When A Co-worker Wears Way Too Much Perfume..

[Nienna]

I have a new co-worker. She's an older woman and she wears some sort of very floral, musky perfume. Ahemm.. I mean it wears her. We're all gagging on it. It makes my face itch and eyes water when she is near enough for a conversation. It makes me feel sick to my stomach. Everyone is sneezing and coughing from it. It's so strong that the scent is detectable throughout the ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. When I'm out of work and smell something even remotely similar now it makes me feel sick.

I mentioned it to my manager, hoping she could take her aside and make up some story about a rule against scents or something, but she said she didn't want to hurt her feelings and wouldn't say anything. (We're also way short handed and I think she's afraid she'll quit or something.) So I talked privately tpo most of my co-workers and we all agree that this can't go on.

Any ideas on how to approach it without seeming mean? I can't take it!

[Brenda Starrr]

I'd go back to your manager and explain that you are having an allergic reaction to it. That it's physically making you ill/doing damage. If your manager won't do it, calmly take the new lady aside and let her know that you have servere allergies to fragrances. I have had to do this on more than one occasion. Don't let it slide for fear of losing her. It's YOUR health and YOUR olfactories at state.

[Nienna]

I'd go back to your manager and explain that you are having an allergic reaction to it. That it's physically making you ill/doing damage. If your manager won't do it, calmly take the new lady aside and let her know that you have servere allergies to fragrances. I have had to do this on more than one occasion. Don't let it slide for fear of losing her. It's YOUR health and YOUR olfactories at state.

I did tell my manager that it was making me ill... Ugh. LOL

I REALLY loathe confrontation but yeah, seeming like it's going to end up having to happen.. and will probably be me since I'm the only one actually wheezing.

[Brenda Starrr]

I did tell my manager that it was making me ill... Ugh. LOL

I REALLY loathe confrontation but yeah, seeming like it's going to end up having to happen.. and will probably be me since I'm the only one actually wheezing.

I would. No question. My allergies can't handle that.

[Nienna]

I would. No question. My allergies can't handle that.

*cringe* I should have you come to be my allergy representative. Ugh... She acts like she's terrified of me as it is. She gets this whole "wounded dog" look on her face if I instruct her in anything. (And I'm supposed to be training her!)

[mallochai]

I agree with Brenda. Just pull her aside, and let her know that you're really sensitive to her perfume, tell her how it's affecting you. Try approaching it as gently as possible, but don't let her off the hook either, make sure she understands the point of what you're telling her.

[Msterbeau]

Kill the biotch.

[Guest Megalicious]

Do you have in HR department? Take it to them. If not go back to your manager! It's their job to do things like that, let him/her know that if there isn't something done then you will take to the next level of management.

It's not your job to approach her if you don't feel comfortable doing so.

[Nienna]

Kill the biotch.

Heh.. it's getting tempting...

Do you have in HR department? Take it to them. If not go back to your manager! It's their job to do things like that, let him/her know that if there isn't something done then you will take to the next level of management.

It's not your job to approach her if you don't feel comfortable doing so.

I wish that were an option. I work at one of the weird "pass the buck" type places. That and it's family owned and our "HR" person is family and I think gets paid to tell people she has no idea how to help them and to shop. LOL I'm afraid I'm on my own here.

[Guest Megalicious]

Heh.. it's getting tempting...

I wish that were an option. I work at one of the weird "pass the buck" type places. That and it's family owned and our "HR" person is family and I think gets paid to tell people she has no idea how to help them and to shop. LOL I'm afraid I'm on my own here.

That sucks, is it a store? Because I'm sure most of us won't mind writting a letter about this so called "smelly" (so to speak) person. I'm sure if they thought they were losing money they would tell her REALLY quick lol ??

[Hellion]

I have worked with some people like that,also its really bad when someone uses alot of it to cover up their BO.take a shower,then you don't need to use a gallon of the stuff.

[BrassFusion]

Well, you gotta say SOMETHING, but if you want to make it seem less confrontational then your best option may be to be generally sweeter to the lady all the time.

Cookies help, too. Or just making small talk with her, if you can stand the atmosphere. Let's say you're having a conversation about her grandkids or whatever and you're all teary and wheezy. If she's observant and/or compassionate, she MIGHT ask you what the problem is and it would set you up to tell her.

[c0pper]

With all that perfume, she's probably REAL flammible :devil

[BrassFusion]

god, i get the bad rap for being the sarcastic bastard of the board, and I'm the only one suggesting cookies so far...

as opposed to IMMOLATION tyvm c0pp

[c0pper]

god, i get the bad rap for being the sarcastic bastard of the board, and I'm the only one suggesting cookies so far...

as opposed to IMMOLATION tyvm c0pp

FLAMING EFFIGY!!!! W00T!

[Marblez]

I would take Kelly's advice. To soften it even more, you may want to suggest that you actually like the scent but it is just too overpowering for you.

Maybe there is a less potent version of it, like if she wears the perfume, maybe the eau de toilette version may be more office friendly.

If you need a last resort...absolute last resort... ask your manager for a letter of reference. When they ask why, tell them that you will need to look elsewhere and why. If they are shorthanded (and like you) that will be enough for them to say something to her.

[sinmantyx]

I would go the "I have allergies" route. It takes away any sort of value judgement about the perfume. I also like the idea of trying to get HER to ask YOU what's wrong. It may end in, "Why didn't you tell me it would bothering you! I'll avoid wearing it at work from now on." If could be that she just doesn't smell very well and has NO idea that the fragrance is that strong or is bothering anyone. You'll be doing her a big favor by bringing it up to her.

[kellygrrrrrl]

I'd pull aside an accomplice and have a "conversation" about it.....about 2 feet away from her so that she will hear you.....maybe she will catch a hint?

OR you could politely approach her and tell her strait up....Look, I love the smell of your perfume, but it seems to be giving me allergy issues.....

[Head Wreck]

i'm an equal rights beliver.

young, old, all deserve bluntness in equaly brutal measure.

[Brenda Starrr]

Tina must have a a post-wedding psychic moment because Kelly's idea came AFTER she mentioned that Kelly's idea was good.

So, did you tell your co-worker yet?

[Nienna]

That sucks, is it a store? Because I'm sure most of us won't mind writting a letter about this so called "smelly" (so to speak) person. I'm sure if they thought they were losing money they would tell her REALLY quick lol ??

Nope it's a gallery and it's a call center so no customers see her. Good plan though!

I havn't had the balls to tell her, though I have been doing the conversations within earshot thing. I hope it works soon!

[Marblez]

Nope it's a gallery and it's a call center so no customers see her. Good plan though!

I havn't had the balls to tell her, though I have been doing the conversations within earshot thing. I hope it works soon!

I don't know who's response I was commending...hmm...but it sure as hell wasn't Kelly's (sorry kelly, lol) I wouldn't recommend talking about it behind her back..err in front of her. You could then be reported as lowering morale and making HER workplace hostile.

[sinmantyx]

I don't know who's response I was commending...hmm...but it sure as hell wasn't Kelly's (sorry kelly, lol) I wouldn't recommend talking about it behind her back..err in front of her. You could then be reported as lowering morale and making HER workplace hostile.

Yeah, it might be easier on you to do it that way. However, it would certainly make her feel more disrespected than if you just went up to her one day and said, "I'm really sorry to bring this up, but I think I'm having an allergic reaction to your perfume." Tell her near the end of her work day. If she is a reasonable person, she will avoid wearing the perfume to work in the future.

[Msterbeau]

Yeah, it might be easier on you to do it that way. However, it would certainly make her feel more disrespected than if you just went up to her one day and said, "I'm really sorry to bring this up, but I think I'm having an allergic reaction to your perfume." Tell her near the end of her work day. If she is a reasonable person, she will avoid wearing the perfume to work in the future.

If she's not reasonable can we kill her?? :peanutbutterjellytime

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I would suggest Tact.