My Workday Scents: No Loud Notes, Just Presence

These are the perfumes I reach for when I want to be remembered softly—at the office, in a meeting, or on the train home. Scents that stay close, never too loud, but always there. 1. Chanel No. 5 (Eau de Toilette) She’s not “trendy,” but she’s timeless. A clean, powdered elegance—more like the memory of soap than a floral bomb. People say it smells like grandma’s cologne or floral water, but worn close to skin, it becomes quiet confidence. Short sillage, but haunting. 2. Le Labo – Another 13 Like a freshly washed T-shirt worn just out of the sun. Warm, clean, synthetic in a good way. People don’t smell “perfume” on you—they just ask, “What is that?” Great for structured blazers and coffee in glass offices. I even bought the matching lotion. Lifelong repurchase. 3. Chanel – Paris–Venise The underdog of the Chanel Les Eaux line—and my favorite. I stumbled across it in Hong Kong, and it stuck. A floral scent I actually love: iris, pink pepper, musk. Sweet, but with a backbone. I often layer it with No. 5 in summer. Feels crisp, clean, and composed. 4. Aesop – Karst Summer on a Wednesday. Not your typical “serious” office scent, but it lifts the weight of the week. Mossy, green, a little like sun-dried leaves. Perfect with a white T-shirt and a to-do list. 5. Jo Malone – Silver Birch & Lavender A quiet storm. Smoky, herbal, oddly intimate. Smells like burying your nose in a wool scarf in the dead of winter. Heavy enough for overcoats, soft enough for a long commute. Masculine-leaning, but tender. Underrated and grounding. #beauty #fragrance #OfficeApprovedScents