ByKat Hours Updated
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Coffee Break: Acqua di Parmi

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acqua di parmaI'm curious, ladies — what are your favorite summer scents? I took a break from wearing perfume years ago when my sons were babies, but I'm starting to get into scents again, and am on the hunt. In years past, my summer scent was the men's cologne, Acqua di Parma; Nordstrom notes that it is “a composition born from sunny Sicilian fruits and a harmonious blend of floral essences such as lavender and damask rose that merge with woody notes of vetiver, sandalwood and patchouli.” (Not surprising, I guess, considering vetiver and sandalwood are two of my favorite scents — I definitely tend to prefer darker, deeper notes.) It's $105-$173 at Nordstrom. Acqua di Parma ‘Colonia' Eau de Cologne Natural Spray Psst: Know your office (and your coworkers) — many readers have noted in the past that they haaaaate working with people wearing heavy perfume.  (L-all) Psst: White House | Black Market has some great sales going on right now — take an extra 40% off already reduced prices with code 62787.

Sales of note for 12.5

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

78 Comments

  1. Stella. I keep a rollerball in my work bag for the hot summer afternoons/ transitions to after work dinners and drinks.

  2. I’m looking for a wallet with a ton of card slots (at least 15). I’d like room for cash but don’t need room for coins so something relatively thin is fine. Anyone know of something like that? I keep browsing Rack/department stores when I stop in but haven’t had any luck.

    2. I have a Marc Jacobs (not Marc by MJ) that has 12 slots, but also room for coins and two bill compartments. I use the coin bit for all of the extra cards that I don’t use often and stick insurance cards, etc. in one of the bill compartments. Before that I had a Chloe with similar room.

      1. I got this as travel wallet on your recommendation and liked it so much it’s now my everyday wallet. Thanks!

      2. I got this one too per Senior Attorney’s rec and I love it! I got the hot pink, my favorite color. Tons of slots and the wallet closes without a problem.

    5. I gave up and got a little, um, book at the Container Store. There are about 12 pages, and each has room for 3 cards in front, and three in the back. It fits in my purse just fine. Inside the front cover there is a clear pocket where I keep a few bills and any receipts or the like that I’m hanging onto.

  3. I have a bunch of rollerballs/samples I rotate between. Right now I’m switching between Pure Grace by Philosophy, Roses by Chloe, and YSL’s Black Opium.

  4. Stella, Bvlgari Omnia Indian Garnet, and Maison Martin Margiela Replica Beach Walk. Rollerballs, all! Love them.

  5. For summer, I wear either Keiko Mecheri Peau de Peche or Kilian Water Calligraphy.

  6. What are your best recommendations for flexibility routines/exercises?I have gotten so stiff ever since I got a desk job a few years ago. I was thinking of trying yoga classes, but are there any good at-home routines for stretching and mobility that you can recommend?

    2. Yoga By Candace YouTube videos. If you download her app you can sort by type of video.

    3. I’ve found yoga really helpful – in the last year I’ve gone from being able to touch my shins to pretty consistently being able to touch my toes. In person classes are best but I also like Yoga by Adriene.

    4. Thirding yoga as well. I like the videos from Yoga Collective (I paid ~$12 for a year with a groupon or livingsocial), and I take in-person classes as well.

  7. This is one of my favorite perfumes. I’ve gone through several bottles. It’s a really clean, unisex scent. Very classic.

  8. I’m really in love with Nest Fragrance’s “Verde” scent, which is a “blend of wild fern and Himalayan cedar in an invigorating balance with verbena leaves and vetiver.” It’s crisp and light–perfect for summer.

  9. Any advice for finding examples of haircuts? Google searches point me to picture galleries of celebrities all made up. Their hair was probably styled by a professional, and so their cut will never look that way on me. So, where do you go for inspiration but also real life practical examples? Or, more broadly, how did you come to pick your haircut? I’m needing something new, but not feeling inspired…

    Or, your favorite haircuts for very thick slightly wavy hair?

    1. Pinterest is perfect for this. I search something like “medium length ash blonde” and find a ton of hairstyles, from home bloggers, professionals, etc.

      1. +1

        I also have very full wavy hair and I can get some good hits with “beachy style” etc. Although, really, I feel like it’s all just slight variations on a theme for that hair type.

    1. My office is aggressively fragrance-free, but I do miss a little dab here and there!

    4. Me either. As a young college student, I used White Shoulders, but then I gradueated to Irish Spring soap, which actually made me fresher then I expected, so I dropped the perfume entirely in favor of strong soap and water for washeing. Now, I rarley put anything at all on, other then Arm and Hammer NATURAL deoderant, which is NOT antiperspeareant. Sheketovits always LOVED the way I smelled. I did NOT like the way he smelled, however. FOOEY on men that put on cologen instead of washing and scrubbing their bodie’s. Dont men realize that we do NOT like the smell of armpits in our faces? DOUBEL FOOEY!

    5. I feel like it’s regional/cultural.

      But to answer your question: not me! Which is typical in my circles.

    6. Me. Every day. Tom Ford Patchouli Absolu. I’m in Dallas, for geographic purposes.

      2. How many people do you come in contact with during your work day, and how physically close are you to them? I don’t care what someone smells like when they are sitting in their own office, but can’t see sitting in a meeting with multiple perfumed people. Achooooooo

        1. I have my own office, but I have meetings with people several times a day. I’m in-house in the beauty business, so no one bats an eye at perfume or purple hair or crazy makeup. But I’ve also never had a problem with it at any of my law firms in the 15 years before coming here.

      3. Me. Every day.

        I like Hermes Jardin en Mediteranee, Serge Lutens Fleur d’oranger and Eau de Magnolia by F Malle for summer.

        1. But thankfully I’m not in the US where apparently it’s a no-no to wear it to work. Most Europeans that I work with seem to wear some fragrance.

      1. Interesting. I am also in LA and wear perfume daily, and based on my experience in the elevator in my building in Century City, so do lots of other women.

      2. LA here too, I wouldn’t wear at work, but always socially. Work in a more formal environment.

      3. I’ve never lived anywhere near there & I think it’s rude too. Save it for date night, if it doesn’t bother your partner.

    8. I haven’t since my mid-20s. It just seems cheesy to me, like what high school kids (and no one else) liberally spray before dates.

      The only person I smell it on in my office is a 50 something assistant who in all aspects of her appearance and demeanor is trying way too hard to pass herself off as the same age as her college age daughter.

      1. These days it’s the boys with the Axe body spray that make you cough and gasp for air!

    9. Me. Every day. You won’t even smell it unless we are hugging-level friends (and I’m not a hugger), but I can smell it and it makes me feel pretty.

    11. I do, and I’m in LA. However, I wear one spritz of Michael Kors, which is a subtle scent, and I mist it over my head rather than spraying on pulse points, so the scent is pretty dispersed.

      I have my own office, though; I wouldn’t wear perfume if I shared one.

    12. One of the things I enjoyed in Paris was catching the trail of someone’s delightful scent as they walked by. Seems common there.

    13. I don’t think anyone in my office wears perfume. In SF and I haven’t smelled it, talked about it, or noticed it on others ever since I moved here.

    14. Small(er) east coast and I don’t and neither does anyone in my office. But then again, there’s only four of us and we’re all sensitive to scents.

    15. only on special night out, but never to work. we don’t have an explicit scent-free policy at work, but since we have a lab, it’s implied that you shouldn’t be wearing fragrances because they might mess up analyses.

    16. Something in my body chemistry changed a few years back and I can’t wear fragrance any more. Anything I owned and loved, and anything new I’ve tried since then turns on me and becomes very unpleasant.

      I didn’t wear it often, but I miss having the option.

  11. I love Jo Malone Peony & Blush and I also religiously wear YSL Black Opium.

    1. I’ve worn Opium exclusively for 10 years , but purchased Black Opium December and adore it.

  12. Reposting because I thought the blazer post was the coffee break post–

    What’s your favorite activity tracker? I’m considering a Fitbit (or other tracker– not set on Fitbit specifically). I am mostly interested in ability to track steps/workouts and chart sleep. I would like it to be water-resistant, if not waterproof– I don’t swim, but would like to not worry about doing the dishes, if possible. Since this seems to be be on the basic end of function, I am somewhat focused on form. I like the slimmer Fitbit Alta, and I like the trackers that have different bands available, especially ones with bands that look more like jewelry.

    1. I really like my Fitbit Alta. It doesn’t have a heart rate function, which doesn’t bother me, but could be an issue. It is water resistant, not waterproof. It recommends not wearing in the shower, and I would probably take it off doing dishes. I have the black band and a blush leather band, with plans to get the stainless band at some point (I think there was an issue with size offerings but haven’t researched to see if that’s been resolved). Honestly, I wear the black band it came with most often, including through a federal jury trial, as I feel its reasonably attractive and low profile. For comparison, I used to have a Fitbit Flex, and I really didn’t like the look of it and consequently barely wore it.

      1. I just received the Bellabeat Leaf this weekend and really like it so far. I was actually going to post today and ask if any of you ladies have it as well!

        It’s pretty (I think) – a leaf shape made of metal and wood. It comes with a chain so you can wear it as a necklace, a leather bracelet strap, and you can also clip it to your clothing. So, while it’s not waterproof, things like dishes are no prohibitive when it’s clipped to your bra or on your neck.

        It does not monitor HR, but tracks “activity” and steps and sleep. It also tracks periods and tracks (and facilitates) meditation. One of the features I’m most excited about is the silent, vibrating alarm. Now I have no excuse not to wake up early and workout because I don’t need to worry about my alarm waking the boyfriend!

        I haven’t had it long enough to provide a full review. But I did a lot of research and settled on this one because, like you, form was a factor for me since I just wanted what have become basic functions. I think the Bella is beautiful (a little large, though, so the discrete clip on option is perfect), and I like its holistic features (meditation, period).

    2. I love my Fitbit Charge HR, but I got it before the Alta. Given a choice now, I’d pick the Alta simply because it looks nicer.

      1. Ditto. Though I prefer the clasp on the HR Charge. The other ones were always opening.

    3. If you really want limited functionality, consider the Withings Activite. It looks like a watch and is waterproof. It tracks steps and sleep. I’m not sure how well it tracks “workouts” that are not running, walking, or swimming, though. It does not seem to register spin class. I don’t use the app very actively, so I can’t speak to its full functionality, but it might be worth a look.

    4. I have the Jawbone 3. It tracks steps and sleep and can do vibrating alarms. It’s a plain band, but I like how it looks–more delicate than the Fitbit because it doesn’t have a display. In my professional context, no one thinks anything of wearing a fitness tracker. I wear it to work daily but would take it off for job interviews, bridesmaid duty, etc.

      1. This is what I have and like, too. I got the black and gold Up3, and it really looks more like a bracelet than an activity tracker. I would maybe consider the Fitbit Alta in the future, mostly because I wish my Jawbone had a surreptitious display screen where I could quickly check the time or my steps.

  13. Kat, I think the coffee break posts are going up a little too late in the day to get much comment love. Could they go up earlier?

  14. Any good tips for working through self doubt? I just relocated from a rough assignment to a great, high profile assignment. But I feel as though I lucked into it and am way in over my head. Everyone says I’m doing fine but I worry it’s only a matter of time before I screw something up…

    1. Trust. Trust the people who put you on that assignment, who presumably know the business better than you and have seen what you are capable of. Trust in your education and experience. Trust just one step at a time will get you there.

  15. Juliette has a gun – lady vengeance. It’s amazing and really distinctive in a good way

  16. Really guys. No perfume at the office. Not just heavy perfume. Any perfume. I am in an office of 14 and three of us are made ill by perfume. There is a reason that hospitals and government buildings are increasingly scent free. It is just not necessary to use products that make people sick. Wear it in the evening or on the weekend if you like it.

  17. I wear perfume most days. In summer for work, I wear Vetiver or Verbena by Jo Malone. On weekends I can wear Escada marine groove which is sweeter but can be noticed if you stand next to me. For the Jo Malone, unless you are in my face, you can’t smell them but I still like that touch.

  18. I find the discussion really interesting. I live in France where it’s very common for people (men and women) to wear perfume, from the morning on (not just evenings and week-ends). I’ve sometimes been bothered by strong scents in the office (men and women scents), but it’s culturally difficult to tell someone “stop wearing your perfume”. Even though it can really make the co-workers uncomfortable.
    But in my sister’s lab, in Canada, wearing perfume is forbidden. And I can understand why.

    1. Helene, I understand where you are comeing from. I once had a roomate from Germany, which is near France. She did NOT like to take a shower or wash her sweater’s. She alway’s put perfume on to cover up her smelley body odor, but her sweater’s (which were cashemere) started to smell once they heated up from her body tempereature. Dad says when he was in France, the women also were like that, tho they did NOT keep their sweater’s on too long once dad was in the room. He says I have some half brothers and sisters in France and behind the IRON CURTAN that I do NOT even know (and neither does he). FOOEY! I would like to know who they are.

      I think if ONLEY women (and men) would NOT be afreaid to bathe with soap every morning, we would NOT even have perfume or cologen to worry about. I have been telling peeople for year’s to bathe like I do, b/c my skin is VERY soft from the regular cleaneing. With sweater’s, if you do NOT have your cleaneing lady bringing it to the dry cleaner’s, just have her use WOOLITE liquid wash. If you have sweater’s, they will get clean, and will NOT have that smelley body odor comeing out whenever you wear them.

      1. OMG. Of course we bathe or shower everyday in France!!! Perfume is not a replacement for a shower, it is just a nice scent that follows you around…

    2. Same here, I lived in a culture where perfume is a must. And now I am in Europe and while most women don’t even bother putting on makeup, they do not leave the house without a dab of perfume.
      I also have noticed that in my home country, allergies are not that common (maybe a diagnosis issue) so it is very rare to have someone say they are allergic to perfume, shellfish etc.

  19. I really like perfume, although I don’t wear it at work. In my mind, it’s in the category of things I don’t do as part of my conscious effort to be seen as a professional woman. I don’t wear blouses that might show even a hint of cleavage, I wear minimal make-up, and I don’t wear perfume to work.

    But if I was in a different setting, I definitely second the rec for Philosophy’s Pure Grace. That and Living Grace are two of my favorite scents — very fresh and clean smelling. I think they’re great for summer. Beyond perfume, I would also suggest a citrusy essential oil. I have a few family members that are very into essential oils, and when they’re wearing citrus, I just want to sniff them!

  21. Everyday and even to work where I work in a cube. No complaints so far but I am careful not to overdo it. Currently, I’m working my way through a 1 oz bottle of Jo Malone Red Roses cologne which got me a compliment from one of my direct reports. Next up will be Jo Malone Orange Blossom cologne.

    I like my fragrances a bit more old-school. I don’t get the appeal of “clean” smelling perfumes. If I want to smell just clean, I’ll stick with just soap and water.

  22. I love the TokyoMilk Dark line. Arsenic is my current favourite, though I have a few in rotation.

    I would like to know how my office can call itself a “scent-free” workplace when people microwave fish and the like in the lunchroom?! Gag!

  23. I don’t wear perfume to work but I put it on as soon as I leave. Current favorites are Elizabeth and James, Black Nirvana (vanilla, violet, sandalwood) and Lubin, Black Jade (a dark, spicy floriental).

  24. I don’t feel completely groomed without adding fragrance. I work in a corporate setting in the SF Bay Area, and I am known as the person who “always smells good.” However, I am careful which scents I wear to work, and I save my flamboyant or earthy scents for weekends, when I choose what I wear for my own pleasure (I live alone). I think the key is selecting the appropriate fragrance with regard to occasion, personal chemistry, setting, and style. When I have heard people complain about a fragrance (not mine), it has always been a fragrance that is too loud for the environment, either in quantity or style.

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