray a cotton ball with a little perfume to tuck in my sleeve or bra then put it in a baggie in my purse when I get there.
My list of light, safe, and unlikely to offend perfumes includes:
-DelRae Mythique
-Eau des Merveilles
-Apres l’Ondee
-Guerlain Voile d’Ete
-L’AP Iris Pallida
-Hypnotic Poison
-L’O Labdanum de Seville
-TDC Osmanthus
-MFK Cologne pour le Soir (not the absolue)
-Teo Cabanel Julia (if I’m feeling very young and tender)
As I mentioned upthread, I also consider a low-sillage dab of Jicky, L’Heure Bleue, Mitsouko,or Shalimar extraits appropriate most of the time.
Lovely list, Julia, and I’m glad you reminded me of Teo Cabanel’s Julia which is a favorite of mine and seems to rarely get mentioned (full disclosure: I bought a decant unsniffed purely because that’s my beloved niece’s name).
I admit I bought it mostly because it has my name on it. It really is a nice fragrance and most of the reviews and discussions I read about it mention how appropriate it is for a young person as a first perfume, a sweet 16 gift, etc. I don’t know how old your niece is but it would make a lovely gift when she is old enough. It is a beautiful alternative to the heavily scented body spray products so many teens wear (says cranky old person).
TDC Osmanthus and L’AP Iris Pallida are two of my favs, especially for public places.
BTW, it was Bear who observed that 28 La Pausa was really a vetiver scent. I really owe him – I tried it again and now it’s the Chanel I really love (apart from vintage No. 5, of course).
Ange ou Demon Le Secret is very unobtrusive, well-liked by almost everybody and would never offend in an office. The new flanker, Elixir, is light and pleasant and would be great for fall. Arden’s Green Tea and all its flankers are probably inoffensive to most. I think all the Aqua Allegorias are okay for public wear.
The Aqua Allegorias would be another good choice – the ones I’ve sampled have mostly been quite sheer.
I like Ange ou Demon Le Secret very much (although I tire of typing the entire name out, and forget telling someone what I’m wearing! –but I digress!). I wear it less during the day, however. I often like to wear it after my shower, since I bought it as a Christmas gift set with the gel and lotion. It helps me feel all warm and snugly!
Hermes Iris Ukiyoe is another great one for the office or any public setting. One could even wear it to the gym, I think, although it seems better suited to something like yoga or tai chi.
Upon reflection, I’m thinking classic colognes would be ideal for the gym – they’d give one an initial boost of energy and then burn off before anyone could be offended.
Also want to than Apparatchick for hosting – lots of food for thought in this poll!
It’s been my pleasure!
Late to the party – but I wear the original Caleche to work a lot, as well as Un Jardin Sur le Nil and Cristalle.
Never too late, and those are great choices.
I’m a bit late as well! I tend to wear L’Eau d’Hiver, Iris Nobile, and Traversee du Bosphore in polite situations.
Love TdB!
To the gym I’ve been complimented wearing SSS Incense Pure and Champagne du Bois. Of course Demeter Pink Lemonade is awesome and doesn’t last very long.
I think Jean Claude Ellena fragrances are great unintrusive fragrances: Rose Ikebana, Poivre Samarkand, Voyage, Jardin Sur le Nil.
Guerlain Imperial or Eau de Guerlain are great sheer citrus.
JCE does a wonderful job of making fragrances that are sheer, but interesting.
After years of wearing sillage monsters, and berating myself when I didn’t like the recommended and swoon-worthy perfumes; I realize I have a very sensitive nose and don’t like “big” scents. I like close-to-the-skin, easy scents with no musk or cedar, which I amplify. Even Eau D’Hiver, which I love, blooms big on me. So I’m sticking to dab more than spray, and my 3 favorites of the moment: Eau de Merveilles newest flanker; Geurlain’s skin treatment–Terratcotta scent, not the skin bronzer; Xerjoff’s 1861, which is intoxicating close up.
I’m a bit envious – there are many scents that I like but can’t smell unless I keep my nose to my wrist – not very practical! 🙂 In general, natural scents and perfume solids are very quiet.
Nozknoz, I share your pain (sticking her wrist up her nose to try detect Malabah)
Have very belatedly read through this wonderful post – thanks Aparatchick! Very little to add to the great suggestions above… iris, vetiver and Ellena’s scents work well and quietly for me. Also – my new discovery – Clarins’ relaxing fragrance called Eau Ressourcante. Beautiful and totally inoffensive, a soft iris/cedar number. Highly recommend and is cheap as chips to boot.
Great topic! I just caught up. Thanks Aparatchick! A lot of my favorite “public place” fragrances have already been mentioned. A few additional ones: TDC Bois d’Iris, Bergamote, and Sel de Vetiver; Neil Morris Mariner; Caron Eau de Reglisse and Pour un Homme; L’Artisan L’Eau d’Artisan and Poivre Piquant; KenzoAir; Huitieme Art Vohina; Honore de Pres Love Coco; Hermes Vanilla Galante and Pamplemousse Rose; Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom; Etro Anice and Shaal Nur; Yves Rocher Voile d’Ambre. I also recently tried the new Eau d’Italie Jardin du Poete. It’s lovely and I can’t imagine anyone complaining about its presence in a public setting!