I am new at a company, six weeks now, everything is great other than my co-worker that wears alot of perfume in my small office, shared with another that is also sensitive to it. It makes me feel nauseous. We open the door to get more air in but that does not completely take care of it. I told her I am also sensitive to perfumes, but she seemed to hold her course. I mentioned it to the HR rep and to my supervisor and at our next staff meeting the V.P. said there were perfume complaints and to restrict the use of it, for some people are allergic to it, including her. Our company manual states this as well. Within one hour after the meeting the offending coworker came in with a fresh dose of it on her. Not sure what to do next, I like my job and company and I don't want all out "war" with this person, but to feel nauseated a good part of the day seems impossible too.....Any thoughts, suggestions? Thanks...

Sometimes you just have to take the bull by the horns and be blunt, like "we've tried to communicate to you and I have told you personally that I am allergic to perfume and you persist is filling the office with your foul fragrance, what do we have to do to enlist your cooperation?

If this doesn't work, the next time she flowers, cough until you throw up and throw up on her.

C Mudgeon

Is people stinking the most common problem around here?

What if you used one of those portable air filters that cleans the air around you? Maybe once you have that running for awhile, your coworker will get the hint!

I personally believe that the best remedy to catch a fly is with honey (and not throwing up on the fly in the process).

Have you tried taking her to lunch and talking with her? Be positive and you'll get positive results. But you need to let you're co-worker know that while the change is good, it can't be temporary. It has to remain a permanent change and that you'll follow up with her about it later on. This will keep her from falling back into the stinky habit she's in now.

Here's a good article about this very issue:

http://www.west2k.com/wpdocs/q45.htm

Wife

I'm in the same situation. My office was recently moved and I now double with another woman in a small space. She basically BATHES in perfume before coming in each morning. Worse, as the day goes on, she reapplies about every 2 hours. Sometimes with a completely different scent. I've been blunt, I've pleaded, begged cajoled. All to no avail. I've placed a fan under my desk aimed toward the odor, sprayed lysol, tried leaving pot pourri on my desk. Just once, I would like to be able to taste my lunch rather than perfume. Some people can't take a subtle hint.. this woman is oblivious to even the direct approach.

the makings of a great biz idea. Since this is a problem, maybe "making" a solution will send you to early retirement!!

Eventhough people are told their perfume is too strong or its not agreable with others, it makes no difference. People that wear overpowering perfume actually can not smell it on themselves because they have become immune to it. It's also a power struggle. Thats the only way they think they can have it.
Ask for them to apply their perfume after work or to only apply ONE squirt in the morning before they leave for work. Tell them that even if they can not smell it on themselves that you and others can smell it. If she is breaking policy, than all perfume and cologne must go.

You can deaden your own sense of smell by dousing yourself with massive quantities of perfume. Your co-worker might even catch on and relent.

I know how you feel. Perfumes not only make me gag, they could kill me!

I have been doing trade shows and twice over the last week, I have had to leave my booth, once to toss my cookies and once to wait until the customer left. I don't know why people need to shower in perfume, but some do.

I can't say anything to my customers, I simply let someone else handle them. Yesterday, I had to leave the booth for twenty minutes while an employee dealt with the customer.

BUT! My employees and co-workers are not allowed to wear perfume or hairspray to work, ever. Of course, I am one of the bosses, so I get my orders followed. I'll send them home to shower.

In your case, I would go to the boss and ask them to enforce the rule and if they aren't willing to do that, you might have to find another place to work.

At the very least, you may want to simply print out this discussion and put it on the woman's desk.

Obviously hints aren't working. Be blunt. Her perfume can't be that important to her, can it?

Tina Brooks, VP Marketing
Brooks Pepperfire Foods
http://www.peppermaster.com

1. How's about setting up a fan blowing in her direction (blows perfume back at her) in addition to the air gusting in "her" face and surroundings. When she tells you to redirect the air flow let her know it redirects her perfume which is causing your allergies to give you a permanent nose drip.

2. Buy a bottle of Lysol and spray in her direction.

3. Buy a spray bottle of Pine-Sol and spray it in her direction.

In otherwords, bring her consiousness "up" to realize there are others in her general area too.

I agree with the person who stated that you should take her out to lunch and talk about it. As a person who likes to spray my clothes after I wash with my perfume (not enough to make you sick) it makes me upset when a co-worker smells a hint of my perfume and then start coughing and gaging as if they are going to die. Just relax, take her to lunch and ask her to reduce her amount of perfume while at work. People seem to respond when you don't approach them in a foul manner.

Good advice.
One thing ide like to understand is WHY.
Why do people wear so much perfume?
I think, some people are gassy and think perfume will cover up their 'explosions'.
Some may think it will attract someone.
With perfumes called 'hypnotic poison', its no wonder some wear gobs of it. They believe it will attract a mate!
At any rate, I have tried these things:
- Coughed
- Lysol sprays
- Wrinkling nose while in visible sight
- Breathing in deeply, then coughing as if i'm dying

To no avail. The only thing to do is report them over and over again until somethings done about it or quit.

Liked the clean air machine idea.