Certain workplace topics rarely make it into professional development conversations, yet have an outsized impact on how we are perceived.
Personal scent is one of them. We spend a great deal of time advising clients and colleagues on communication, leadership presence and relationship-building. We talk about messaging, tone and body language. But another dimension of presence is just as powerful though often overlooked: how we show up physically, including how we smell.
It may feel like a delicate or even uncomfortable subject, but it is also a practical one. Whether it is noticeable body odor, strong perfume, lingering smoke or bad breath, these factors can become distractions that undermine otherwise strong professional interactions.
Recently, one of us found herself speaking with a public figure at a crowded event. It should have been a memorable exchange. Instead, it was overshadowed by noticeable bad breath, making it difficult to focus on the conversation itself.
That moment was a reminder: presence is holistic. It is not just what you say, but how you show up in every sense.
Awareness and context
The challenge with personal scent is that it often falls into a blind spot. Unlike a typo in an email or a wrinkled jacket, it is not something we can easily perceive ourselves. And unlike more common feedback, it is rarely addressed directly by others. That creates what we might call an “awareness gap.”
Colleagues may notice, but hesitate to say anything. Friends may feel the subject is too personal. As a result, the individual remains unaware, while the issue quietly affects professional interactions over time.
At the same time, context matters. One of us worked with a Muslim colleague who openly shared that while fasting during Ramadan, he might experience halitosis. By naming it in advance, he removed any discomfort and allowed his teammates to respond with understanding and respect.
It was a small but powerful example of self-awareness and transparency. So what is the right approach?
Let’s start with prevention. Thoughtful self-awareness goes a long way. This includes good hygiene, fresh breath and being mindful of how strongly scented products may be perceived in close quarters. In today’s shared workspaces and meeting environments, subtlety is often the safest choice.
Professional presence extends beyond scent, of course. The colleague who dresses as if they are headed to a nightclub — or the one who leans too far into a “weekend casual” look — can also create distractions that undermine credibility.
The spinach situation
Hygiene is different. It is more personal — and therefore harder to address.
Which brings us to the question many people quietly ask: What do you do in the moment?
If someone has spinach in their teeth before a meeting or presentation, most of us would want to know. A quick, discreet aside can be a kindness, but then again, not always.
One of us learned this lesson the hard way while interviewing a prominent U.K. investor known for backing global consumer brands. Noticing what appeared to be a size tag still attached to his shirt cuff, she helpfully pointed it out, sharing that she often made the same mistake — only to discover it was, in fact, his monogram.
The takeaway? Even well-intentioned feedback requires a degree of humility.
When it comes to more sensitive issues like personal scent, the stakes are higher. If you have a close, trusting relationship with someone, a private and compassionate conversation may be appropriate. Framing matters. Focus on helping, not criticizing.
For example: “I wanted to mention something privately because I’d want someone to tell me.”
Don’t get derailed by details
In a leadership role, creating a culture where respectful feedback is normalized can make these conversations easier. It also helps close the awareness gap before it becomes a larger issue.
At its core, this is not about perfection. It is about removing unnecessary barriers to connection.
In business, we often talk about making a strong impression. What we sometimes forget is how easily that impression can be shaped — or derailed — by small, unintended details.
So yes, it may feel like a touchy subject.
But if something as simple as a mint, a lighter touch on perfume or a quiet word to a colleague can strengthen connection, credibility and confidence, then it is a conversation worth having.
Because in the end, the goal is simple: don’t let something small (like spinach in your teeth) stand in the way of something important, like a human connection that could lead to something really big.
