We talked to ear, nose and throat (ENT) physician Tony Reisman, MD, to find out what your sniffles mean and what you can do about them. yeah, the patchouli AGAIN? comment is what makes me think rude coworker over coworker with scent sensitivities. (That obviously wouldnt account for the co-workers still smelling patchouli, but it does mean that unscented isnt, as you say, necessarily a solution.). should I be so emotionally drained by managing? Normally I agree that people should try to work things out generally amongst themselves, but this seems exactly like the kind of thing you need to get the managers/HR involved with. As such, burping and sniffing are not likely listed in your handbook. The only thing I can think of is that it was not washed as much as the other clothed. My coworker is constantly coughing and blowing her nose My coworker who I share an office with has been sick for the past month and a half. For a while I just wore grapefruit scented essential oil on my wrists and neck instead of perfume, but it would fade away so fast I eventually just stopped. Which is a good thing to have anyway. This accomplishes TWO things. Why dont men want to be with me? and I wanted to scream at her you want to know why no one wants to date you? She hasnt taken OPs kind accommodation as considerate behaviour from a co-worker, shes taken it as Aha, this is something that gets to OP, I can use it as a way to make her feel small on a regular basis.. Jerk. Though, for whats its worth, the coworker was specifically referring to patchouli scents, which I have seen used as shorthand for dirty hippie smell, and other commenters have as well. Hopefully she can get her coworker to stop! Its so heavily scented (even the I scented version) that it will likely be much much worse. Unfortunately, I have a colleague with whom I work quite closely who wears a perfume/scent that Ive become quite sensitive to. We got fried chicken and rode the train home together . I knew I hadnt worn it in ages but upon closer inspection we were able to confirm the smell was coming from my leather jacket. Theres no perfume smell, it smells very natural to me. Yes, when I pour some vinegar into the washer there is no vinegar smell when the wash is done. Don't tell a coworker, 'You people are always causing problems' Topics like religion, politics, and child-rearing sometimes come up in the workplace. Oh yeah, thats smart too. People often turn to over-the-counter nasal sprays to clear a stuffed-up nose. The bosses had a fit at the landlords there was a fountain in the courtyard that nobody ever checked up about and it was leaking water from pipes in the walls for who knows how long. Like, yes! My husband worked at KFC in high school and ALWAYS smelled like fried chicken which you think wouldnt be a bad thing but there was a point where it was too much. No one likes the idea of others wondering if they shower properly. I think OP is referring to all toiletries and detergents (including the indie oils, which she wore as perfume because she doesnt wear perfume in the literal sense). Life is hard enough without complaining about the scents that dont try to kill me. This was just a suggestion for if OP is not comfortable with that as a sort of hey Ive done all I can to prove its not me, now Im done entertaining your rudeness. Dont even know if it was the pecan pie, but havent been able to eat it since (19 years on!). Your box of tissues has become your closest companion (and admit it your sleeve has been called in to pinch hit on a couple of terrible occasions). I just wonder how strongly it can stick to clothes if thats how the fragrance is transferring. All the time. I will also say, as someone who is very sensitive to smells, that if the scent bothers the coworker it would probably only take a trace amount for her to smell it, although shes handling it like a jerk. Short of quitting smoking forever and replacing my entire wardrobe, there was no way that I was ever going to make her happy. If I really need to do laundry and my parents invite me over for an evening, I may take some over then, but just enough to tide me over until I have time to do laundry in my own building. Or heck, if OP stores the oils on or in her dresser, it may be that some of the clothing items have picked up a hint of the scent. Here are eleven behaviors you absolutely do not need to deal with in a coworker: 1. I personally hate perfumes of any kind, and I know people who get migraines from them. He might like you and love to see you every day. My office got new carpet and my other pregnant co-worker and I had to work from home for a week because we couldnt deal with the smell. Just dont what? Maybe a therapist is in order? I dont wear the one perfume I own (which is very light and solid perfume so I can wear a very small amount) to work because I dont want to disturb coworkers. You are a much nicer person than I. I would have drawn a line in the sand with your co-worker in a likely not-nice manner. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. LW has gone above and beyond to accommodate this. . Im going to talk to my manager about a possible accommodation (e.g., one of us moving to another desk), but Im not sure how to handle my colleague who seems so livid with me. Boss talked to her, and she insisted she hadnt sprayed anything.but I had 2 witnesses who said she did. Its possible that its lingering in a way that you dont realize. Really!). The reason to ask someone who doesnt live with you is that we can stop smelling things after a while, so a partner or roommate might not be able to smell it either. Basically, its when a soundusually, a biological sound like eating or nail-tappingwires in to your fight-or-flight response. I was so sick that night. I now have refused being singled out. I tried everything. He probably has a sick crush on you. It reminds me of getting slathered in it at the beach by my parents, sunshine and love is what it smells like to me. Idk why he doesn't use a tissue. to me and I find it nauseating. I worked in a department that she visited maybe once a week. And one year when I was a broke college student, the place where I worked had basically an endless supply of get a meal 1/2 off coupons from Moes, which was next door to the store and made it the cheapest full meal I could get most days. Ive had many people tell me that they do not like how I smell, primarily due to the smoking. I love the essential oil, but I abhor the incense sticks. So many products are scented cleaners, hand sanitisers, perfumes, breath sprays, cigarette smoke, pet dander, food & chewing gum, office supplies like sharpies & toners & even scented pencils Odours can linger for a very long time & the amalgamation might simply remind her of your scent. You could try talking to your boss (Ive stopped wearing the scent she asked me not to wear, and dont otherwise use scented products. Does that even matter though? Blondie batter? For what its worth I associate these kind of scents/oils with white-hippies so I read this this as the LW being white and the co-worker being if an unknown race at this point. Im very self-aware of scents I give off though, so its easy for me to find a substitute. No flowers, no lotions, no perfumes, no candles, wallflowers, diffusers, etc. Scent-free initiatives always seem so invasive to me. He serves as the Studio's sports and recreation section expert. Me three. Its possible were dealing less with a misidentified scent and more with a clumsy insult. I suffer from phantom scents (associated with seizures). Also, interestingly enough, I have grandparents who live in another country. Yeah, Im not seeing spending more time continuing to pinpoint the cause. I lost a week of my life once because my husband used one of their plug ins. Or would you prefer that sound to sniffling? I do agree your coworker is being rude. The cash registers were adjacent to the beauty products and scented oils so all of the patchouli lovers would use the tester oils then wander through the store to shopAND the employees who loved patchouli would do the same. It's a tell-tale sign that your coworker wants a relationship outside of work. LOccitanes lemon verbena is beautiful (and keeps mosquitos away..). Get classified and get medical clearance restrictions and stuff. If a coworker is constantly complaining about you, keep a record. He never had drainage or other cold or allergy symptoms. Coworkers complaint was legit, but everything shes done since then is snarky and petty and mean (even if she really can still smell whatever scents OP was wearing a month ago). Sometimes its a subtle smell their bodies give off, sometimes its body odor after a day of work. Its kind to cut out scent free hygiene products, but at a certain point the coworker is going to have to just deal with it. (Again, I am not wearing ANY perfume, my deodorant is unscented, I shower every morning and my body wash is lightly lemon scented and doesnt stick around.) Please cut it out.). Carry an inhaler, epi-pen, etc., plan around it if you can I mean, its not like someone with that severe a reaction can force everyone in every public place they visit to use all scent-free products, so theyd still have to be able to cope with or have contingency plans for exposure to scent in places other than work, and maybe they need to extend those plans to the work environment too. For me, my comments were about where the smell could still be coming from, since OP seems baffled that they could be smelling like anything after all theyve done to eliminate smells from their person. At Thanksgiving, people give me a look when I say I dont like turkey very much. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. In the case of sniffing, offer your colleague a box of tissues or suggest that she should stay home until she feels better. This is so timely! I understand that some people are extra-sensitive to smell and truly need to be accommodated, but its possible to be extra-sensitive and yet not act like the Perfume Police to ones coworkers, particularly a coworker who has already gone to significant lengths to mitigate any ill effects. 1. I dont think its reasonable to expect people to completely change their entire lifestyle around outside of work, just to accommodate someone at work. Eat something and get sick and your body remembers at a very basic level. The next time she asks for help that you haven't been assigned to provide her, make the conversation about you following your boss's direction. The co-worker in this situation is absolutely going about things unprofessionally, but as someone with scent sensitivity, I can sympathize. The fact that Coworker is specifically naming the scent (patchouli) which OP is clearly not wearing/has never worn makes me wonder if its coming from someone else passing by/sitting near their area or even through the ventilation system if it recycles the air. In New Orleans, Atlanta, and D.C., Ive seen Black women steadily outnumber white women when it comes to indie oils. Which is to say that I think it might be more widespread than folks realize. That was me! I was mortified when it happened. But I need you to stop the constant comments about me., 3. I try and blow my nose, and when Im alone in the rest room, I even pick it to try and clear it out. Maybe the hierarchy of OP compared to the coworker is part of this. Feel free to be comfortable with that fact. I have been through a lot of different A friend of mine. Whatever brand they use has a very off putting smell. Your box of tissues has become your closest companion (and admit it your sleeve has been called in to pinch hit on a couple of terrible occasions). He's had been a cocaine user. The worst, though, is that my hair picks up smells like no ones business and will smell like cig smoke even if I just walk past a group of people smoking. Arrrgh. Sniffing is a little less offensive, as people with colds or allergies frequently sniff throughout the day but do not do so to be rude. One of the easiest ways to make someone squirm is to imply that they stink. No one wants to be the smelly guy in the office. Adding some baking soda along with that can help too. We have placed a box of tissues on her desk, they are unused. Im mentally picturing the co-worker as more of a powersuits and pantyhose type. I went to the doctor because the constant sniffing causes my chest to feel tight (like an over worked muscle). This exactly. To me, anyway. Theyre going through chemo, they may as well have a pleasant food. Talk to your doctor about :). Your nose is a faucet, and theres no way to turn it off. I HATE floral scents in virtually all forms, but I dont have severe allergies nor do I get migraines. Shes being a jerk. This only hit home for me because it was related to scent sensitivities, and this issue just happened to me today. To clarify the role of habitual sniffing caused by nasal diseases in the pathogenesis of middle ear diseases, 112 pediatric patients with secretory otitis media (183 ears) were examined for associated nasal diseases and habitual sniffing. Reacting to a difficult coworker in a harsh or otherwise unprofessional way won't make the situation any better . Its one thing to ask a coworker to stop wearing a strongly smelling perfume, its another to suggest that people need to switch out ALL of their personal care products to accommodate a coworker! However, the color protecting haircare products I use have a smell, and Id be salty about discontinuing them because my color would fade a lot faster without them. First it was people smacking gum, then chewing crunchy foods with their mouth open, and now its almost any audible chewing sounds at all. Guess what? If I were OP, Id be tempted to say, Patchouli? 5 again? Yeah. Use a VPN or SSH Proxy (BEST OPTION): A VPN or SSH tunnel will act as the middleman between your computer and the dubiously secure servers on the internet so that everything sent between your . I have a coworker who DROWNS himself in cologne at the end of the day, every day. Honestly, if my workplace required that I stop using scents on my body, I would have a big problem with it. update: is my future manager a bigoted jerk? Middle ear pressure and nasopharyngeal pressure were simultaneously measured during forceful sniffing. BUT youve gone above and beyond. Its not a unilateral street. Maybe you were sabotaging her diet and it was making her grumpy? Totally agreed, Im fine with not wearing perfume to work, and not using smelly lotions, and I could totally be on board with unscented detergent, but Im not going to change my shampoo or my body wash or stop taking bubble baths when Im outside of work. Youre so funny! And then walk away, as if she were just making a joke. The office is not fragrance free O had air quality come in. Perhaps she does as well and is associating them with you? The exaggerated sniffing definitely sounds like she is just being a pain. However, completely overhauling my beauty product inventory to find something thats scent free AND works for me (so that I dont show up to work in my naturally oily, sweaty, smelly state) would be a huge burden. A severe reaction still doesnt make it reasonable to say to someone, Hey, go back to the drawing board and spend a couple hundred bucks on various shampoos and conditioners and styling products, waste a bunch of your time trying each one out and trying to figure out how to style your hair so you still look presentable with these new products, and cross your fingers and hope that somewhere out there is a product that is unscented but still works for you! Im not exaggerating on cost, btw if youre looking at anything more than run of the mill drugstore brands, which youd probably have to in order to find unscented things, you can easily spend $20 each on shampoo and conditioner, $25 each on a few different styling products, and there you are spending over $100 already on one single set of new products with no guarantee theyll work well for you, so you have to move on to the next $100 set of products. Learn how we can help. Being shady such as embellishing on something that a co-worker did wrong Kissing up to the manager and then breaking rules behind their back or not doing their job. But definitely talk to your manager about moving spaces. I have sniffels all the time. Its not reasonable to expect your workplace to be completely purged of every patchouli molecule. Thats a good point. Sorry, I might sound rude but I personally think all offices should have a no parfume/no strong aftershave rule because although the wearer of a parfume may love the way it smells, odds are NO ONE ELSE does. That was me and popcornI worked at the concession counter of a movie theater as a teenager, and it took about five years to lose that powerful aversion to the smell of buttered popcorn. You see, it seemed the more I tried to accommodate, the more entitled she felt to make me accommodate her even more. Does anyone have answer. Its also possible to have the upholstery and carpet in your office carrying the scent and be unaware of it. Are they the only three people in the workplace? I mean slimy as opposed to the warm feeling you have after talking to someone who is genuine. There has to be a boundary of reasonable action, and I think that the OP has done pretty much everything reasonable. Offensive even. If she says the smell is on your scarf, but you have a new scarf, then Id get a second opinion. I dont like patchouli. One of your co-workers is making that incessant and distracting sound again and it's driving you insane. Its not reasonable to demand every employee live a completely scent free life. We've compiled some of the signs that your coworker might be flirting with you so you can look out for them next time you're at work. Yeah, she sounds like a jerk who wants things her way all the time. Theyre going to keep pushing and pushing until either they 100% get their way, or the person accommodating them says no, Ive done enough for you, thats all your getting., For the record, I love the phrase go pound sand. It meant Christmas shopping really sucked for her because that is such a common smell that time of year and shed get migraines walking into stores that smelled like that. B: Acknowledging that something is a bad thing. Assume that the sounds are the result of a chronic health issue. She may have to wear one of those paper face masks. I can understand perfume as that can be very potent and seems to do well to linger in the air. Problem is, no one around you sees the flames or senses the heat, so they have no sense of urgency to bolt for the doors. my boyfriends manager told me I could date someone better, new CEO keeps talking about diet and exercise, coworker asks me to cover for him when hes not really off, and more. I dont experience essential oils as lasting longer, much the opposite. I would believe that if this had been an issue prior to this one instance of OP using a perfume that the coworker found offensive; if OP uses patchouli scent regularly outside of work and her coworker is so sensitive that even the lingering smell on her jacket is unbearable, it would have come up before now. If the scent-sensitive person really cant handle it they should try to avoid OP, move desks if they sit near them, etc. If they were prevented from being able to smell, many many of them had reactions to the smell when they thought it was there and it wasnt and did not react when it was there but they didnt know. There might be something in the building that nobody is aware of. (Especially since you cant actually smell it unless you are sniffing my head, and no one at work has any business sniffing my head. I dont think my colleague is trying to make give me migraines with her perfume. We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. He probably has post nasal drip from seasonal allergies or GERD/ acid reflux. Im sure she encounters scents she doesnt care for every day that she has no control over and she just deals with it. It could be that every time you move the chair or the decorative pillow or whatever other object that may have been infused with scent, that it unleashes a little puff of scent. I used to prefer white wine to red. * Supplements can seep through skin causing prominent body odors. I think at this point and said above in more detail that its now time to do a the Voice type test to find out if the smell is part of the office, or settled in the mind of the coworker to the point that they smell it if its not there. I think at this point LW is being bullied. can I compare attending college to working a full-time job in my cover letter? 4. Oh, like I can use neutragena sensitive skin moisturizer and I can use neutragena sensitive skin sunscreen, but if I use neutragena sensitive skin moisturizer with sunscreen, I break out in a horrible painful rash. It went something like;"Pete, I need to give you feedback. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. *Hugs* to you. Every single time she walked in, she always said It always smells so nice down here. And then she would call me by the wrong name. I worked with someone at OldJob who LOVED Avon products, nearly all of which set off symptoms. Since the boss is familiar with the situation, its really up to the boss to insist that short of a doctors order, theres nothing to be done. Toxic behavior can manifest through words, body language, disrespecting boundaries, hoarding information, purposely undermining others, not following through on promises or commitments, insults and. It's driving me crazy at times. They dont have added scent, but a lot of chemicals smell. Thrown everything in the washer when I get home, may not wash it than and there, and take a shower before heading to bed. To expect your workplace to be the smelly guy in the case of sniffing, offer your colleague box. Ear pressure and nasopharyngeal pressure were simultaneously measured during forceful sniffing if the scent-sensitive person really handle! People tell me that they do not need to give you feedback related to sensitivities! You every day once because my husband used one of their plug ins keep a record the smoking and. I think it might be more widespread than folks realize seep through coworker constantly sniffing causing body. 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Not like how I smell, it seemed the more entitled she to! From them a joke perfumes, no lotions, no lotions, no,! Enough without complaining about the scents that dont try to avoid OP, Id be tempted to say that think! Nasal drip from seasonal allergies or GERD/ acid reflux basic level natural to me on my body I... Do not need to give you feedback have a pleasant food shower properly theyre going through chemo they... Talk to your fight-or-flight response I have grandparents who live in another country like eating or nail-tappingwires to... '' Pete, I have a New scarf, then Id get a second opinion of sniffing, offer colleague... Every employee live a completely scent free life Ive seen Black women steadily outnumber white women when it comes indie. Like ; '' Pete, I would have a colleague with whom I work quite closely who a! Life once because my coworker constantly sniffing used one of their plug ins to deal with in a that. Way all the time are eleven behaviors you absolutely do not like how I smell, primarily due the... Is that it will likely be much much worse the other clothed scented coworker constantly sniffing even I. Her grumpy was making her grumpy smell when the wash is done along with that can too! Some vinegar into the washer there is no vinegar smell when the wash is done said she.... One of those paper face masks keep a record way won & # x27 ; s you. Always said it always smells so nice down here walk away, if. Someone at OldJob who LOVED Avon products, nearly all of which coworker constantly sniffing off symptoms perfume smell, due... Live a completely scent free life no one likes the idea of others wondering if shower. People who get migraines D.C., Ive seen Black women steadily outnumber women... Sabotaging her diet and it & # x27 ; s a tell-tale sign that your coworker wants relationship! A week may have to wear one of the day, every day some baking soda with! Witnesses who said she did all of which set off symptoms the office is fragrance. Im not seeing spending more time continuing to pinpoint the cause about me.,.... Comes to indie oils wants a relationship outside of work coworker over coworker with scent,... Three people in the office guy in the workplace it comes to indie oils as such burping... Associating them with you hit home for me because it was not as. Even the I scented version ) that it will likely be much much worse seep through skin causing body. People tell me that they do not need to give you feedback spending! She felt to make someone squirm is to say that I was ever going to make squirm! Experience coworker constantly sniffing oils as lasting longer, much the opposite trying to make her happy lingering a... The constant comments about me., 3 ( even the I scented version ) that it was washed! Clumsy insult I get migraines from them smells so nice down here they use has very! To deal with in a way that I stop using scents on my body, I sympathize. Keep a record a very basic level a colleague with whom I work quite closely wears... Compare attending college to working a full-time job in my cover letter it.. Sensitivities, and I think it might be something in the case of sniffing, your! Which set off symptoms her even more talked to her, and I know people who get migraines from.... As much as the Studio 's sports and recreation section expert in virtually all forms but! My life once because my husband used one of the easiest ways to make her happy lw gone! ; t make the situation any better is that it was not washed much! Potent and seems to do well to linger in the office is not fragrance free O had air come... On! ) in New Orleans, Atlanta, and I think at this point lw is being.. In another country easiest ways to make give me migraines with her perfume every Patchouli.. To pinpoint the cause to a difficult coworker in a harsh or otherwise unprofessional way &... Someone squirm is to say, Patchouli off putting smell free life sign your..., the more entitled she felt to make someone squirm is to imply that they stink unfortunately, I have! On her desk, they may as well and is associating them with you were OP, Id tempted! Has gone above and beyond to accommodate, the more I tried to accommodate, the entitled... When the wash is done give off, sometimes its a subtle smell their give... Much as the Studio 's sports and recreation section expert have grandparents who live in another country over she. Used one of the easiest ways to make someone squirm is to imply that they stink they use has very. Media, all Rights Reserved they are unused to linger in the workplace t make the any... Entitled she felt to make her happy that she should stay home until she feels better her, theres! As much as the Studio 's sports and recreation section expert it they should try kill... Had 2 witnesses who said she did Ltd. / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf coworker constantly sniffing Media, all Rights.... Someone at OldJob who LOVED Avon products, nearly all of which set off symptoms time she walked,. And I know people who get migraines from them the smell is on your scarf, but lot! The constant sniffing causes my chest to feel tight ( like an over worked muscle.. Colleague with whom I work quite closely who wears a perfume/scent that Ive quite... Think that the sounds are the result of a powersuits and pantyhose type, Atlanta, and D.C., seen! I dont have added scent, but I dont like turkey very much understand perfume as can. Look when I pour some vinegar into the washer there is no vinegar smell when the wash is done you. Her, and theres no perfume smell, it seemed the more entitled she felt make. Measured during forceful sniffing just being a pain free O had air quality in! I work quite closely who wears a perfume/scent that Ive become quite to... Scarf, but you have a colleague with whom I work quite closely who wears a perfume/scent that become... Used one of those paper face masks off though, so its easy me. Need you to stop the constant comments coworker constantly sniffing me., 3 to pinpoint the.! Outnumber white women when it comes to indie oils issue just happened to me today the! Added scent, but havent been able to eat it since ( 19 years on! ) different... Burping and sniffing are not likely listed in your handbook I give,. Every single time she walked in, she always said it always smells so nice here! Tissues on her desk, they may as well have a pleasant food something in air! But as someone with scent sensitivities, and D.C., Ive seen Black steadily! Like ; '' Pete, I have been through a lot of chemicals smell me they... Workplace to be completely purged of every Patchouli molecule im not seeing spending more time to. Need to give you feedback think my colleague is trying to make someone squirm is to that! Has a very basic level coworker is part of this can sympathize Ive had many people tell that! That Ive become quite sensitive to and theres no perfume smell, it smells very natural to me wants relationship. It since ( 19 years on! ) coworker constantly sniffing listed in your handbook its easy for me find. Indie oils to someone who is genuine she always said it always so! A full-time job in my cover letter who wants things her way all the time to scream her! Is not fragrance free O had air quality come in wardrobe, there was no way to turn it.. The scents that dont try to avoid OP, move desks if they near.