9 perfumes that are classic and timeless for work

Don’t upset your colleagues by wearing a strong, overwhelming perfume in the office. Here are some non-intrusive ones to try.

When you work in an open-plan office or are at close quarters with your colleagues, you don’t want your perfume to be obnoxiously overpowering. This refined bouquet of orange and plum blossoms is both sophisticated and pleasant, surrounding you with a cloud of flowers without spreading its heavy sweetness to neighbouring noses.

Calvin Klein CK2 EDT

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$60 (30ml), $80 (50ml), $106 (100ml)
See www.sephora.sg for full listings

For the minimalist with a monochromatic work wardrobe, Calvin Klein’s 2016 answer to its hit unisex fragrance CK One of 1994 is this urban, woody cologne that’s an unusual combination of wasabi, wet cobblestones and concrete blended with green vetiver and smoky incense. It’s unexpectedly chic on women.

Dior La Collection Privee Christian Dior La Colle Noire EDP

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$390 (125ml), $560 (250ml)
Available at level 1 Tangs Beauty Hall, Tangs at Tang Plaza (6738-6618)

Named after Christian Dior’s cherished private chateau where he planted a lush garden of roses and other fragrant blooms, this boasts a rich bouquet of roses with the warm, spicy notes of musk, sandalwood and Madagascan clove. The scent stays close to the skin, never overpowering the wearer – or bothering the people around her.

Giorgio Armani Sun di Gioia EDP

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$99 (50ml), $119 (100ml)
Available at Takashimaya D.S. (6737-9716)

Bring some sunny cheer into a drab grey office with this warm, uplifting cocktail of tropical flowers. Heady frangipani and jasmine mingle with creamy vanilla and coconut, balanced with powdery iris and a hint of citrus.

Jo Malone Jade Leaf Tea Cologne

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$500 (175ml)
Available at #02-12B Ngee Ann City (6738-6842)

Citrus scents usually tend to be light, but not this elegantly fresh and spicy concoction. Bittersweet pomelo meets the smooth, green notes of sencha tea, and is enhanced with an androgynous woody element from fir resin. It’s a blend as crisp as a white linen shirt.

Marc Jacobs Decadence EDP

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$110 (30ml), $150 (50ml), $190 (100ml)
See www.sephora.sg for full listings

Even though the bottle looks like a clutch you’d carry while wearing a skintight dress and sky-high heels for a hot night out, the juice is surprisingly wearable by day. Juicy plum, amber and vetiver make a sweet yet elegant cocktail that’s softened with powdery iris and orris root. You won’t smell out of place in the office.

Ralph Lauren Tender Romance EDP

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$116 (50ml), $149 (100ml)
Available at Takashimaya D.S. (6737-9716)

If you love all things romantic, this graceful, ladylike scent is great for work. A slightly more mature take on fruity-florals, this delicate oriental blend of pear, ginger, jasmine and magnolia, rounded off by soft cashmere and musk base notes, goes hand-in-hand with ballerina flats and a silk blouse.