Wash the oversprayed area with soap and water if you can get to a sink, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser on the spot as a quick fix — both cut through excess fragrance far better than trying to fan it away or cover it with something else.

A realistic five-minute plan

If you’ve overdone it on your wrists or neck, soap and water is genuinely the fastest fix available in most offices. If it’s on clothing rather than skin, there’s less you can do quickly beyond stepping outside for a few minutes of fresh air and, if possible, removing a jacket or layer that’s absorbed the worst of it. Chewing gum or having a mint won’t affect how you smell to others, but it can help you feel more composed walking in.

  • Sink nearby: wash wrists, neck and hands with soap
  • No sink: alcohol hand sanitiser rubbed onto the affected skin
  • On clothing: step outside for fresh air, or swap a jacket if you have a spare

It’s also worth keeping a small, unscented wet wipe or travel-size hand sanitiser in your bag specifically for this scenario, since reaching for it calmly beats scrambling for a sink five minutes before you’re due in a room.

Prevention is easier than the fix, and our guide to fixing common perfume mistakes covers how to avoid overspraying under pressure, alongside application basics in our complete guide to perfume.