Should you wear perfume to a job interview?

Question

I read recently that people can be sensitive to perfumes and it's risky to wear them, but smelling good is such a positive in my book and I feel like I've worn perfume to every single interview I've gone on. Is it really bad to wear perfume in a job interview?

Anonymous · Answer

Great to see so much consensus here. It’s a no. A hard no IMO. Smelling great means being clean, shower, wear deo and clean clothes. Perfume doesn’t equal smelling great in my book. You just smell like perfume, and let’s face it, most are pretty awful and commercial (and VERY subjective). It can really send the wrong message. I’ve interviewed a lot of candidates, and as harsh as this sounds, someone wearing strong perfume was a red flag for me. It indicated this person has poor decision making skills and lacks self awareness. Case in point, after I hired him, a male employee started wearing a patchouli based scent in our small office. We could smell him coming to the office two rooms away. Everyone complained to me, two of whom had severe allergies. I politely pulled him aside and explained that his scent choice was causing discomfort and disruption to other employees and asked that he refrain. He replied aghast “I like my smell nice!” and “I hardly put any on!” I reminded him that his version of nice wasn’t nice for everyone else, and to respect that we work in a small space. His response was to then start wearing a new scent equally as bad. Repeat conversation. He just didn’t get it. Needless to say my observation was correct in that he ultimately lacked self awareness in every other area of work, was selfish and diva like in his approach to work, created problems and more work for others, etc. He was not around for long.

Katie Henderson Ladyboss752675 · Answer

Short answer, no.

Julie Schlueter · Answer

I agree with 'No' on the perfumes and after shave lotions. Though I'm not allergic, I'm very sensitive to different scents and they can give me a terrible headache. I work in a large company and some people have passed out because of the perfume their coworkers were wearing. They could have been hurt badly in a fall. The same goes for men's scents. I have stopped walking behind some men in the halls because the scent was so overwhelming it made my nose run and eyes water. All the staff working in enclosed or sterile areas have been told they CANNOT wear scents but some just won't follow the rules. They need to be in different jobs but with the unemployment rate so low, I think some of the managers look the other way and let it go. It's hard to fill some positions.

LEANNE TOBIAS · Answer

Select a light fragrance and apply it very lightly.

It pays to be sensitive to the possibility that others will no be able to tolerate fragrance well.

A light fragrance, applied with a light hand is a reasonable compromise.

Kim Lindsay · Answer

Could you? Yes. Should you? Well; no right answer unless defined in pre-interview communications. Safe choice: Limit or *omit it (ideally) it’s your chance to shine be hypoallergenic and focus on the conversation not the accessories.

DarlaM · Answer

It would depend on what else you have on that has a scent.  My body lotion is scent free and so are my cosmetics.  I also do not use scents in my laundry.  So my only scent is a light cologne that I reserve for work.  Remember the saying, a little goes a long way.

BeckyB_25 · Answer

Wow, such a great question. I think I'd say no. Just shower :)

Suzanne K · Answer

I say, what makes you feel good and most like your authentic self is a plus in an interview . I wear a light fragrance most days and only refrain when specifically asked, for example at a recent beer tasting exam. Easy does it, maybe just enough for you to notice and for those who hug you :-).

Lisa A Huntley · Answer

I would skip the perfume. Many offices are now 'fragrance free'. If you wear a nice smelling lotion (or even deodorant), that light amount of scent is probably OK. One caveat- if you are looking for work in fashion or beauty there may be a different standard.

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