Can You Wear Perfume At Starbucks
A huge part of Starbucks’ success is thanks to its branding. Everyone can recognize its iconic logo of a two-tailed siren on a deep green background. However, it comes at a price that the employees have to pay by following a strict dress code restricting excessive jewelry, visible tattoos, and nail polish. But what about perfume?
According to the official Starbucks dress code, employees cannot wear perfume or other fragrances. It’s because strong scents could interfere with the flavor of coffee and ruin the experience of enjoying a cup of joe in the morning. That does not apply to clients however, they can wear perfume at Starbucks if they like!
That being said, it doesn’t mean that you cannot be presentable and use personal-care cosmetics. In this article, we’ll review the official Starbucks dress code and recommend some naturally scented alternatives that offer a pleasing aroma without overwhelming the flavor of the coffee.
In this article..
Perfume Restrictions At Starbucks and Official Dress Code for Employees
According to Starbucks’ Dress Code Lookbook, employees cannot wear perfume or other heavily scented cosmetics. In the “Personal Hygiene” section we find the following information:
“Please follow all reasonable personal grooming standards, including regular bathing and use of deodorant. Perfume or highly fragrant grooming products cannot be worn, as the smell can affect the taste and aroma of our coffee.”
However, there are many more dress code restrictions:
Color Palette
As a Starbucks employee, you can only wear clothes that fit the following color palette:
- Black
- Brown
- Charcoal
- Gray
- Khaki
- Navy
- White
Additionally, only these clothing materials are allowed:
- Cotton
- Canvas
- Denim
- Leather
- Selvedge Denim
- Polyester
- Straw
Hair
Starbucks’ Dress Code Lookbook states that your hair must be kept tidy and out of the face. Also, hair color has to be either permanent or semipermanent. Finally, the following hair products aren’t allowed:
- Chalks
- Glitter
- Sprays
- Temporary Products
Tops
You can wear tops that don’t limit movement and cover your midsection at all times when working, including when you’re bending to pick something up or reaching overhead. Additionally, your tops have to be plain or feature low-contrast patterns:
- Small Stripes
- Tone-on-Tone Plaids
- Tight Patterns
The undershirt has to match the top color, and cannot feature a visible logo of the brand you’re wearing. Finally, you cannot wear the following tops:
- Sweatshirts
- Hooded Shirts
- Cap-Sleeve Shirts
- Short-Sleeve Crew or V-Neck T-Shirts
Bottoms
You can wear dark bottoms that are comfortable and practical for moving around and working. If you’re wearing shorts, a skirt, or a dress, it cannot be any shorter than 4 inches above your knees. Additionally, your bottoms can’t have any damage like:
- Rips
- Tears
- Patches
- Distress
You also cannot wear the following:
- Athletic, Acrylic, Stretchy Leggings
- Overly Long Pants
- Leather
- Prints
Shoes
Your shoes have to be either black, brown, or gray, but some colored details are allowed. The following shoe styles and materials are allowed:
- Leather
- Suede
- Rubber
- Lace-Up Boots
- Faux-Leather
- Closed-Heel Clogs
However, you can’t wear shoes like:
- Canvas
- Open-Weave
- Open-Toe
- Open-Back
- Sandals
- Slingbacks
- White Shoes
There are also guidelines for hats and accessories, but the gist of it is that you shouldn’t wear anything too “out-there” and eye-catching. While Starbucks allows its employees to express themselves with fashion, it still demands professional clothing.
Best Scent-Free Personal Hygiene Options
Most personal hygiene items, including shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, and body washes have scents that could possibly interfere with the coffee that you’re preparing at Starbucks. However, there are many great scent-free options that will maintain your hygiene without influencing the flavor of the coffee.
Despite being unscented, this 100% vegan deodorant will keep you fresh throughout the day. It can be used by men and women alike and is made of natural ingredients like shea butter, magnesium, and tea tree essential oil.
The best thing about it is that it’s without aluminum salts, propylene glycol, phthalates, and parabens.
Body washes without added scents are incredibly difficult to find. What’s even more difficult is to find a fragrance-free body wash that’s actually good and does what it’s supposed to do.
Fortunately, Aveeno created a fragrance-free formula that’s as good as any other body wash. The secret lies in added oatmeal which soothes your skin and reduces irritation, redness, and dryness.
To keep your hair clean without adding any unwanted scent, we recommend this vegan-friendly shampoo for all hair types. It has no parabens, so you don’t have to worry about irritating your scalp.
Philip Kingsley utilized its 60 years of experience in the hair product industry to create one of the best scent-free shampoos out there.
If you want to guarantee the health of your hair, you need to use a conditioner. This sulfate-free, betaine-free, gluten-free, and paraben-free product by Venicream is one of the best unscented options out there.
It’s specifically great if you have a sensitive scalp that gets irritated by other conditioners because it doesn’t contain any ingredients that most commonly cause irritation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
(Q): Can I Wear Perfume At Dunkin’?
(A): While Dunkin’ also has its own dress code that its employees have to follow, it says nothing about perfume or fragrances. As a result, you should be able to wear perfume when working at Dunkin’, but some managers might not allow it. It’s always best to ask your manager before wearing it so you can avoid unnecessary trouble.
(Q): What Perfume Can I Wear As a Starbucks Employee?
(A): We advise against wearing perfume or fragrance when working at Starbucks because it’s against the official dress code. That being said, a fragrance that stays close to your body and has a light scent isn’t likely to interfere with the aroma of the coffee. It might be allowed at Starbucks you work at, so you shouldn’t be afraid to consult with your manager.
Final Words
Starbucks has a strict and in-depth dress code that its employees have to follow. It also prohibits wearing perfume or any other strong scent because it could ruin the clients’ experience. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t smell nice by taking care of yourself with scent-free options that we’ve recommended.
