Should You Wear Perfume to a Job Interview? Definitive Guide!

When you are at a job interview, you want to make sure that you do whatever it takes to ensure the best success! With that thought in mind, people often wonder whether wearing perfume to a job interview will take them one step closer to getting the job!

In general, it is recommended not to wear perfume to a job interview. If the interviewer has any allergies, it can make him or her sick due to sensitivities triggered by the scent. If, however, perfume makes you more confident, apply 1 spritz on the back of your ear to restrict the scent around you.

When interviewing for a job, it’s important to remember that the focus of the discussion should be on how well you’ll be able to do the work for which you’re applying. You don’t want the interviewer to suddenly notice a strong scent in the middle of the conversation and get distracted.

That said, perfume can play a role in your selection! In this article, let’s take a detailed look at whether you should be wearing perfume to a job interview, and if so, what are some of the things that you should keep in mind!

So, let’s get started!

Does Wearing Perfume Help During a Job Interview?

The first thing that you should understand is whether wearing perfume even helps during a job interview! The answer to this question lies in perhaps another question – why do YOU wear perfume?

Some people wear perfume to impress others, while others wear it to feel more confident and positive! Your reason to wear perfume may vary from that of others.

If the reason you wear perfume is to remain energized and confident, then wearing perfume during an interview can help you as it will keep you motivated, positive, and confident during the interview! However, if you wear perfume to create an impact on others, then it could be a hit or a miss.

This is because some people like the smell of perfume, while others don’t. Furthermore, even if your interviewer likes perfume (which is hard to guess), there is no guarantee that they have a similar scent preference as yours as fragrances are a personal choice!

Moreover, some people prefer an interviewee to come without perfume as it shows confidence in themselves.

Is it Unprofessional to Wear Perfume for a Job Interview?

Some people would go to the length of calling wearing perfume to an interview, or even at a workplace, as unprofessional. However, as long as what you do doesn’t interfere with someone else’s visual, or any other sensory awareness, you are in the clear. The same holds true for perfume.

It is not unprofessional to wear perfume to an interview as long as it doesn’t interfere with the sense of smell of those around you. Make sure that the perfume has a light fragrance, and that you spray not more than 1 or 2 spritzes. Consider applying perfume either at the back of your earlobes or behind your knees.

Do remember that people with sensitivities can get troubled even when exposed to smaller quantities of chemicals contained in a perfume.

It is important to note that even though only about 1.7% of the population get sensitized to the ingredients of the fragrance mix, a far larger number of people find the scent on others irritating! In a research conducted to evaluate fragrance sensitivity in the American population, it was determined that 30.5% of the general population reported that they found scented products on other irritating!

Thus, it is important that you respect the personal space of others around you, especially during an interview. You don’t want your interviewer to be irritated by the scent that you are wearing, and decide not to hire you even before you have had a fair chance!

How Does Perfume Help During an Interview?

Wearing a perfume for an interview can actually be quite beneficial! Let’s understand how so –

1. Perfume Makes You Feel Confident

Appearing for an interview, just as giving a presentation, can quite easily make you feel nervous. Thus, you may want to do anything that can boost your confidence and give you a slight edge!

Although the feeling is relative and varies from one person to another, wearing perfume can make you feel calm, composed, and confident! These are some of the most desirable traits when appearing for an interview!

2. Leads to Better Performance

Self-confidence, especially during an interview, can have a significant impact on your performance.

In a study, conducted to understand the causal linkage of employee confidence to performance, concluded that the self-confidence of the person is directly related to the performance of the individual. Meaning, if an individual is feeling confident in achieving a task, he or she is more likely to perform better at completing the task.

Moreover, companies like to consider candidates that come across are confident!

What Perfume Notes to Consider for a Job Interview?

Choosing a perfume that has a strong opening note or a strong base note, can perhaps be devastating during an interview! Thus, it is important that you choose the right notes in a perfume that you plan to wear for an interview.

For a job interview, consider perfumes that contain citrus, floral or fruity notes. For base notes, you can consider going with musk or woody scents in a perfume. These notes will give off the feeling of confidence and help you remain calm during the interview process.

Make sure that the top notes are very light so that only you can smell the perfume and not others around. For women, perhaps going with something like Chanel Chance Eau Tendre would be a good option as it is known to project very softly! Besides, a Chanel perfume typically tend to give a nice feeling of exclusivity and professionalism.

For men, my recommendation would be to go with Aqua di Gio Profumo. It is one of the best all-around perfumes and does exceptionally well at workplaces or even at an interview. The best part is, seasonality doesn’t affect this perfume. It really is an all-rounder.

How Much Perfume Should You Spray for an Interview?

When it comes to applying perfume for an interview, less is more! You want to make sure that the perfume should not feel overwhelming to others. In fact, it would be even better if others present at the interview are unable to find out that you are wearing perfume!

When applying perfume for an interview, it is best to spray just 1 or 2 spritzes at the maximum. You can apply the perfume behind your earlobes or in the back part of the knees. Try to restrict the fragrance only around yourself.

I can’t stress enough on how important it is to make sure that you don’t overdo it!

Tips for Wearing Perfume for a Job Interview

In order to get the best results, it is important that you follow perfume routine that is the most effective. Thus, I’m sharing with you tips that you should keep in mind when applying perfume for a job interview. These are some of the things that I have learned from my experiences –

1. Apply Perfume Just Before the Interview

One of the biggest drawback of using a light perfume is that it often doesn’t last too long. So, if you apply the perfume when you are getting dressed for an interview, it probably won’t survive by the time you reach the place of the interview!

Thus, my advice is to apply the perfume about 15-30 minutes before the interview is scheduled to begin. Reach the location early. It is best to ask for directions to the bathroom and apply the perfume then.

2. Carry a Perfume Atomizer

This is a super helpful tip that not many people seem to be aware of!

It is often difficult to carry a complete bottle of perfume in your bag. In fact, sometimes you may need to deposit your bag with the security before you enter the office!

You May Also Want to Read – What is a Perfume Atomizer? Everything You Need to Know!

This is when a perfume atomizer comes in handy. An atomizer is basically a device that lets you carry small quantities of perfume.

This not only makes your perfume portable but also ensures that your perfume doesn’t get damaged due to exposure to light, air, and other environmental elements.

3. Consider a Light Perfume

Lastly, it is important to highlight (again) that using a perfume that is light in projection can be of great help! Don’t overdo it, and don’t force your scent on others!

Should You Wear Perfume to a Job Interview? Definitive Guide!

Does Wearing Perfume Help During a Job Interview?

Is it Unprofessional to Wear Perfume for a Job Interview?