Personal grooming is inappropriate at the table. Do not comb your hair, apply lipstick, file your nails, or, the most recent etiquette violation I observed, apply perfume.
I was enjoying dinner at a restaurant the other evening when a woman, sitting in the booth behind me, applied perfume from a spray bottle. The odor was so intense I could only taste and smell her perfume for the remainder of my meal. My dining experience was ruined and I left with a headache.
Never apply perfume, body mists, or scented lotions in a public place – especially at a restaurant. In fact, when dining, wear very little perfume or none at all so your senses can appreciate the taste and aroma of the food without distraction.
Gentlemen, this rule applies to your cologne and aftershave too.