One of the most highly sought-after types of fragrance are those that are compatible with the workplace. We’ve reviewed many fragrances and we’ve found the best ones that you can use with a little strategic application.
In this guide, we will present you with the top 10 office fragrances for the workplace:
- Terre d’Hermès
- Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme
- Hugo BOSS Bottled
- Montblanc Individuel
- Guerlain Habit Rouge
- Montblanc Explorer
- Prada l’Homme
- Issey Miyake l’Eau d’Issey
- Christian Dior Eau Sauvage
- John Varvatos Eau de Toilette
Simply use the links above to jump ahead or scroll down to read them all!
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Best Colognes By Occasion
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Spicy
- Seasonality: Spring & Fall
- Occasion: Office
- Longevity: 5/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For The Office?
With pure citrus and woody notes, Terre d’Hermès is a mature and elegantly understated fragrance. Wearing it displays that you’re a self-respecting and trustworthy professional who cares about his appearance. Just take care not to over-apply as Terre d’Hermès is strong.
Read More: Terre d’Hermès Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Orange, Grapefruit
- Heart: Patchouli, Pepper, Geranium
- Base: Oak Moss, Vetiver, Cedar, Benzoin
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Spicy Oriental Amber
- Seasonality: Winter
- Occasion: Casual
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It A Good For The Office?
With its mild and subtle premium aromas, YSL L’Homme is an ideal fragrance for a variety of uses. Its versatility makes it a wonderful choice for the office as you can wear a designer fragrance without being overwhelming.
Read More: Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Bergamot, Ginger, Lemon
- Heart: Basil, Iris, Pepper
- Base: Tonka, Oak Moss, Vetiver, Cedar
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Aromatic
- Seasonality: Winter
- Occasion: Casual
- Longevity: 2/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For The Office?
With an opening apple and cinnamon according complemented by plum and bergamot, Bottled is a laid-back yet elegant choice. It features a faint and subtle projection with a mild sillage, which makes it ideal for wearing in crowded working environments. It’ll be enjoyed by both colleagues and clients without overpowering.
Read More: BOSS Bottled Review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Bergamot, Apple, Plum, Cinnamon
- Heart: Mahogany, Geranium, Vanilla
- Base: Cedar, Sandalwood, Vetiver
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Oriental
- Seasonality: Spring & Autumn
- Occasion: Office
- Longevity: 3/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For The Office?
Refreshing and mild, many people liken this fragrance to fabric softener, which they find both comforting and relaxing. As such, this is an ideal fragrance to wear at the office as it will soothe you in stressful situations and create a sense of trust with clients.
Read More: Montblanc Individuel review
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Lavender, Cardamom, Pineapple
- Heart: Garanium, Mint, Rosemary
- Base: Sandal, Raspberry, White Musk
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Oriental
- Seasonality: Fall & Winter
- Occasion: Office
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For The Office?
An undisputed classic, Guerlain Habit Rouge offers a similarly premium experience to Terre d’Hermès albeit with an altogether different aroma profile. Although understated and seductive, it’s a fragrance that oozes with authority and respect.
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Clementine, Basil, Redwood
- Heart: Rose, Sandalwood, Patchouli
- Base: Labdanum, Guaiacwood, Vanilla
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Aromatic
- Seasonality: Spring & Summer
- Occasion: Office
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For The Office?
Explorer offers a far more outgoing scent than Individuelle while still retaining its professional and soothing characteristics. If you’re fond of Creed Aventus, Explorer is very similar but not as overbearing and without the steep price tag.
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Clary Sage
- Heart: Leather, Vetiver
- Base: Patchouli, Cocoa, Akigalawood, Ambergris
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Chypre
- Seasonality: Spring
- Occasion: Office
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For The Office?
Often regarded as an affordable alternative to Dior Homme, Prada’s flagship fragrance offers a clean designer experience. Although quite overt, it’s subtle and understated. As a result, it won’t overwhelm colleagues with whom you share an office space.
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Cardamon, Neroli, Pepper
- Heart: Iris, Geranium, Violet
- Base: Patchouli, Cedar, Labdanum, Sandalwood
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Aquatic
- Seasonality: Summer
- Occasion: Office
- Longevity: 4/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For The Office?
Although a lively fragrance with a rich variety of notes, Miyake’s Eau d’Issey is surprisingly inoffensive. It offers a delightful tableau of aromatic herbs and spices throughout its life-cycle before finishing on a musky skin scent. If you’re looking for a harmonious blend, it’s worth considering.
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Yuzu, Coriander, Crypress, Verbena
- Heart: Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Lotus, Saffron
- Base: Guaiacwood, Labdanum, Vetiver, Cedar
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Aromatic Citrus
- Seasonality: Spring & Summer
- Occasion: Office
- Longevity: 3/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For The Office?
If you’d like something just as well established as Guerlain Homme, Eau Sauvage is a wonderfully zesty alternative. It presents the same polished and authoritative presence while being more delicate with its aromatic notes.
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Bergamot, Basil, Rosemary
- Heart: Coriander, Patchouli, Jasmine
- Base: Labdanum, Oakmoss, Vetiver
Also Featured In
Overview
- Fragrance Family: Woody Oriental Amber
- Seasonality: Fall & Winter
- Occasion: Office
- Longevity: 3/5
- Pricing:
Why Is It Good For The Office?
Despite a rich bouquet of balsamic and oriental notes, John Varvatos’ Classic eau de toilette is quite mild and inoffensive. If you want something spicy for the winter that won’t knock out your co-workers, this is a solid and affordable choice.
Seasonality
Aroma Profile
- Head: Caramel, Hay, Bergamot
- Heart: Dates, Fir, Vanilla
- Base: Leather, Labdanum, Tamarind
How Do You Associate Fragrances With Occasions?
Thanks to our powerful olfactory memories, we’re able to associate fragrances with particular seasons. However, it can work a little differently when it comes to occasions.
Of course, some of us may have created particularly subjective links between places and smells. Nevertheless, not everyone will perceive their workplace in the same way.
Therefore, we tend to take into consideration various factors such as the activities, the dress code and the environment itself. What would be appropriate for this setting and what fragrance would contribute to setting the ideal mood?
This may vary from setting to setting. For instance, a self-employed carpenter could wear a decidedly woody fragrance like Terre d’Hermès. Through the vibrant imagery he creates, his clients would be swept away by romantic notions of his profession.
Nevertheless, professional fragrances tend to follow more-or-less similar trends.
How To Define An Office Cologne For Men
Like any element of your personal style, the cologne your wear to the workplace should be seen as appropriate. Therefore, most office fragrances are usually conservative and restrained in terms of aroma profile.
This means that there are fewer fruity notes and rarely too much musk. The most common fragrance family for the workplace is the Aromatic Fougère. However, some Woody fragrances are quite frequent too.
Given that they’re quite conventional fragrances rather than outgoing, they’re quite appropriate. Rarely are their notes and accords unorthodox or wild but relatively common and respectable.
Similarly, many workplaces are closed environments and can be quite crowded. Therefore, it’s important to select something that reflects the space available. A vibrant and musky cologne can quickly become overwhelming for colleagues. Meanwhile, subtle lavender notes could be quite soothing for them instead.
In terms of notes, the best course of action is to opt for fragrances that feature either green or citrus notes. Whilst citrus will offer some freshness, the greens can consist of aromatic and fougère notes such as rosemary and oak moss respectively.
Consider also that you may run into prospective clients. Choosing your fragrance wisely can have a very positive effect on your exchanges. A carefully chosen fragrance can draw them nearer and make them want to stay a little longer. Furthermore, it could also create trust and make those deals easier to seal.
What Next?
Now that you have covered our selection of the best professional fragrances to wear at the office, check out the other occasions too. You can find these listed in the menu above. Just jump back to the top to see them all.
Alternatively, you can peruse a selection of our other fragrance resources below:
- How To Try & Test Fragrances
- How To Apply Fragrances
- What Is A Perfume Pyramid?
- Latest Men’s Fragrance Reviews
"Feeling like a boss! Took two of these suggestions and I've already had multiple compliments from both colleagues and customers."Rating: 5.0 ★★★★★