Fumigating Your Co-workers

Options for Fumigation

There are so many wonderful perfumes, colognes, body sprays, lotions, aftershaves, scented soaps, deodorants and powders on the market.  You can wear something to make you smell like anything you’d like.

There are also air fresheners, essential oils, candles, potpourri, wax tarts and air freshener sprays.

Where do you draw the line?

 What smells heavenly to one person may cause:  headaches, itching, rashes, sneezing, coughing, dizziness, muscle aches, red swollen eyes, vomiting and/or the inability to concentrate.

Do you want to be the cause of this in a co-worker?

Rights versus Kindness

Many companies are instituting a fragrance-free work environment.  But even if yours is not one of them, please be kind to your co-workers.

If you really must wear a scent to work, remember, perfumes were meant for the wearer or for someone who is very close to the wearer.  It was never designed to precede you in the front door of the office and linger there after you have gone home long into the night.  A little bit of scent is more than enough.

Telling Someone They are Causing You Pain

From personal experience, I can tell you that having a conversation about how sick someone’s perfume is making you, is a nightmare.  No one wants to have this discussion.  No matter how delicate or tactful you think you are being, the person wearing the offending scent will almost always be upset.

On the plus side, they may feel badly and stop wearing any scent.  They may offer to switch to a scent of your choice (for those of us who are allergic to scent (period) that won’t help, but it’s a nice thought.

On the negative side, they may feel you are personally attacking them and file a formal complaint with human resources.

Depending on the stance of your employer on this topic, HR may help you and you’ll be able to breathe again or they may fire you.

Sadly, in my experience, it’s a 50/50 shot.