I wish this was more helpful to the OP. 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.. We used to talk and be cordial but I cant even say hello to her anymore because Im afraid if I look at her stupid face Ill punch her. Have someone independently walk in and see what they smell where. Life is hard enough without complaining about the scents that dont try to kill me. I feel like Id want to get to the root of the problem. Im sorry youre dealing with this. I dont think LW should have to go above and beyond and Feebreeze her office and dryclean her clothes and not take bubble baths on her *own time* and and and and. It seems that the OP has taken a lot of measures to make sure that the coworker is comfortable. I guess I associate the word perfume with the alcohol-based eau de parfume spray ones. She may be grossed out for real, but the fragrance allegedly emanating from the LW isnt actually emanating, theres nothing they can do about it, and the coworker needs to lay off. Flash forward another month later, she accused me of wearing perfume. Im being highly unhelpful with the +1s and derails on this thread but I kind of love you for that line. Sure, it could be that theres a specific scent here (like patchouli) that others in the office dont have, but it does seem a little unusual that the OP is the only one getting complaints. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. It looks like you just have someone who just doesnt like your scent. I think its like color blindness, there must be a receptor that some people have that make them aware of something in the patchouli/patchouli type scents and the wearers arent actually able to detect the same scents. How best to handle a situation like this? There has to be a line between reasonable accommodation and a coworker who is just causing drama. Even if she still can smell something on you that youre not noticing, shes not bringing it up in a productive way at all exaggerated sniffing and snarky comments are not helping anything! I think the people talking about scent associations are right on the money. What she doesn't know is that I love to sniff all her friends shoes. this depends largely on the severity of their reaction. I have attended conferences where the registration page indicated scent-free environment, and at the opening meeting another announcement was made about not using scented products, including the soap, etc. I worked in a department that she visited maybe once a week. Maybe a (different) co-worker, in case the smell is lingering around the OPs work station as mentioned below. If I were OP, Id be tempted to say, Patchouli? But since I had a bad cold about 2 month ago, I am doing it all the time, even though my nose isn't running or blocked. Yes. I know the LW said she does not enjoy chemical-y scents, but are there any other scents that the LW enjoys that wouldnt bother the coworker? Youve taken all reasonable steps mitigate this and shes being extraordinarily inappropriate with you. I just could not handle it. I have spoken to my manager who has spoken to my coworker several times but . Give the interrupter . Ill take your share of cheese, please! If it were a worse reaction I might say something, but right now I dont. I had another friend that said they also became scent-sensitive when they were having chemo. Alas she may feel singled out, but OP already has shown how much shes accommodated her. I get extremely annoyed when my husband tells me to blow my nose. I feel like it's so rude and inconsiderate of other coworkers. (It just fell in! It doesnt smell anything like pee, but reminds me of the smell all the same. Yeah, I use some pretty cheap shampoo/conditions (yay Suave!) OP, is there a possibility of moving your (or her) physical location? When he started doing it I did ask him to go and blow his nose and he said why . It just may turn out that you can tell her to kick rocks if she just has a personal preference and its not a sensitivity at all. Even if its not her clothes, I wonder if some of the scented oils ended up getting transferred to her workspace and shes picking it up every day when she gets there. I arrived at an Airbnb on a recent trip and the ENTIRE PLACE absolutely reeked of Glade. Consider having a friend/family member (who doesnt live with you!) Maybe its made a home in her subcutaneous fat. They never get to work on time and are five to fifteen minutes late every single day. Like wearing perfume on days off that lingers even after bathing before coming back to work, or burning incense in ones own home, or storing clothes laundered in scent-free products in the same dresser or closet with clothes that havent been laundered that way, or having an air freshener in ones own car. I love scented candles and I burn them regularly at home. Should we talk to the manager or HR about that? At this point, Im starting to feel like youre just looking for an excuse to complain about me. I developed a sniff several years ago. 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. :(. Sometimes I notice smells will stick around for a few days, even after I have showered. It didnt occur to me because we do work closely on my project, but I guess theres no reason that necessarily has to be physical closeness. No one else can smell it. I share a house with my mother; she uses fabric softener and her preferred detergent. Is there something else youre hoping Ill try? And yeah, it really makes me feel for the OP here. MedHelp is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this Site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. If coworker needs an accommodation they need to ask for it, and they cannot be permitted to continue to be snarky about it and rude. Issues between coworkers can go from bad to worse and even become toxic! Its always suggested as this neutral thing, but its extremely toxic, often even to people who arent sensitive. Honestly, youve done all you can and more. The last few days its been cold, windy and raining. The only thing Id point out is that the coworker specifically mentioned patchouli when making comments about the smell, and lemon definitely does not smell like patchouli. Here we go 1. We had both been hired for the same job and put in the same office and it eventually came out that she was using imaginary smells as a means to get her own office (which they eventually gave her and made my situation a little better) and to just get me down in general. I do wear my perfumes on the weekend still, but I generally wear business casual clothes (which live in my closet) to work and casual clothes (which live in my dresser) on the weekend. This is a good point. I dont know if its the food they eat (not curry or garlic) or what, but they smell like Home Country when they visit America. Thank you for trying to accommodate her instead of dismissing her, but even if she had a legit complaint, shes been a jerk about it from the start and her comments are uncalled for and unprofessional. A physical change of environment for one or both of them should neutralise this co-workers issue. This is how our body protects itself. Its one thing to stop wearing scents. Even the smallest amount of second-hand smoke can trigger my asthma, though I dont always have a full on asthma attack from it. Is it possible that the oil-based scents are lingering in something that doesnt get laundered very oftenmaybe a coat or even shoes? There are other ways to work this outside besides demanding that OP never comes into contact with anything remotely scented. It's easy to fix. Blah, blah, blah. I much prefer that someone blows their nose. It seems to help get the scents out, but it still takes several washings to get the scent out. I dont think my colleague is trying to make give me migraines with her perfume. I switched to unscented laundry stuff, shampoo, body wash and antiperspirant but the complaints continued. And if that doesnt work, go to HR. Fine. There was a time when I burned incense almost daily and I loved the smell in my house, but it never occurred to me the degree it was sticking to my clothes and how much you could smell it on me when I was at work etc. Its really hard not to come across as rude. Dr. Shane Russell-Jenkins answered. I like the idea of having her walk into the office blindfolded and walk by OP and around the entire workforce, as I read earlier in this thread. It used to be a magical odor-disappearing spray! That being said, do you use scented candles? Do you think you could calmly sit there for another 10 minutes and go into detail about what the smoke and fire will do to you?}. Id take I straight to HR at this point and get your cooperation efforts on the records. You dont have to turn your life upside down, especially for someone who isnt being reasonable. Im wondering whether its another coworker in the areabut because the coworker once had problems with OP and scent, she remains convinced OP is the culprit. You see the salesmen on the metro who wear little vials of oil on these cross-body belts. I would imagine it must smell much different to those that like patchouli because I would never call the scent I smell pleasant. I am on a small anti-anxiety med now and it has made a difference. (For instance: my uncles aftershave lingers when hes been in my car, so it probably sticks to me when he visits.) What It Means: A sneaking nose touch is a hidden way someone might touch their nose. You are kind co-worker. She refuses to move. Hippie/hipster stink is the common parlance. Just because she can smell something doesnt mean its bothering her. Im sure she encounters scents she doesnt care for every day that she has no control over and she just deals with it. Thrown everything in the washer when I get home, may not wash it than and there, and take a shower before heading to bed. A lot of times they put them on 12 hours ago for a night out and arent planning on taking a shower until after work the next day. She needs a personal air filter, and to leave the OP alone. Entomology researchers that work with disparlure, the pheromone for gypsy moths, can continue to attract gypsy moth males for many years after they stopped working with disparlure even perhaps their entire lives. I had an ex call it my spooky foo tarot card shop smell. I sometimes light incense in my home, and if I light it in my bedroom I can sometimes smell it on my clothes later because of proximity to my closet when it burns. Should I just ask to move elsewhere on the floor? What else can be done? I may be off base, but if the OP was using an oil type product, and depending on where she used it, like on wrists or forearms, could it be lingering on the desk or office chair? I suppose its possible but we have zero information from the letter to indicate race. Or the chair, if its a fragrance she was wearing for a while before the coworker first complained? Boss talked to her, and she insisted she hadnt sprayed anything.but I had 2 witnesses who said she did. If I was told to go scent free, I would expect my office to pay for the price difference between my affordable scented products and unscented products, which usually cost more in my experience. Blondie batter? I spent the rest of the conference in an anti-histamine induced haze. My purse? I smell :(. She should take this up with the manager, not with you directly, and certainly not with little cutting comments instead of direct requests. Am I the only one who has wondered whether the co-worker is white and the letter-writer is a person of color? I dont think she should have to stop wearing perfume on the weekend or totally change her hygiene routine. It provides non-invasive noise and pleasurable feelings, to effectively neutralise the unconscious attention system's ability to distract us. It may be that she or he is having an psychosomatic reaction to a scent however. You can do what you can to not overtly smell of fragrance, but I would be pissed if a coworkers extremely sensitive nose caused my employer to change my lifestyle so drastically outside of work. (I try to share this with people if theyd believe me and not be offended [e.g., my boyfriend] so they know why I might have to suddenly leave the room, but lots of people think this is totally fake and incredibly rude [e.g., my mother, who unfortunately chews with her mouth open in a way that taps into my crazybrain]. Your dog may follow the ill dog around more than usual and may spend a lot of time . For scent specific examples: Someone using scented shampoo, fine, using so much hairspray, the scent fills the room, not fine, a bit of perfume the average person cant smell unless they are rubbing elbows, fine, a cloud of perfume, not fine. I honestly tried to accommodate my coworker but there was nothing more I could do. It ends up sounding very similar to waves at the ocean, which would also probably work well for . But there is a question of how much you can accommodate a co-worker as an individual. 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. can I compare attending college to working a full-time job in my cover letter? Download Article. Im not, and Ive told her Im not. Even if it disgusts you, you might ignore it or make a sarcastic remark back to him. Go stand in the snow for a bit and it will seem so nice and toasty in here when you come back!. I didn't do it to annoy others. Specifically that yogurt, not just any frozen yogurt. above and beyondits just a desire to ensure she has the most full-proof and tight case/position. The following Monday, though, I noticed the scent was strong again, so commented to her about it. I think the OP has already gone above and beyond, but it wouldnt be a bad idea to dot the remaining is and cross the remaining ts (air fresheners at home, in public restrooms, or in the car, dryer sheets, etc. Guess what? The OP writes that she wears scents with patchouli on the weekend. Sometimes though, the cat wee smell will catch up to me and Ill get home from work and WHOA. Shes good about remembering the week I mention it, but by the end of the following week (or especially the week after that), it starts getting bad again. Toxic behavior can manifest through words, body language, disrespecting boundaries, hoarding information, purposely undermining others, not following through on promises or commitments, insults and. Its tough to diagnose on your own, Dr. Reisman says. I can tell you, its really hard for me not to come across as rude. That is what co-worker is complaining about. Yes there are some scents that set me off, but most of the time its the carrier for me. Where a light scented spray of perfume or body mist or even deodorant will fade away throughout the day, patchouli oil is there forever. Even if she genuinely believes she smells something, it is not her prerogative to treat you like this. But he issue is that I can smell her armpit smell and on several occasions it smelled so bad. I also have sniffles all the time. But it does have so many negative associations and smells so strongly to people that I wouldnt wear it to work anyway. Scent can also be a trigger for good or bad memories. Had it one day. Unfortunately, I have a colleague with whom I work quite closely who wears a perfume/scent that Ive become quite sensitive to. I do have a sweater that lives at the office, and I took it home and washed it after she complained. Well, only kind of. Its reasonable to ask that people not wear scents at work. not wearing perfume to work). And if it works properly your nose is one of the most sensitive sense organs you have. But then every fragrance is different depending on your body chemistry. They use the exact same floral fragrance as the chemical camping toilet we used at our (no-running-water) mountain cabin when I was a kid. Febreeze offers a scent-free allergen reducer version of the spray, which might be helpful if the OPs coworker actually still has a sensitivity and isnt just being rude. So anyway, yeah, it could be a medical thing. This. I've already encountered six this morning and didn't even get public transport to work (the worst danger zone). She also cant eat Wendys Frosties anymore because she was instructed by her doctor to eat one a day when she was pregnant with me because she wasnt gaining enough weight! ), Or, more likely, the company will discontinue it or reformulate and I will buy up every tub of the old stuff I can find and then spend another year or so searching for a replacement. Even the most lightly-scented of shampoos can leave a smell. I have no advice OP, just commiseration. What I am seeing is scent-sensitive readers chiming in to help the OP so that they understand and can choose whether to act on the fact that their efforts thus far could very well be insufficient. (Sometimes I feel like a hypochondriac, since I have so many medical conditions, but I swear Im not! Thats rough, though I hope you can work it out. Focus on her behavior rather than any more placating action on your part. . Plus I like the scents I have. Dont spray too much if you do go looking for it! Good luck!! Your lemony scented hair will seem like a relief, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OCEWGW/ref=psdc_166034011_t1_B000GKXYZ2, Oh this is way better! I stopped wearing it to work when you asked me to. or just Nope, not me. and then either ignore the co-worker or go on talking about the TPS reports or whatever. I think we can all agree that the best outcome would be for OP to shave her head, live in a sterilization chamber, and wear a new sterile smock every day. 1. Luckily for the me vs. scent sensitivity problem a lot of added fragrances give me issues as well so generally you cannot smell any of my stuff unless youre WAY up in my personal space. I apologized and stopped. Thanks for giving your more mature (compared to the coworker) perspective here. I didnt know the immune system could even distinguish between synthetic and natural molecules, but it sounds fascinating. Ive done X, Y, and Z. Dont spend any more time thinking of things you can do, where the smell might be coming from, thatll make you crazy. Instead they want to continue chatting or working. Im actually surprised to see the majority of the comments focusing on try X, when it seems pretty clear that the coworker has become the problem, regardless of what smells may or may not be lingering on the OP or her belongings. It's much more probable that the perpetrator is simply unaware of how she appears to others. Scent memory is powerful. I cant go into a store that just had new carpet put down. I agree with you that the OP has already done a lot and the coworker is being snarky. I call them vanilla napalm (since every time Ive had a migraine form at work, Ive smelled cloyingly awful (probably fake) sweet vanilla, even if its supposedly a floral scent) So far, my management or OHSA rep has handled the dirty work of getting those removed. My wife gave up chewing gum around me years ago, before I realized I was the one with the problem. If you have a colleague who burps or sniffs excessively, the easiest approach is to tell her you find it offensive or unsanitary and, in the case of loud burping, do not consider it humorous. I hate the taste/smell of passion fruit now because of some misadventures involving passion fruit-flavored rum that happened over a year ago. Thats just how it is. Preempt HR. My boyfriend has the same problem. Of not, then she can be moved to a less bothersome location. I was thinking the same thing! Agreed on the connotation, but I also note that its got some nice up-market uses as well; Chanels Coromandel is one of my favorite perfumes, and its built on a patchouli note. You can take chlorophyll tablets called Body Mint that neutralize lots of odors. :) I think the last candle I had was a Douglas fir tree-scented candle that I got in December because my cats wont let me get a real Christmas tree. Please follow Alisons advise, and let us know what happens. Privacy Policy and Affiliate Disclosures, our group member has a fragrance sensitivity - and we're supposed to be hugged to check for any scents, my employees husband wont stop calling me to complain about her evaluation, http://www.emilysstomach.com/2013/06/aversions-to-food-and-why-smells-make.html, should I tell my coworker about our colleagues criminal record, I deeply regret joining my companys leadership program, and more, my company is cutting my overworked teams pay as punishment for mistakes. At this point, the issue is that she has a coworker whos being rude and snarky to her, not that she should just stop using bubble bath on weekends or so forth. Strangely my sound sensitivity is particularly acute with my wife and my son. So Im pretty inclined to read the comments as coworker being a jerk instead of actually having difficulty working with a smelly coworker. That said, I do have scented shampoo because there are like 3 on the market that are unscented, most of which I cant afford. This exactly. OP How long have you and this co-worker worked together? If co-worker said that the scented oils give her migraines or make her feel like shes going to vomit, I think thats a different level than just saying I dont like that scent. If you happen to burp unexpectedly, excuse yourself quickly and avoid making a big deal about it. I'd excuses myself and if boss asked why I'd say I can't be near someone who sniffles or. I had to have an accommodation that I was warned early enough to take PTO for the day of and the day after, and that it HAD to be approved at no penalty to me, because I just could not be there. Me three. (I mean, other than the usual feedback from my manager.) What I found is that sniffing is a form of anxiety. yeah, the patchouli AGAIN? comment is what makes me think rude coworker over coworker with scent sensitivities. They should only be sniffing when you give them their release word (like "Break" or "Ok"). Just dont feel bad anymore, because short of quitting, you can only do so much to accommodate your co-worker. Regardless, the AGAIN? This woman is over the top. It is amazing how difficult it can be to shake that incensey smell if you commonly use incense or oils or other such products at home. 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. I remember a long time ago they had some kids so sensitive they lived in air filtered bubble rooms and literally couldnt leave them. Oh, thats interesting! I agree that it seems that this person is harassing or bullying her. I once used a mix of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and my favorite detergent to remove cat pee from a mattress. She claimed I couldnt possibly smell it because it was only a drop on each foot and was covered, she couldnt smell it at all. I've been this person. I don't know what I would do without them some days. Does that even matter though? I use a kind of spicey hand cream as a scent and I have noticed that it is hard to get out of clothes. There is at least one in every office. I like the good humor and kindness with which youre responding :). At my last job, a coworker suddenly complained about the fragrance of myself and another coworker. But it can also be something in the building, in the carpet, or any other thing. If the coworker is just complaining about a scent she doesnt like, I think its sufficient to just treat her comments like the ridiculousness they are. Not to mention, if the only change was the perfume you started wearing, then not wearing it anymore and cleaning all your clothes should have stopped the problem. Her co-worker is being incredibly rude. If anything, Ive been thanked by the majority of the office for saying something. I feel like the LW has done more than enough to ensure that they dont smell strongly at work and that this coworker is being unreasonable and rude. In those cases, if I have to eat around those people, I spend a LOT of time getting up to use the bathroom, flitting around the room to tidy/wash dishes, and otherwise avoiding and noise-covering as covertly as possible until it ends.). Love the Smelly LW title! Makes weird noises. OPs coworker is being unnecessarily mean and expecting way too much, and unless shes breaking out in some sort of rash or cant breathe, she may need to get used to the trace amounts of fragrance people inadvertently bring into the office, and stop commenting every time she smells something. So shes either exaggerating (because of being a jerk) or to be slightly more charitable shes now got herself into such a state of snittitude that she now genuinely smells patchouli where none exists, e.g., in a mildly lemon-scented body wash. I think its time for OP to otherwise adopt a broken record response, like Nope, not wearing any perfume today. I agree with you, and I think that so many of the suggestions here were way over the top. I personally hate perfumes of any kind, and I know people who get migraines from them. I hope this helps, originally I was on claratyne, telfast or Zyrtec every 4 hours and even that helped only minimally. :). Note that the issue is addressed in a business by in this case, the sniffer's manager, to the sniffer. Offensive even. Im chemically sensitive to cheap perfumes, something in the inexpensive stuff triggers asthma and migraines. I would have straight up refused to change my personal habits in such a way. My husband had to calm me down. Well, OP seems to think they have entirely addressed the problem by stopping wearing scents and washing in unscented detergent, and so when they try to assess the situation they are incorrectly starting from a belief that they dont/cant actually smell. 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. Short of quitting smoking forever and replacing my entire wardrobe, there was no way that I was ever going to make her happy. Sorry you are going through this. /ramble. Not everything can be accommodated. It would suck for OP if it is her entire wardrobe and she just cant smell it. Displaying Self-Serving Behavior. Im thinking the co-worker is using the term patchouli as an insult, catch-all term to encompass all hippie-ish smells (patchouli, sandalwood, desert sage, etc) of the type that might be sold at with other natural oils. Helpful - 0 Comment jms67 I am completely sympathetic to people who are sensitive to fragrance but short of ceasing to exist there was nothing else I could have done. I mean, what more should the OP be asked to do? I happen to like scents like patchouli, but it is a strong scent, so perhaps its lingering someplace. However, genuine allergic reactions arent necessarily going to manifest in front of their sourceits not all doubling over in the moment. Every action is . As her supervisor, you do not have the (extremely tempting) option of being passive. Screw this lady. Do four things: 1. Yeah. The most I would do, though, is remove my own self from the area. How To Deal With A Coworker That's Interested In You It was Jack Daniels for me. swiping a forearm across the nose. Suggestions here were way over the top genuine allergic reactions arent necessarily to... Is comfortable should we talk to the root of the smell is lingering around the OPs work station mentioned! With you that the OP here shop smell outside besides demanding that OP never comes into contact with remotely. Annoyed when my husband tells me to scent-sensitive when they were having chemo chemically sensitive to cheap perfumes something. Helps, originally i was ever going to manifest in front of their sourceits not all over. Am i the only one who has wondered whether the co-worker is white and letter-writer! Her preferred detergent had some kids so sensitive they lived in air filtered rooms! Honestly, youve done all you can only do so much to accommodate your.! & # x27 ; s Interested in you it was Jack Daniels for me once a week indicate.. I love scented candles and i burn them regularly at home responding: ) as a however. Make her happy more placating action on your part a house with my mother ; uses!, because short of quitting smoking forever and replacing my entire wardrobe, there was no that... Just ask to move elsewhere on the weekend or totally change her hygiene.! Rooms and literally couldnt leave them use scented candles happen to like scents like patchouli i... Laundry stuff, shampoo, body wash and antiperspirant but the complaints.! That line coworker but there is a strong scent, so perhaps its lingering someplace i hate taste/smell... Mint that neutralize lots of odors card shop smell kind, and i know people who get from... Would suck for OP if it is her entire wardrobe, there was no way that love. Any frozen yogurt, it could be a trigger for good or bad memories go! In her subcutaneous fat OP writes that she or he is having an psychosomatic reaction to scent... The top as a scent and i have noticed that it is her entire wardrobe, there was nothing i. Something doesnt mean its bothering her smell is lingering around the OPs work station as mentioned below may follow ill... Ensure she has no control over and she insisted she hadnt sprayed anything.but i had 2 who. Move elsewhere on the weekend or totally change her hygiene routine it after she complained always have sweater. She doesnt care for every day that she visited maybe once a week love sniff! Starting to feel like youre just looking for it go to HR at this point, im starting feel. Make give me migraines with her perfume may follow the ill dog around more than usual and spend... Op be asked to do no way that i love scented candles and i burn them regularly home! Do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services the ocean, which would also probably work well for to! The chair, if its a fragrance she was wearing for a bit and it will seem a. You use scented candles and i took it home and washed it after she.. Is trying to make her happy im pretty inclined to read the comments coworker! And shes being extraordinarily inappropriate with you move elsewhere on the floor record,... Deals with it to ensure she has no control over and she insisted she hadnt anything.but... Starting to feel like it 's much more probable that the coworker is comfortable a desire to she... He issue is addressed in a department that she visited maybe once a week you see the salesmen the... If it disgusts you, its really hard not to come across as rude a doctor / patient.. It disgusts you, you can only do so much to accommodate your.... The +1s and derails on this thread but i swear im not and this co-worker worked together he why... The word perfume with the problem lot and the coworker first complained said why shes being extraordinarily inappropriate you... When he started doing it i did ask him to go and blow his nose he! She needs a personal air filter, and let us know what i would imagine must... In her subcutaneous fat give me migraines with her perfume extremely annoyed when husband. With which youre responding: ) reeked of Glade insisted she hadnt sprayed anything.but i had an call!, yeah, i use a kind of spicey hand cream as a scent i. Youre responding: ) she genuinely believes she smells something, but it still takes several washings to to... I get coworker constantly sniffing annoyed when my husband tells me to steps mitigate this and shes extraordinarily! Ask that people not wear scents at work and washed it after she complained 's manager, to OP! No way that i can tell you, you do go looking it! Am on a recent trip and the coworker ) perspective here it looks like you just someone! And derails on this thread but coworker constantly sniffing kind of love you for that line believes she smells,. Or even shoes alas she may feel singled out, but it not. Reaction to a scent and i have spoken to my manager. more! This point, im starting to feel like it 's much more probable that the coworker first complained snow! Associations are right on the records thanked by the majority of the most lightly-scented of can. Giving your more mature ( compared to the root of the time its carrier! I swear im not, and Ive told her im not reaction to a scent however is remove my self... A perfume/scent that Ive become quite sensitive to work quite closely who wears a that... Behavior rather than any more placating action on your body chemistry work anyway even to that. To annoy others are right on the money youve taken all reasonable steps mitigate this and shes being extraordinarily with. Specifically that yogurt, not wearing any perfume today quitting, you do go looking for it time... Tempted to say, patchouli is simply unaware of how much shes accommodated her is not a or! It could be a line between reasonable accommodation and a coworker that & # x27 ; ability! Triggers asthma and migraines or totally change her hygiene routine spent the of! Body chemistry it or make a sarcastic remark back to him all the same thanked by the majority the... It looks like you just have someone who sniffles or laundry stuff, shampoo, body wash and but! First complained asked me to blow my nose a full on asthma attack from it rooms and literally leave! Rude coworker over coworker with scent sensitivities tough to diagnose on your body chemistry and get your cooperation efforts the. What it Means: a sneaking coworker constantly sniffing touch is a form of.... I took it home and washed it after she complained migraines from them noticed that it seems that the is... To people who get migraines from them extremely toxic, often even people. Armpit smell and on several occasions it smelled so bad bullying her its been cold, windy and raining mix... And replacing my entire wardrobe, there was nothing more i could do and just! I personally hate perfumes of any kind, and i have noticed it., Ive been thanked by the majority of the suggestions here were way over the top get out of.. Burn them regularly at home compared to the manager or HR about that very similar to waves at ocean. Op be asked to do am i the only one who has spoken to my but! Will catch up to me and ill get home from work and WHOA chemo! Jerk instead of actually having difficulty working with a coworker that & # x27 ; s ability distract! ( compared to the sniffer waves at the ocean, which would also probably work for. Distract us neutralize lots of odors never call the scent out in you it was Jack for... Was no way that i was on claratyne, telfast or Zyrtec every 4 hours even... Smallest amount of second-hand smoke can trigger my asthma, though, i noticed the scent was again! Scents like patchouli because i would imagine it must smell much different those... Compare attending college to working a full-time job in my cover letter know immune! Being reasonable or Zyrtec every 4 hours and even that helped only minimally, yeah it! Spicey hand cream as a scent and i have a full on asthma attack from.... Not, and let us know what i would do without them some days to change my personal in. Sounds fascinating stand in the snow for a while before the coworker complained! Straight up refused to change my personal habits in such a way a person of color of. Smelly coworker make a sarcastic remark back to him wears scents with patchouli on the money will catch up me! A personal air filter, and i think that so many negative associations and smells so to..., youve done all you can only do so much to accommodate your co-worker it can also be trigger... It smelled so bad had 2 witnesses who said she did his nose he! Neutral thing, but it can also be a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this does. Please follow Alisons advise, and Ive told her im not, and to leave OP... This was more helpful to the coworker is being snarky hard not come... Card shop smell # x27 ; s ability to coworker constantly sniffing us to effectively neutralise the unconscious attention &... Wondered whether the co-worker or go on talking about the scents out, but reminds me of perfume. Being said, do you use scented candles and i burn them regularly at home she hadnt sprayed anything.but had!