What makes a great office scent? Versatile and easy to wear. Masculine and mass appealing, but not too strong or overpowering. An office fragrance smells like business. Or… whatever you think a successful person smells like. Gordon Gekko. Don Draper. Tony Stark?
There’s no better way to be THE MAN at work than by wearing an impeccable office fragrance. Often overlooked, fragrances are a simple style tip that can help anyone in the career — from entry-level to executive. These are not meant to be showstopper fragrances or elusive, never-before-smelled scents. These fragrances are low-risk with guaranteed appeal and help complement your overall style.
Bleu de Chanel is the President and CEO of the corporate fragrance world until it retires or gets voted out by the shareholders. Bleu de Chanel is one of the best-selling men’s fragrances and sets the standard for modern office scents.
Chanel Bleu de Chanel Parfum
Chanel Bleu de Chanel
Bleu de Chanel is a clean-smelling (and expensive-smelling) versatile fragrance that broke the mold and helped popularize the blue / shower gel-type fragrance trend. And while it has been around for over a decade, it has maintained strong mainstream popularity.
The Scent
Bleu de Chanel is dominated by citrus in the opening (namely lemon zest and a heavy dose of grapefruit), aromatic notes, and a woody base of cedar and sandalwood. There’s some mint up top for freshness and a hint of incense to add depth. It’s a timeless scent that’s been copied by almost everyone.
Final Verdict
Blue fragrances were made to be mass appealing and easy to wear — a fragrance you can blind grab for any occasion — and Bleu de Chanel does it better than anyone. It’s the safest office scent available and a great pick for all ages.
Which Bleu de Chanel concentration is best?
Going by mainstream popularity, the original eau de toilette (EDT) is the best seller. Going by popularity in the fragrance community, most will say the eau de parfum (EDP). However, since this is a list of best office fragrances, we’re going to recommend the parfum. (Although you can’t go wrong with any of them.)
Bleu de Chanel Parfum turns down the dominant citrus notes of the original and emphasizes the incense and woods. The result is a creamier, more refined, and more masculine character — but still fresh. The mint and ginger notes are more subtle in the parfum, but the richness of the woods really shines.
Bleu de Chanel is made to be really fresh, with nice qualities of sandalwood, cedar, and strong notes of citrus and grapefruit. A slightly minty tone on the opening, with ginger and jasmine to balance the aromatic woody base. The EDP is similar to the EDT, with added amber notes and tonka bean. The EDT is a good summer blue. The EDP is a must-have; it perfectly balances the fruit, ginger, spiciness, woods, and ambery tone. More sensual, but easy to wear — day or night. Very versatile.
Price (EDP): $125 for 50 mL (1.7 oz.), $150 for 100 mL (3.4 oz.), $184 for 150 mL (5.0 oz.) — Chanel Official Site (USA)
Price (Parfum): $155 for 50 mL (1.7 oz.), $185 for 100 mL (3.4 oz.), $220 for 150 mL (5.0 oz.) — Chanel Official Site (USA)
Executive Committee
If the head honcho gets ousted (or willingly steps down), chances are one these takes its place. The following fragrances have been mainstays on “Best for the Office” lists for years. They’re established, popular, and trend-setting without being cloned or duped into oblivion.
Prada L’Homme
Prada has mastered the art of soapy, powdery freshness in men’s fragrance — and L’Homme Prada is king. Released in 2016, its signature iris note gives it a powdery-floral character that makes it an unbeatable office scent.
The Scent
L’Homme is an inoffensive, people-pleasing fragrance that mixes between a barbershop and shower gel scent. Fragrance reviewer Monika Cioch puts it perfectly in her Top 10 Office Fragrances for Men: Perfect for the office because it’s impossible to dislike.
Keep in mind that most men’s floral fragrances tend to lean more unisex than decidedly masculine. L’Homme is no different, as the iris and violet notes are the main players. According to its perfumer, L’Homme is comprised of iris and amber, ingredients traditional for Prada, combined with neroli, geranium, and patchouli.
Performance
L’Homme has good performance. It lasts a long time on skin and while the scent doesn’t project very much, it will leave a nice scent trail (called a “sillage”) wherever you go. Most fresh/floral fragrances struggle with performance, and even moreso if the fragrance uses natural ingredients, so L’Homme has very good performance if you consider that.
Final Verdict
While L’Homme is suitable for year-round use, L’Homme L’Eau is a fresher take on the original and ideal for summer use.
The best masculine soap fragrance on the market… a clean, luxury vibe from the high-quality iris.
Bleu de Chanel may sell better, but the fragrance community loves Chanel’s Allure Homme series just as much. Allure Homme Sport may be the king of versatility. It can be worn in any weather, indoors or outdoors, and for any occasion — no matter how casual or formal.
The Scent
Allure Homme Sport is best described as a citrus-aquatic with bright mandarin and ozonic notes and a clean, soapy character. The citrus notes last throughout the lifespan of the fragrance, but are balanced by neroli and cedar notes in the dry down. The orange and aquatic/sea notes fuse with a creamy, almondy tonka bean note that makes Allure Homme Sport a must-try (must-smell?) fragrance for anyone.
Performance
Disappointing. Allure Homme Sport could be the king of fragrances if it performed better. It becomes a skin scent after a few hours (which may not be a bad thing for the office), so feel free to spray generously.
Final Verdict
Fresh, clean, citrusy, marine-esque — Allure Homme Sport is the safest office pick of the Chanel Allure Homme line. Both Allure Homme Sport and Allure Homme Sport Eau Extrême draw positive attention wherever they go.
Sharp, aquatic citrus. Powdery, smooth, clean – it has the classic Chanel DNA. Lasts eight hours, very easy to like… definitely a versatile signature.
Price: $105 for 50 mL (1.7 oz.), $125 for 100 mL (3.4 oz.), $160 for 150 mL (5.0 oz.) — Chanel Official Site (USA)
Chanel Bleu de Chanel Parfum
Prada L’Homme
Chanel Allure Homme Sport
Versace Pour Homme
Versace Pour Homme is a wonderfully bright, citrusy fragrance that’s super versatile and very affordable. Making its debut back in 2008, this fragrance is time-tested, affordable and still very popular. “Fresh laundry” is a phrase used by multiple reviews to describe this fragrance.
The Scent
Pour Homme stands up to the summer heat remarkably well. The floral notes are subtle and well balanced by the aquatic-citrusy top notes. Pour Homme is fresh and clean, but not as much of a shower gel fragrance as Bleu de Chanel. It’s about as safe and mass appealing as it gets.
Performance
Longevity is average- to slightly-below average. Moderate projection.
Final Verdict
Clean, crisp citrus-aromatic… you can’t go wrong with this. Very affordable and won’t disappoint.
Versace Pour Homme is often compared to Chanel’s Allure Homme Sport. (For reference, Allure Homme Sport predates Versace Pour Homme.) Both are fresh, citrusy fragrances that have a marine/aquatic vibe and perform best in warmer weather. Both receive complaints about a lack of longevity, particularly Allure Homme Sport due to its higher price point.
Versace Pour Homme is a fresher, lighter fragrance; it’s more effervescent and works better in high heat. Allure Homme Sport is creamier and stays closer to the skin; it’s better for year-round use and lasts longer. Versace Pour Homme has more pronounced citrus notes, particularly in the opening; Allure Homme Sport is better rounded with tonka bean and cedarwood in the base.
While the fragrance community loves both, Allure Homme Sport gets a slight edge. (Some complain Versace Pour Homme smells too synthetic.) Having both fragrances may be a bit redundant, so it’s probably best to pick one and explore other fragrances.
Hermès Terre d’Hermès
If you’re tired of blue or fresh/aquatic fragrances, then this one is for you! Terre d’Hermès is a modern classic and best-selling men’s fragrance that was first released in 2006. And while it is a citrus fragrance, it’s nothing like anything else on this list.
It’s so complex… earthy and mature but still fresh and clean; a bit dirty but still professional. This is true artistry but still great value for money, plus good performance… the perfect office fragrance.
Terre d’Hermès is a vetiver-based* fragrance with a sharp burst of bitter-orange in the opening. Fresh, but the vetiver and cedarwood take center stage.
* It’s important to note that Hermès doesn’t list vetiver anywhere in the fragrance description. That said, it’s considered somewhat of a “vetiver bomb” by the fragrance community, so who knows…
In the opening, the bright orange battles with bitter grapefruit to give the fragrance an overall clean character, while the vetiver gives it an earthier quality. (“Dirty orange” is a common description.) The original release, the eau de toilette (EDT), introduces a gunflint note (a rare find in fragrances) that gives it a minerally-metallic scent. The Parfum version adds a shiso note, but it’s basically just a deeper version of the original.
It opens with a very prominent vetiver note, but it’s balanced with bright, citrusy grapefruit and orange that adds a sparkling character to the fragrance. As it dries down, the vetiver is smoky but more mellow, resulting in a soapy, musky, beautiful scent.
All concentrations have excellent projection and very good longevity. While appropriate for all seasons, it’s best in the transitional seasons (spring and autumn). The EDT is your best bet for year-round use.
Final Verdict
Terre d’Hermès is an overall impeccable office scent: unmistakably masculine and mature. If you work for someone, then this smells like what the boss wears. A quintessential “suit” fragrance.
Very versatile, perfectly balanced. Bitter orange balanced by the spiciness of the black pepper and vetiver in the dry down. An extremely elegant vibe.
Price: $100 for 50 mL (1.7 oz.), $134 for 100 mL (3.4 oz.), $186 for 200 mL (6.8 oz.) — Hermès Official Site (USA)
Board of Directors
The upper management of professional scents. These fragrances can make any employee smell like one of the higher-ups!
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver competes with Terre d’Hermès for the title of best vetiver fragrance for business. Vetiver can give either a dirty and earthy quality or smooth and creamy. Grey Vetiver is the latter. It’s a cleaner, soapier, less spicy scent than Terre d’Hermès.
The Scent
Grey Vetiver opens with zesty citrus, mostly from the grapefruit but also from the orange blossom. As you’d expect, it leads with vetiver from the opening, but it never overpowers the scent. The citrus and the woods balance the vetiver nicely. It’s linear — how it starts is (mostly) how it finishes.
Vetiver fragrances can have a reputation for being too grassy, smoky, or earthy (dirty), depending on where the vetiver is sourced. Grey Vetiver is smooth, refined, and very upscale — more of a soapy-green vetiver. It’s made for a suit-and-tie office environment.
Performance
Grey Vetiver has good performance. It projects well and has enough longevity to last a full work day.
Final Verdict
A year-round fragrance, but it’s a better spring/summer fragrance than fall/winter. Grey Vetiver is made for a slightly more mature audience, so it’s recommended to try this one before purchasing.
Another Tom Ford fragrance? Beau de Jour is too good to leave off the list!
Beau de Jour pays homage to the classically masculine, old-school gentlemen’s “barbershop” colognes but modernizes the DNA. It’s a genre that Tom Ford seems to appreciate. Classified as a woody-citrus fragrance, and containing two-thirds of the notes of a traditional fougère, Beau de Jour brings all of the sophistication and refinement of Tom Ford Grey Vetiver but is a completely different scent.
The Scent
Beau de Jour sits somewhere between a classic and contemporary fougère. The opening is all about fresh, soothing lavender and spicy-fresh mint. The mint and lavender carry into the heart of the fragrance and are met by aromatic and green-herbal notes of rosemary and basil. The geranium adds a fresh floral touch and the oakmoss deepens the overall scent with an earthy, musky backbone. Further into the dry-down, the scent warms up with ambery notes and patchouli. Fougères are traditionally a gentlemen’s scent, and this is an unambiguously masculine fragrance. Like most Tom Ford fragrances, Beau de Jour is smooth, refined, and undeniably classy.
Performance
Longevity for this fragrance is average. It doesn’t project very much, but it will hang in the air wherever you go, especially in an office or indoor setting.
Final Verdict
Beau de Jour is made for the office. It smells professional, upscale, and very clean-cut. It also balances the clean, soapy character of a classic fougère with warmer, sweeter ambery tones.
The only concern is if this scent appeals strictly to older gents (which fougères typically do). While Tom Ford did try to blend traditional and modern ingredients, Beau de Jour has a vintage feel to it. Try this one before you buy.
Beau de Jour is fine for year-round use, but it’s best in the spring and summer.
Tom Ford is amazing when it comes to elegant, sophisticated, and appealing scents – this checks all the boxes. Incredible if you like fougère fragrances. A beautiful lavender, powdery, a little minty up top… you’re going to smell like you own the place.
While some perfume houses merely make “barbershop”-inspired scents, Penhaligon’s actually began as a barbershop in London in the 1860s. Its first fragrance dates all the way back to 1872, and its oldest (still available) fragrance Blenheim Bouquet was commissioned for the Duke of Marlborough in 1902.
Sartorial is described as inspired by the scents of the workroom at Norton & Sons, Bespoke Tailors at No. 16 Savile Row, re-creating the perfect illusion of a tailor’s workroom. It only makes sense that this fragrance would pair well with a suit and tie.
The Scent
Released by the British perfume house Penhaligon’s in 2010, Sartorial is a modern take on the classic fougère. It has traditional fougère ingredients (lavender, tonka bean), modern fougère notes (cardamom, patchouli, oakmoss), and some unique ingredients, too. (Beeswax, honey, and a steam accord.) A gentlemen’s cologne — indisputably masculine and delightfully powdery — the main players in the opening are the lavender (fresh), honey (sweet), spicy/green herbal notes, and pleasant metallic notes (meant to mimic the scent of sewing needles). The fragrance takes on floral and woody notes as it dries down.
Sartorial is old-fashioned (but not dated) and has an almost palpable old-timey barbershop feel. If you’re familiar with Brut 33 from Fabergé, consider Sartorial a posh version of that cologne.
Performance
Above average for projection and longevity.
Final Verdict
Sartorial is designed for a more mature crowd. It’s appropriate for year-round use, but better in mild weather. Suitable for formal or business casual events. A dapper scent for classy gents.
Elevated working-man scents. These fragrances stand out from the crowd but are still accessible for all levels of the corporate hierarchy.
Montblanc Explorer
Before we start, let’s get something out of the way. Yes, Explorer is considered by many to be an Aventus clone. That said, Explorer is an excellent fragrance and can stand on its own merit. You also may be surprised that when compared side by side, many people like Explorer better than the much more hyped (and much more expensive) Creed Aventus.
The Scent
Explorer is heavy on the ambroxan and akigalawood, and bergamot in the opening, which makes it fresh and easily wearable. It perfectly balances the fruity, sweet citrusy notes with the deep, earthy vetiver and patchouli base notes. Explorer is a straight-forward fragrance. There aren’t a ton of notes and it’s a bit more synthetic smelling than other fragrances in this list. That’s not a bad thing, but be aware if you prefer more natural smelling scents. Explorer is a crowd-pleasing, affordable option that’s perfect for the office.
Woody with an explosive citrus note. The definition of smelling good with simplicity.
In 1916, the Italian perfume house Acqua di Parma released its first fragrance, Colonia, as a citrusy floral men’s cologne. Colonia Essenza was released in 2010 to be a more mature and sophisticated version of the original Colonia. It keeps the bright citrus and soft florals of the original (although it trades lavender for neroli and jasmine), but it strengthens the base with amber and musk. The result is a deeper, more modern, and more masculine addition to the Colonia Collection.
Acqua di Parma has a stellar reputation with fragrance aficionados, and Colonia Essenza is one of its most popular releases.
The Scent
Like the original Colonia, Colonia Essenza opens with a sharp burst of citrus. There’s sweet (orange, mandarin, bergamot) and bitter (lemon, grapefruit) notes that set the tone early with lively, zesty citrus. The citrus is complemented with clean white florals (neroli, jasmine) and deepened with base notes with amber, vetiver, patchouli, and clean white musk. There are also some aromatic notes listed, but this is still a citrus-forward scent with florals (though not as floral as the original) and some darker, richer base notes to give it a more masculine edge.
Performance
Very good, especially for an eau de cologne. It projects well, as colognes usually do, but has incredible longevity.
Final Verdict
Colonia Essenza is a modern version of a classic Italian gentleman’s cologne, so it couldn’t be more perfect for the office. While the original Colonia was strictly for spring and summer days, Colonia Essenza gets better year-round use, day or night. This one likely appeals more to a slightly older demographic.
Price: £92 for 50 mL (1.7 oz.), £129 for 100 mL (3.4 oz.) *** — Acqua di Parma (UK)
*** Acqua di Parma does not ship to the United States through its corporate website. Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue both sell a 50 mL (1.7 oz.) bottle for $137 and a 100 mL (3.4 oz.) bottle for $191. Sephora sells a 100 mL (3.4 oz.) bottle for $181. If you’re not purchasing in the United States, you may be better off purchasing directly from Acqua di Parma.
Advisory Board
Fragrances that aren’t retired but are past their glory days. While newer scents may get more attention, these fragrances have stood the test of time and have outlasted countless “trends” in men’s perfumery.
Dior Eau Sauvage
Dating back to 1966, Eau Sauvage is a citrus aromatic that makes expert use of natural ingredients. (As opposed to some of today’s synthetic-dependent fragrances.) I know the words “timeless” and “classic” are thrown around casually, but Eau Sauvage is worthy of the praise.
(Just FYI, it smells nothing like Dior Sauvage.)
The Scent
The opening is herbal and citrusy with notes of lemon, bergamot and basil. The heart of the fragrance introduces earthy, woody vetiver, oakmoss, and hedione (the first fragrance to use this now famed ingredient). It’s not overly floral and uses green, aromatic herbal notes (rosemary, basil) and vetiver to balance the sharp citrus notes in the opening.
Citrus, a touch of herbal-aromatic facets, and woods. A classic that will never go out of style.
Eau Sauvage has soft projection and moderate longevity. It’s not meant to fill a room, and may need to be reapplied throughout the day.
Final Verdict
Eau Sauvage is masculine citrus cologne that’s mature, polished, and understated. It can be worn year-round, but is better in warmer weather. Eau Sauvage will appeal more to an older crowd.
The oldest fragrance on our list. Guerlain Vétiver was originally released and sold as a unisex fragrance pre-20th century until it was reformulated/reissued as a men’s cologne in 1959. (It wasn’t released worldwide until 1961.) The version of Vétiver sold today is the formula first created in 1959 and is the epitome of a classic French men’s cologne.
The Scent
If it wasn’t obvious, Vétiver is a vetiver-based fragrance. It’s balanced with fresh citrus top notes (orange, bergamot, lemon) that clean up it considerably. (Vetiver is often used as a bitter and earthy fragrance note.) The citrus isn’t dominant but it keeps the vetiver from being too dirty. The heart of the fragrance is spicy (nutmeg and pepper), slightly sweet (tonka bean), and a little green and herbal (tobacco leaf). The spices and tobacco help warm the vetiver in way that it’s still clean, still grassy, but now has a smoldering feel to it.
Vetiver can be a strong (and off-putting) note for those unfamiliar with it, but this is a great intro to vetiver. (Similar to Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver.) A timeless scent — it’s 60+ years old and still smells modern.
Performance
Exactly what you want from an office fragrance. Outstanding longevity and it projects well without being too intrusive.
Final Verdict
A professional’s fragrance. Chic but very masculine. Woody and earthy but still fresh and clean. Vintage but not dated. This could be a great year-round scent, but it’s more suited for warmer weather. As said, it’s not “old” by any stretch, but younger professionals may want to try something different. Fantastic scent for older professionals.
A classic vetiver that features the note in way that’s very accessible and smells clean and gentlemanly. There’s citrus up front — lots of lemon and bergamot — and a bright cleanliness that’s immediately backed by some dry woods, but still quite fresh. There’s more texture here, almost a bitter quality (which vetiver can definitely have), but it’s blended to perfection.
The youngest fragrance on the Advisory Board, L’Eau d’Issey released in 1994. It predates the original Acqua Di Giò (the best-selling men’s fragrance of the 2000s) and undoubtedly influenced many of today’s fresh fragrances.
The Scent
The yuzu is the star of the show, which gives it a distinct citrusy-sour scent that’s very unique to this fragrance. As it dries down, the bite from the tart citrus and spices mellows, allowing the creamier base notes to round everything out.
Performance
Longevity is excellent for a fresh fragrance, and it projects well.
Final Verdict
After all these years, L’Eau d’Issey is still a stylish office pick. (And very affordable!) Good for warmer weather.
In the business world, consultants are brought in to provide specialized knowledge – or to provide backup when the stakes are high. They’re also handsomely paid for their services. If you’re looking to (seriously) up your fragrance game and aren’t concerned with price — these are worth a look.
Parfums de Marly Percival
“Blue” fragrances dominate the business world, and for good reason. They smell clean, professional, and inoffensive. There’s nothing about Percival that hasn’t been done before by fragrances like Bleu de Chanel, Dior Sauvage, or Versace Dylan Blue — but Percival does it better than anyone else.
The Scent
Percival opens with citrus (bergamot, mandarin), lavender, and geranium. It’s very fresh and slightly powdery. There are some green aromatic notes and some spices (notably mint and pink pepper), and then the ambergris hits you. The ambergris lasts throughout the life of the scent. (Important to note that ambergris isn’t listed by Parfums de Marly, but multiple reviewers detected this ingredient.) Percival uses balsam fir and musk to create a woody core that’s not too heavy.
Percival is often compared to Montblanc Legend, which took heavy influence from Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch (the scent they used in the stores). Percival is a much more genteel fragrance than the more youthful Abercrombie & Fitch fragrances, so you don’t need to worry there.
Performance
Great. It projects well (but not too powerful for an office scent) and last a full day.
Final Verdict
Percival is versatile enough to be worn to a board meeting or to the park. It’s a people pleasing scent that’s safe for all ages. Percival was created as a summertime fragrance (and it stands up to the summer heat admirably), but you can wear this all year.
We could’ve picked a safer, more mainstream-friendly fragrance from Roja Parfums. Elysium Pour Homme, the flagship of the house, is an extravagantly fresh citrus scent. Vetiver Pour Homme is a more opulent version of a vetiver-based men’s fragrance. APEX is a refined take on a classic, foresty Chypré, which is a fragrance style almost built for the office. That said, Burlington 1819 is scent that stands apart from everything else — even in the world of niche perfumery.
The Scent
Most of Roja’s fragrances are bold with the citrus, and Burlington 1819 is no exception. From the get-go, there’s a bite of bitter citrus (grapefruit, lime, mandarin), ginger, and mint to add an herbal, spicy-fresh accent. It starts very citrus heavy — fresh, sharp, and effervescent — and then takes an interesting turn.
There’s oakmoss that adds green, earthy tones to complement the aromatic top notes. There are spicy notes of saffron, cinnamon, and cumin — but they’re mostly in the background. There’s rum, tobacco, vanilla, and benzoin — but it’s not boozy or smoky or sweet. No single ingredient overpowers the scent; they’re all just present. Finally, there’s a musky-salty ambergris accord that lasts throughout the life of the scent.
This fragrance contains a diverse collection of ingredients that are blended masterfully. A citrus and woody fragrance that’s a statement piece — very unique and grand.
Performance
Incredible. The scent seems to last forever. It projects very well, but stops just short of being too invasive. It creates a beautiful scent bubble that lasts for hours. Truly impressive performance.
Final Verdict
This is not for fragrance novices. The amount of different notes can be overwhelming for someone who’s newer to the fragrance world, but Roja is very precise with the ingredients used.
Wear this when you’re trying to close the biggest sale of your life. It’s a black tie-worthy scent that can be worn any time of year.
One of the wealthiest smelling fragrances of all time. Luxurious citrus, aromatic spices, amber, rum… very long lasting. It smells complex — unlike anything you’ll find at cheaper price ranges. This smells like its price tag.
Due to nonstop price increases, (alleged) reformulations, and recent performance complaints, we’re hesitant to recommend Creed fragrances. However, Creed has been a staple of the luxury fragrance market for decades and still has a loyal following of fragrance enthusiasts. It’s worthy of a mention. Creed also has a number of exceptional “fresh and clean” scents. Almost every fragrance from the house is office appropriate.
The Scent
Silver Mountain Water is ozonic and gloriously fresh; it has a sharp citrus bite, a touch of powder, and a musky base. According to Creed, the scent was inspired by the Swiss Alps and is supposed to radiate a pure, icy freshness. It opens with a burst of citrus (bergamot, lemon), a discrete blackcurrant note in the heart, and an herbal green tea note — all resting on a creamy, woodsy base of sandalwood (a popular ingredient in Creed fragrances) to add a calming nature to the scent. There’s nothing groundbreaking to this fragrance, but it’s a high-quality, pleasant scent that people love.
Performance
Disappointing. Poor performance seems to be a recurring complaint for Creed fragrances in recent years. Silver Mountain Water does not last long (you’ll need to reapply throughout the day) and does not project very much.
Final Verdict
This is a great summertime scent. It can be worn anywhere — you could wear this to the gym or to a wedding. If not for poor performance, it would be a perfect 10.
A word of caution: some people dislike the inky-metallic vibes of Silver Mountain Water. (Like pen ink, or an ink well.) It’s not an issue for the vast majority of people, but just be aware.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Creed’s Original Vétiver, even as a second option.
Original Vétiver is an elegant, green soapy fragrance that’s wonderful for year-round office use. We went with Silver Mountain Water because it’s the more popular fragrance — and because we already have a number of vetiver-based scents on this list. If you’re looking for an earthier “green and clean” alternative to the more shower fresh Silver Mountain Water — then look no further than Original Vétiver.
Unfortunately, Original Vétiver suffers from the same performance issues as many Creed fragrances. It doesn’t project much nor does it last very long.
Interviewing
Due to recent retirements (and dismissals), our “Best Office Fragrance” list is hiring! These fragrances come highly recommended and have superior pedigrees in the fragrance world, but they need more time to prove they’re the best candidate for this list.
Dior Homme
The original Dior Homme was VERY office inappropriate. It was a sensual, powdery-lipsticky iris scent. The NEW Dior Homme (reformulated and relaunched in 2020) is much different. It felt the wrath of the entire fragrance community when first relaunched due to the new formulation, but it’s a good fragrance. It’s being considered for a spot on our list.
Retired
Legendary fragrances that were put into retirement (i.e. discontinued). They’re sorely missed by the community and we hope to see them re-enter the workforce one day.
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Giò Profumo
Acqua Di Giò Profumo was our #1 office fragrance before it was unceremoniously discontinued.
In 2023, Armani released Acqua Di Giò Parfum to replace Profumo. While reviewers agree the two are very similar, most still prefer Profumo. Parfum is fresher, more like the original Acqua Di Giò, but it lost some of the character that made Profumo so special.
It feels strange not having Acqua Di Giò on a best office fragrance list. The Parfum was the presumed successor to Profumo, but gifting a spot to the Parfum felt nepotistic — like Profumo had named its unqualified son-in-law to take its position. We couldn’t do it. Parfum will have to earn its way on the list.
Prada Amber Pour Homme
Amber Pour Homme, the very first men’s fragrance released by Prada, has been tragically discontinued and removed from our list. It is still available on some retail sites, but no longer listed on Prada’s official website. Buy it while you still can.
Update: Amber Pour Homme is now listed on Prada’s international website, but not on the US website. We’re hoping it’s the start of a comeback!
Fired
These fragrances were once gainfully employed on our “Best Office Fragrance” list, but it just wasn’t working out. They’ve been terminated from the list. 🙁
Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Toilette
YSL reformulated the original Y EDT in 2022 to “improve performance and packaging.” While YSL never announced any changes to the fragrance formulation, most reviewers agree the scent changed considerably. The new scent is less suited for the workplace and more of an everyday scent. Thus, it has been removed from our list.
Old Review
The Eau de Parfum (EDP) from Yves Saint Laurent’s Y series may be the most popular, but Y Eau de Toilette (EDT) is the better office choice and better for the spring and summer. Y EDP projects better and lasts longer, but that’s not always ideal for a professional setting. You don’t want an office scent that’s too overpowering.
The Scent
Y EDT is fresher and less sweet than the EDP. It’s heavier on the citrus and aldehydes in the opening, slightly soapy, and settles into a marine-ambergris accord with subtle notes of incense. There is also a prominent apple note in the mid, which sets it apart from other fragrances in this group. The ambroxan in Y EDT is present but not as dominant as something like Dior Sauvage. Like the others, this is a very people-pleasing fragrance.
Updated (2022) Scent: While YSL claims the 2022 reformulation only to strengthen performance, most fragrance reviewers agree the scent is different. The violet leaf from the original is gone and lavender has taken its place. It’s a fresh and clean scent with a woodier base, but it lost the aquatic-marine vibe of the original. The opening isn’t as bright; the citrus and the aldehydes are dialed back. The balsam fir in the original has been replaced by cedar and vanilla, which adds a creamier woody base with a touch of sweetness from the vanilla. The ambroxan is still there in background. It’s a more dressed up fragrance. YSL lists sage and geranium as ingredients, but the new scent isn’t heavy on aromatics and only slightly floral. The added incense doesn’t have much effect on the fragrance.
Performance
Y EDT was reformulated and re-released in 2022 to improve performance. While some reviewers complain about performance, most find longevity to be average- to above-average. Projection starts out strong but wanes after a couple of hours.
Final Verdict
While Y EDT is a great fragrance in its own right, it does draw comparisons to other blue/ambroxan fragrances like Versace Dylan Blue and Dior Sauvage. Consider Y EDT if you’re looking for something less ambroxan-heavy than Sauvage. Y EDT is a year-round scent that’s great in warmer weather, and also a great choice for young professionals.
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