The suggestion to use Listerine, or anything with huge amounts of alcohol is not a good one. My dentist recommended the latest Crest Pro Health offering, which does not use alcohol. The reason? Alcohol, when it evaporates, dries out your gums and if you have any hint of gum disease (or worse, periodontal disease), your gums will never heal. It sounds good at first, as you will be killing all those nasty bacteria… but if your gums are constantly dried out, they will never “seal up” against your teeth again. The bacteria are always going to win out, so just like you would seal up around a leaky window to keep out the wind, let your gums heal.

How can your mouth dry out when it’s always got spit in it?

I definitely agree with making sure you’re cleaned. Also, make sure you’re groomed too. A few guys in my office come in obviously missing a few whiskers while shaving. Some of them don’t shave for days because they think they don’t grow beards, then they show up with 20-30 1-inch hairs all over their face.

One other thing. Deodorant is very important, but also important is if you cook highly-seasoned foods at home (more “ethnic” dishes), please be sure your work clothes aren’t in range to absorb the smell. A guy I work with always smells like spiced tomato sauce, and it’s very pugnant.

Buying separates also works for jacket & tie workplaces.

But most etiquette guides for men I’ve seen discourage _any_ fragrance at work.

I don’t floss often enough, but using an oral rinse (either the new Crest or old generic alcohol) has substantially reduced tooth decay for me.

I usually buy clothes from thrift shops, though I dont always get what I want, I regularly look through their clothes and find a branded shirt/pant/coat which is in impeccable condition.
That’s how I save on clothes and not compromise on branded stuff. Works for me. Same goes for shoes to. Patience is the key here though.

“also important is if you cook highly-seasoned foods at home (more “ethnic” dishes), please be sure your work clothes aren’t in range to absorb the smell. A guy I work with always smells like spiced tomato sauce, and it’s very pugnant.”

Clever Dude, I’m SOOO glad you said that! A couple years ago, I had a roommate who cooked with African and Asian spices all the time and my close friends (the honest ones) always commented that I smelled like the spices. My bedroom was even very far away from the kitchen. I started putting a small bowl of baking soda in my closet and put a towel at the bottom of the closet door to help seal it. May seem extreme, but it stopped me from walking around smelling like a restaurant all the time.

alcohol does dry out your mouth although im not quite sure how if you have used mouth wash containing alcohol u should have noticed that it does indeed make it dry and makes your breath much worse and also how you say you floss to reduce dental bills that is a consern beacause you need to be checked on at least twice a year wether your teeth apear/feel clean or not

(Tending to clothing is an invaluable skill to learn)
just so you know invaluably means it is not useful

I liked this article. Found it to be very helpful. By the way, “invaluable” means priceless. Shoulda used a dictionary before you critique someone.

Mouthwash kills bacteria. Very helpful at first, but it kills the good bacteria as well - the ones that actually help maintain good breath. (Coffee does the same thing.) Therefore, mouthwash acually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy leading you to consume more and more. Use it occasionally when you have a real need and just brush and floss the rest of the time. Flossing is important because it cleans out the junk between your teeth which can smell very foul after a few days buildup.

Great post. I’m off to the consignment store for more buys for hubby. He usually goes to the nearby thrift store, but I’ve wanted to check out the men’s consignment store.

Just a note for any stay at home parents and work-at-homers. Dress for work, even if you don’t go to work. It’ll make your day go better. I homeschool, and I notice my kiddos learn better and are more focused when I dress the part of teacher. Not formal, but neat. I’ve ditched those over-sized or scrubby t-shirts and pants with holes in the knees. I opt for “playground casual” instead. I try to remember earrings. I don’t wear make up or fragrance due to some family sensitivities, mine and my son’s, but I do scrub my face and fix my hair. You’ll be setting a good example for those little sponges.

Wearing fragrances at work is terrible. 99% of the men I have come in contact with, reak of the scent and about 50% of those men can be smelled before they even enter the building. Women are the same only they have another offense as well. Scented lotion. Scents should be left at home.

Tongue cleaners! Most of the bad breath bacteria sits on your tongue. Brushing the tongue is not enough. A metal tongue cleaner works best. They make you feel clean all day long!

There is a growing awareness about sensitivities to scented products. I’ve worked in offices where there were policies regarding perfumes, etc. Some of these are highly toxic chemicals. One thing to consider is stayibg away from products containing alcohol if you are going to take a drug test. I sprayed myself with body spray before going to have lab work done and I tested positive for alcohol even though I don’t drink. Baking soda is good for fresh breath abd salt is very effective for bacteria. My dentist recomended this instead of the comercial products which really aren’t healthy in the long run.

I agree that fragrance should be worn SPARINGLY or not at all. A lot of people are scent-sensitive and some perfumes can trigger asthma attacks. I personally prefer NO fragrance on my husband (he isn’t a cologne wearer anyway). It’s enough to smell his soap and shampoo.

I like to use Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap purchased at the health foods store. It smells strongly of peppermint in the shower, but by the time you are dressed and off, the scent is not noticeable. In this way, I get the benefit of the aromatherapy without subjecting everyone else to it.

Thank you for your informative articles. This last one reminded me of my father, who has always dressed well and made an impressive presentation. I never knew until recently, that he, too, has a small number of clothing items. He has designed a rotation system within his closet for each day. When he purchases a new shirt or slacks, he removes one from the rotation. This way, he is always prepared for each day without having to buy in excess and without wasting time deciding what to wear. I wish he would have taught this skill to his children…

Good topic.

I’ll vote with those who say please please no fragrances at work. I don’t have particularly bad allergies in general… but even sitting next to someone who’s used Irish Springs soap can make me sneeze repeatedly and sometimes start wheezing.

You may think it’s lightly applied, but if you’re used to it, you’re just not going to be sensing it to the same degree that your coworkers / those sitting next to you on the train / your boss will…!

Thank you for posting this article. I think it is very important to maintain a professional appearance whether you are the director or the mail clerk. It shows that you are serious about the work you do, and that you pay attention to details. I hate it when people show up for work looking sloppy and unkempt. I personally think that the reason some peoples’ cologne reeks is because it is a cheap cologne, and is improperly applied. When applying cologne, you should not rub it. For example, a lot of people will spray cologne on one wrist and rub both wrists together to spread the scent, but this changes the scent making it bitter or sour in some cases. It is called bruising the scent. One way to avoid this, and to lighten the scent is to buy an atomizer (at a drug store like Walgreen’s) and some rubbing alcohol. Then you add about 3/4 alcohol and 1/4 fragrance to the atomizer (this can be adjusted to use less fragrance, it is a personal call). This way you get a much lighter scent that is not bruised, and you get more for your money with the cologne. Then apply a light spray to pulse points. Do not spray frangrance into your hair. The oils in your scalp will react with the scent distorting it and making it stronger. You should only be aware of the scent of another person if you are in intimate contact with them like a hug; otherwise it should be a very light hint of fragrance. It should not precede them or make them instant losers at hide and seek. I sell Avon so I have had training on how frangrance should be applied, etc. If there are people in your office who have this problem of overwhelming scent, you can offer this tip to them by saying, “I heard this tip on how to save money on cologne by using an atomizer. Then explain the drections. Then you can benefit second hand by reducing the noxious cloud effect of your coworker without having to tell them they make your eyes water.

I have noticed well dressed business associates with perfect hair, grooming, movie star teeth, with badly shined shoes. No matter how professional they are from the ankles up, the shoes are a dead giveaway and the effect is lost.
I think many do not realize this often overlooked
point makes the city slicker look like a country cousin who just fell off the turnip truck.
When I feel down I head out for a brisk walk and a shoe shine. I feel like a million bucks when I step down.
At home I just line up everything and make a project of it , providing there’s some good music or something interesting on the tube(or is it the flat screen now) The polish and old rags come out, and everything feels new .
No need for fancy cleaners. Inexpensive hand lotion makes a great cleaner for any leather shoe or bag, and and old toothbrush dipped in black polish brings worn edges back . Black magic marker can be a quick fix for any scuffed spots, and Liquid Nails is great for fixing a split sole.

Wearing perfume or cologne is NOT a good idea. Millions of people suffer from chemical sensitivities; I’m one of them. People who wear perfume, even a little, trigger extremely painful headaches in me and many other people.

Unless you’re going out for the evening or to a nightclub, please don’t wear scent. That goes double if you will be in public places like the supermarket, post office, mass transit. Hurting others can’t be good for your self-esteem.

P.S. It does not matter how cheap or expensive your perfume is. It will still make other people sick. Don’t wear it.

Mmm… I actually love people who smell like cooking spices… but I guess it’s not a professional smell!

Thanks for this article…I am going to show it to my teenage kids…you have said some things that needed to be said!! Especially the comment about the strong spice smell on the clothing…this is why I rarely fry bacon in my home - I can remember kids at school showing up smelling like that & the other kids would make fun of them!

Oh people who are “allergic” and whine about scent - puhlease! Can anybody do anything anymore??? I think the stronger scents can be obnoxious - I agree. But I appreciate someone who is trying to be clean (Irish Spring) or at least smell nice. I think the ones who “overspray”, etc. are just out of touch in general - most likely they do and say things that people find offensive too!

Interesting article. As far as personal hygene is concerned, most of my fellow co-workers pack the gear. Due to the nature of our work (chemists at the bench), I have never encountered any obnoxious aftershave or perfume. An added perk is that in this line of work,I can dress in the same manner as I did back in graduate school almost 20 years ago–(i.e. a “hippie” sans open-toed shoes which are considered a safety hazard in a laboratory setting.) Labcoats (furnished by the company) are required. Needless to say, there’s a *tremendous* amount of money saved on clothing and shoes, LOL!
I usually replace my jeans about once a year. I’ll purchase about 3 or 4 pairs (the Levis Classics which usually cost less than $20 per pair)…usually from Target (or online through Wal-Mart) and rotate them throughout the year.

I will also replace my single pair of daily-wear tennis shoes once a year and will purchase them online. In this case I’m willing to spend just a little bit extra (i.e. $50) as I’m on my feet for long hours during the workday.

Susan– you are absolutely correct. I should suffer in silence with my migraine at my cubicle, because being deprived of wearing scent to work would affect the other person’s quality of life far more than being free of excruciating pain while being somewhere I have no choice about being (if I hope to keep my job) would affect mine! How selfish of me, to want to be functional when I’m at work.