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Back to work! Focus! Concentrate!

post #1 of 27
8/16/08 at 10:44pm
Thread Starter 
OK, I am back at work after a wonderfully relaxing vacation. I'm guessing that many of you are in the same boat, or will be in the next few weeks.

Here is my question: Do you have certain fragrances that you wear on days when you want your performance to be extra-good at work? When you know you have a challenging day coming up, or a big project to finish?

I did a search and found interesting posts from pluran and flathorn that talked about particular notes/essences that may help a person focus and concentrate. Their lists included basil, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, basil, bergamot, cedarwood, lemon, grapefruit, peppermint, rosemary, and cypress. Someone else recently mentioned vetiver as also having this property.

I would love to hear what you pull out from your wardrobe for this purpose.
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post #2 of 27
8/16/08 at 10:49pm
I usually pick something citrusy and/or herbal.

Classic colognes like Guerlain Eau Impériale and Eau du Coq are great for this purpose, so is Etro Lemon Sorbet.
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post #3 of 27
8/16/08 at 11:15pm
I agree with tigs - something with citrus always picks me up!

Glancing at your wardrobe Haunani, Eau de Cartier might work nicely.
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post #4 of 27
8/17/08 at 12:05am
Yes, Iris Ganache, Guerlain.
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post #5 of 27
8/17/08 at 12:07am
I think that's when I pull out the Boardroom Vetivers, like Guerlain or French Lover, or perhaps Knize Ten. One of those "you can even trust me when I am under indictment" scents
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post #6 of 27
8/17/08 at 2:15am
Agree with citrus (my new favourite is the gingery citrus Mandragore). Citrus is probably best for sleepyheaded sluggishness.

To really focus on work, in my case, I'd often choose one of our own brand fragrances. Nothing like making you feel like you're at work when you smell "worky".

And a good default for "I mean business" for me is Mitsouko too.

P.S. I'm back to work tomorrow, but for the 1st day I'm working from home. I'll have to choose wisely to snap out of holiday mode!
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post #7 of 27
8/17/08 at 2:29am
I'm a little different, I usually reach for hardcore (Incense based) gear like Avignon, Querelle et al. When I'm needed to perform my best, I need to have some of my best Incense on me
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post #8 of 27
8/17/08 at 2:31am
Timbuktu. I can't offer any explanation, but it just reassures me.
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post #9 of 27
8/17/08 at 2:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by alba View Post

Timbuktu. I can't offer any explanation, but it just reassures me.

Great choice
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post #10 of 27
8/17/08 at 4:41am
I would concur with Eau de Cartier. I use that as my 'working hard' fragrance quite often.
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post #11 of 27
8/17/08 at 4:48am
Something citrusy.
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post #12 of 27
8/17/08 at 9:43am
All of my citrus scents are great for waking up and getting going. Some other "bright" fragrances also work pretty well for me such as the Bulgari tea line (which contain citrus). A couple of my citrus scents have very different characters after drydown, and this is perfect because when the citrus does its job, it is good to move on to something else. Chanel Eau de Toilette turns to a beautiful sweet musk, and Acqua di Parma dries to a fougere.

Leather is more of a power scent for me, and so far I have only tried a "half-leather" to work: Parfum d'Empire Osmanthus Inderdite. Other osmanthus scents seem less leathery, so would fall under the "bright" catgory for me (TDC Osmanthus, Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan).

I haven't tried any green scents, yet, but I think these could also be great for invigorating the mind. I find orientals to be mostly inappropriate so far (except for Kenzo Amour), but I also like the idea of reserving some fragrances for my relaxation time.
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post #13 of 27
8/17/08 at 10:21am
Thread Starter 
This is interesting. Quite a variety so far. Mike and Clemmie, I'm with you - I wore Eau de Cartier the other day and it seemed to get me into the work mindset. People around me seemed to like it, too!

I don't have many citrus, but I'll try my beloved Bergamote and see. Nukapai, I can't wait to try my sample of Mandragore. It sounds like one I will love, too.

Sel de Vetiver and Terre d'Hermes seem to snap me into the proper mode, too. I wonder what it is about vetiver, tmp00?

The other day I wore some Jo Malone Lotus Blossom and Waterlily. It seemed to have a good effect, too. I'm wondering also about tea-based fragrances, mentioned by Asha. Would they do the trick? Giving the illusion of caffeine, perhaps. :-)
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post #14 of 27
8/17/08 at 11:59am
If I want to look and smell business I may go for something more masculine like Bvlgari Black, Jicky and if I don't want to mean business but be taken a bit more serious than Tea for Two is good too.

I don't wear anything special to concentrate more or less, I do know that lavander is suppose to be a calming fragrance.
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post #15 of 27
8/17/08 at 12:40pm
I'm close to a buy on Eau de Cartier (Concentree), and to me that scent definitely says "business".

Day in and day out, my business day varies wildly, so I have different scents for different occasions. Meetings, presentations, demos, locked-in-the-cube, work-at-home, home/office, riding the (bi)cycle - I'm always choosing something to match the day. Among my top work scents are: Terre d'Hermès, Un Parfum des Sens et Bois, Bulgari Black, Bulgari Aqua, Bulgari PH, Hanae Mori HM, anything Ralph Lauren, Bergamote, Chanel Allure Homme Sport Cologne, Armani Code, etc.

Consider the woody violet unisex scent Un Parfum des Sens et Bois for business when it counts or if you just want to feel professional. It smells like a stately executive office with exquisite woodwork.
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post #16 of 27
8/17/08 at 12:54pm
Chanel No19 always makes me feel focussed and sharp. Ideal for work but I also love to wear this for travelling too. It has a totally positive 'can do' effect on my brain. It's also absent from my wardrobe at the moment so maybe I should change that!
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post #17 of 27
8/18/08 at 8:43am
Ivoire acts like a slap in the face for me. It says "I am ready for
whatever life cares to throw at me and I shall accept it with cool,
unshakeable professionalism!"
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post #18 of 27
8/18/08 at 8:59am
I guess I can characterize my work fragrances in four broad requirements.

My "I mean business!" fragrances normally needs to contain a bit of leather. To me, since I have to crack the whip at work, I need the little bit of "bad girl" but not in a sexy way.

My "I need to concentrate" fragrances have to be either herbaceous, spicy or with some citrus. I need to keep awake and focussed for the task at hand.

My "I need to project professionalism" where I am scheduled to do a presentation or speak out at meetings, I need a confidence boost. I go with classics with a bit of green, ie. Sous le Vent, Chanel No. 5,

Then I have those days where I need to relax or chill a little (normally after a big deadline has passed), be the nice guy, or be objective, I go with a non-offensive, easy to wear, pleasant yet interesting choice, ie. Prada Infusion d'Iris, Chanel Bois des Iles, Bois d'Armenie, L de Lolita
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post #19 of 27
8/18/08 at 9:14am
You see, this is why I never go on vacation--the whole coming back to reality thing. Well, that and the fact I have no control over my spastic clients.

Great thread. Flathorn is someone you can trust. She flies a plane in Alaska. Figure she's gotta know all about the concentration stuff.

As a fellow Sel de Vetiver and Mandragore devotee, and being attracted to many of the notes you listed, Haunani, I'm looking backasswards at your question and wondering whether my liking those notes means something.

Uh. Wait, I got distracted and lost my train of thought. What were we talking about?
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post #20 of 27
8/18/08 at 10:04am
I agree with Nukapai about Mitsouko... I wore it recently for a Board meeting and it did the trick more than anything else I've tried. At these meetings I'm a youngish (30s) woman in a room full of older (60/70s) men so it stresses me out. Mitsouko hits the right reassuring note - it's distinctive but warm and friendly, and neither particularly masculine or feminine. It's presence reminds people that you are a woman but without any boudoir sexiness or floral girlish-ness. It smells fresh and contemporary but not squeaky clean nice. It's crisp and focused but with no bitch-slap sharpness or testosterone-fueled roughness. When spraying on Mitsouko, I always feel that the fragrance in itself is like a long-time co-worker leaping out of their seat to greet me with hands outstretched, saying "let's get to work" with a big grin and loud laugh that will carry me through the day.
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post #21 of 27
8/18/08 at 10:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quarry View Post

You see, this is why I never go on vacation--the whole coming back to reality thing. Well, that and the fact I have no control over my spastic clients.

Ghehehe.

And, inspired by the discussion in this thread, today on my 1st day back at work - Mandragore it was.
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post #22 of 27
8/18/08 at 10:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rachelsf View Post

I agree with Nukapai about Mitsouko... I wore it recently for a Board meeting and it did the trick more than anything else I've tried. At these meetings I'm a youngish (30s) woman in a room full of older (60/70s) men so it stresses me out. Mitsouko hits the right reassuring note - it's distinctive but warm and friendly, and neither particularly masculine or feminine. It's presence reminds people that you are a woman but without any boudoir sexiness or floral girlish-ness. It smells fresh and contemporary but not squeaky clean nice. It's crisp and focused but with no bitch-slap sharpness or testosterone-fueled roughness. When spraying on Mitsouko, I always feel that the fragrance in itself is like a long-time co-worker leaping out of their seat to greet me with hands outstretched, saying "let's get to work" with a big grin and loud laugh that will carry me through the day.

Nice description!

I've found Mitsouko to have an air of "I mean business, but I am also approachable". I love your idea of having almost a "the presence of a perfumed mentor" in there.
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post #23 of 27
8/18/08 at 11:39am
Sounds like I need to get me a bottle of Mitsouko
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post #24 of 27
8/18/08 at 1:28pm
Eau de Courreges
Of all my eau de cologne/eau fraiche type fragrances, this is the most like a splash of cold water in the face. It has a pine or fir note underneath the citrus, which seems to contribute to its longevity.

If Empreinte by Courreges was still around, I'd recommend that too, as a dry chypre with some leather characteristics. Empreinte always gave off an air of authority that one could borrow for as long as the sillage lasted.
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post #25 of 27
8/18/08 at 7:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lian View Post

Sounds like I need to get me a bottle of Mitsouko

Me too, Lian! Gigantic confession coming next...

I haven't tried Mitsouko yet (yes, I can hear the gasps all the way from here, everyone). I'm sort of scared to try it. Silly, I know. Especially when I could always use the kind of work buddy that rachelsf so cleverly describes!

Many of you have prompted me to add to my "Samples to Order" list. Dimples, your categories make good sense. Quarry, you had me in stitches. RP, why did you pick the Concentree over the regular???

Obviously, some of this is physiological and a (perhaps bigger) part is psychological. Fascinating...
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post #26 of 27
8/19/08 at 7:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haunani View Post

RP, why did you pick the Concentree over the regular???

Just luck. I was in Sephora, and they always divide the scents by sex, putting unisex wherever they see fit. For some reason, regular is on the ladies' side, and Concentree on the men's. But I think that the reason I jumped for it more was the stronger wood note, which pleases this here woodaholic just fine. I wouldn't want anything lighter (I tend toward EdPs and stronger scents anyway).
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post #27 of 27
8/19/08 at 10:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redneck Perfumisto View Post

...But I think that the reason I jumped for it more was the stronger wood note, which pleases this here woodaholic just fine. I wouldn't want anything lighter (I tend toward EdPs and stronger scents anyway).

Thanks for the report. Wood is good - enjoy! I'll have to sample it, though for me the regular is perfection.
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