icon
Home icon

Home

Jobs icon

Jobs

Reviews icon

Reviews

Network icon

Network

Resources icon

Resources

|For Employers icon

For Employers

logo
about
careers
FAQs
privacy policyterms & conditionsfor employers
112k
20k
icon
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
My ProfileMy MessagesMy NetworkMy SettingsGroupsEventsMy PostsLog Out
Mystery Woman
Tell us more for better jobs, advice
and connections
YOUR GROUPS
Discover and join groups with like-minded women who share your interests, profession, and lifestyle.
COMPANIES YOU FOLLOW
Get alerted when there are new employee reviews.
YOUR JOB ALERTS
Get notified when new jobs are posted.
Your post is published!
Anonymous
02/10/20 at 10:42PM UTC
in
Career

Should you wear perfume to a job interview?

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?

Share

Join the conversation...
Julie Schlueter
star-svg
46
College grad,mother,grandmother,FT worker.
03/05/20 at 10:19PM UTC
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.
AnonymousBrand Strategy Leader • Entrepreneur
02/26/20 at 1:04PM UTC
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.
LEANNE TOBIAS
star-svg
4.05k
Investment real estate/sustainability
02/20/20 at 12:19AM UTC
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
star-svg
196
Dream Big
02/19/20 at 4:35AM UTC
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
star-svg
369
I have worn many hats in different industries.
02/19/20 at 12:02AM UTC
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
star-svg
178
Release Train Engineer. Mom of 2.
02/18/20 at 7:41PM UTC
Wow, such a great question. I think I'd say no. Just shower :)
Suzanne K
star-svg
28
Entrepreneur in Engineering Management
02/18/20 at 4:18PM UTC
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 :-).
Katie Henderson Ladyboss752675
star-svg
757
I am an expert in all things visual.
02/18/20 at 2:04PM UTC
Short answer, no.
Siobhan Stephan
star-svg
228
Product Owner in California
02/21/20 at 8:04PM UTC
My thoughts exactly after reading the question.
User deleted comment on 02/18/20 at 2:03PM UTC
Katie Henderson Ladyboss752675
star-svg
757
I am an expert in all things visual.
02/24/20 at 6:09PM UTC
Those pop-up air fresheners give me an instant headache.
Lisa A Huntley
star-svg
41
IT PM; BI; operational analysis
02/18/20 at 1:53PM UTC
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.

You're invited.

See what women are sharing on Fairygodboss.
What's new today
wand-button
Personalize your jobs
Get recommendations for recent and relevant jobs.
Employer Reviews
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
3.0
Shiny objects aren't always the best. You'll find dozens of...
Seagate Technology
4.4
Such a great place to work, they offer great benefits and...
Recent Content
I'm a Career Coach — Here are 10 Ways to Cope with Interview Nerves
I Pivoted From a High School Teacher to a Director of Innovation and Architecture: Here’s How!
Only 63% of Women Report Feeling Mentally Healthy at Work — Here’s How Benefits Can Change That
icon
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
  • about
  • careers
  • FAQs
  • privacy policy
  • terms & conditions
112k
20k