Perfume or aftershave can boost your confidence, enhance your mood and help you to express your unique style. But should you wear a fragrance to your upcoming interview?
Here at Graduate Coach, we have 15+ years of experience helping over 5000 students, graduates and career changers to become interview confident and land their dream jobs. In this post, we share our expertise to discuss why wearing perfume to an interview is not advised, and what to consider if you do decide to wear a fragrance.
Why Wearing Perfume to an Interview May not be a Good Idea
First and foremost perfume preferences are highly subjective! The scents you enjoy might be really unpleasant to someone else. There are a lot of factors that contribute to varying preferences including:
- Personal preferences: some like sweet or floral scents, while others prefer citrusy or woody notes.
- Inconsistency in scents on different people: The exact same perfume can smell completely different on different people. Factors such as body temperature, pH and the natural oils on the skin can play a part in how the scent is perceived.
When attending an interview in-person, err on the side of caution, and refrain from wearing a strong perfume. Remember, you want the main focus to be on your skills, qualifications and attributes, not your perfume!
Here are some reasons why it’s not a good idea to wear perfume to an interview:
#1: The Interviewer might have Allergies to your Perfume
Your interviewer has a rubric to assess you against during your interview to essentially determine if you are the right fit for the company and role. That’s why they often make notes and ask specific follow-up questions.
Perfumes can be an allergy trigger or your interviewer may have sensitivities to certain scents. This could cause an allergy flare-up causing symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, headache or itchy/watery eyes. This could make it harder for them (and you) to concentrate on the interview. It might even result in the interview being terminated early.
Furthermore, you may have an adverse reaction to your own perfume, especially if it’s a new scent that you have not worn before. This could distract you and drastically hinder your interview performance.
#2: Your Interviewer might find your Perfume Overpowering
Even if your interviewer is not allergic to your perfume, they might find it overbearing or overpowering.
This could also distract them from focusing on your answers. Additionally, strong scents could be perceived as unprofessional or even inconsiderate, which does not give a good impression in an interview setting!
#3: Your Perfume Choice may Show a Lack of Cultural Awareness
In some cultures, wearing strong scents is not customary, especially in formal settings such as job interviews. It’s important to consider the cultural norms of the organisation you’re interviewing with and the person conducting the interview. Remember, there is a high chance you will not know the interviewer(s) and will be meeting them for the first time. Don’t assume they’ll appreciate your fragrance as much as you do!
Some cultures perceive strong fragrances as being overly assertive or even aggressive – again not a great first impression. Additionally, many cultures refrain from wearing strong perfumes to avoid distracting others in public spaces. For example in Japan “sume-hara” (smell harassment) is a concept where strong scents are considered inconsiderate in professional settings. Thus scent is expected to be light and discreet out of respect for others.
#4: It could clash with the company culture or policies
Some companies have policies about fragrance usage in the workplace, and wearing a strong perfume may be perceived as a violation of those policies. For example, it could violate a health and safety policy as some people may have a serious allergic reaction to it, as mentioned above.
If you work in healthcare and are applying to a job within this field, do not wear perfume to your interview. Many hospitals, clinics and nursing homes have a fragrance-free policy to protect patients with respiratory conditions such as Asthma. Likewise, if you work in a dental or therapist’s office or even a lab, perfume usage is generally not tolerated.
Other industries with policies on fragrances include Education, Airlines, hospitality and beauty and wellness. If you are interviewing for a corporate job, check online for any zero-fragrance policies at the company you are applying to.
#5: It could trigger negative associations for the interviewer
Scents are extremely powerful! Familiar scents can trigger memories of past people or experiences, which may not be positive.
The olfactory bulb, a part of the brain that detects smell, is directly linked to the amygdala and hippocampus, the areas responsible for emotions and memory.
If your interviewer has had a negative experience associated with the particular scent you are wearing, it could trigger negative feelings or associations, which could impact their perception of you.
#6: Your perfume could overpower the space you are in
In some interview settings, such as a small conference room or a shared office, wearing strong perfume can make the space feel more enclosed, which could be uncomfortable for the interviewer. This is because in small spaces the scent cannot disperse and is amplified. If the scent is particularly intense, it can trigger nausea or headaches – not ideal.
What to Consider if you do decide to Wear Perfume to your Interview
Ultimately, it’s your choice to wear perfume to an interview or not. However, the potential down-sides to wearing perfume to an interview may outweigh the benefits. If you do decide to wear a fragrance consider the following points:
- Choose a subtle, light scent: Opt for a subtle, light scent that won’t overwhelm the interviewer or the space. Light floral or citrus scents are generally safe choices. Avoid bold scents at all costs – it’s not worth the risk.
- Apply the perfume sparingly: Apply the perfume sparingly to avoid overwhelming the interviewer. One or two sprays are usually sufficient. Do not spray your entire body.
- Test the wear of the perfume: Some perfumes become stronger over time, impacted by body temperature fluctuations for example. Test how it wears throughout the day before your interview.
- Apply the perfume in a subtle area:
Here are some subtle places to spray your perfume:
-Behind the ears: This is a classic spot to apply perfume, as it is close to the face and neck but not as easily noticeable as other areas.
-Inside the elbows: This is a warm area of the body that can help to intensify the scent without being too overwhelming.
-Behind the knees: This area is often overlooked, but it can be a good spot to apply perfume as it is a pulse point that generates heat.
-On the chest: Applying perfume to the chest can create a subtle scent. - Consider a perfume alternative: eau de toilette is a lighter and more subtle fragrance than perfume. Eau de toilette has a lower concentration of essential oils than perfume, typically around 5-15% compared to perfume’s concentration of 20-30%. This means that eau de toilette will have a lighter and more delicate fragrance that is not as long-lasting as perfume.
Final thoughts on wearing perfume to an interview
Going back to the original question: Should I wear perfume to an interview? It seems compelling to argue that you should not wear perfume to an interview. Instead, ensure that your clothes are clean and that your personal hygiene is maintained. A strong fragrance might be distracting to you or your interviewer, and even worse, your perfume could trigger your interviewer’s allergies, re-surface bad memories or even cause offence. If you do opt to wear a perfume, select a subtle one such as an eau de toilette, apply it in inconspicuous areas and use it very sparingly.
Got an interview coming up? We can help you to prepare for it with our interview coaching.
Featured image credit: Dids on Pexels
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