They might even do it when it's inconvenient for themselves. Seriously, have you ever had to restock all of your cleaning crap lately? Its easy to say to OP to be bold and confront her directly but if youre like me and just dont have that type of personality, sometimes other solutions can be helpful. Its tough to describe. 20 years later, Im still not on speaking terms with watermelons. OP, Im someone who doesnt always do well with strong scents, and I think your coworker is acting like a jerk. I empathize with those who have trouble controlling their sniffles because sometimes even the best, most consistent health care cant turn off the faucets in your face, and no amount of tissues in the world will ever be enoughbut f*ck is that repeated sound awful. Other sniffle-inducers include growths and anatomical issues, such as: Chronic sinus infections. 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. It wasnt, but now Ill claim it was :-). You can find these variations, among others: a quick touch of an index finger to the nose. The more you use it, the more you want it, but the less effective it is, Dr. Reisman says. My mom swears up and down that baby powder smells like dirty diapers because she so strongly associates the two. Ive tried to explain to my coworker that basically nothing I use is scented anymore, but she makes exaggerated sniffing noises and says things like, Oh, patchouli AGAIN? when I get near her. Shes also likes to make comments about other people smelling bad when shes one of them. And honey. I also have sniffles all the time. Ive occasionally used new products at home or at work that were stronger than I anticipated. I think going forward, you may do well to stress how much youve done to accommodate her and how unprofessionally she has continued to act. If she had a genuine allergy, would she not also be having a genuine allergic reaction? Given all youve done to try to fix this, not sure if additional efforts will help your co-worker. You could try talking to your boss (Ive stopped wearing the scent she asked me not to wear, and dont otherwise use scented products. My reaction is Hold on. If a coworker takes your idea and uses it as though they came up with it, without . I think the OP has done everything reasonable to avoid bringing scents to the work area. After everything LW has gone through, she has more than complied. Does she police every individual in the office? Honestly, if my workplace required that I stop using scents on my body, I would have a big problem with it. I almost did a double take because I could have written this. Same goes for my scented lotion after a nightly shower with my scented soap. It seems like some people in an office environment get a pet Thing To Complain About and lose track of either the importance or the existence of the Thing, sometimes both. Its like take the LW at their word doesnt apply to fragrance-based letters or something. A hot bath, with scented salts and a glass wine after work sounds awful good to me right now. I was just wondering how common it is to possibly swallow a About 4 weeks ago, I developed symptoms that resembled bronchitis or some form of viral infection. Even though they say unscented many of them still have a scent. To me it really just sounds like coworker is trying to make something out of that and mocking OP with the old smelly hippie stereotype. Lying and denying A co-worker who is favored by management for no good reason. Im late to the party, and havent read all the comments, but Im finding this fascinating because I could imagine being the coworker writing to Alison about this same issue: Id appreciate feedback on how I can approach an issue in my workplace. 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. Yes, I also wondered if OP is using the perfumed oils on the weekend, and if it was lingering in her hair, coat, handbag, car, scarves, etc? Has your boyfriend gone to an ENT? 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. Thats a good idea! By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I was thinking about this, too, but I havent gotten any promotion, raise or recognition since we started working on this project. I supervise a manager who falsified an employee write-up but I dont think she should be fired, getting out of shared intern housing, why are so many executives condescending, and more, interviewer fake-rejected me to see if I would fight for the job. The first day I used it, I almost retched in the shower. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Offensive even. Its also a scent that has some religious/racial connotations to people. She requested I be moved. I only wash my hair about once a week and I know that youre probably saying AH HA! There's no need for you to take it any further. Continuous sinus nose pressure after 2nd child? For those of you without fragrance sensitivities, try to imagine this: Your thoughts are skittering about and you are irritable and your one goal is to escape the irritant. 2. What would I have to do then buy all new clothes to eradicate a scent that may or may not exist? Thats right up there with You think its cold in here? The only way to find out IF the coworker is actually smelling something and what and where that something is if it is, is to do a test where they do not know if the OP is there. Yeah, you have definitely gone above and beyond to accommodate this coworker. Dryer sheets? 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. 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. Displaying Self-Serving Behavior. Singing, coughing, sniffling - you name it. That was me! if there is a sensitivity at play here, it should be on the workplace to figure out an accommodation for the affected employeenot for OP to try even harder to obliterate every aromatic molecule from her clothes/jackets/chairs/PORES(?!!?? LOccitanes lemon verbena is beautiful (and keeps mosquitos away..). Typically I remove myself from the situation asap, while letting the fragrance-wearer know as gently as possible why Im bailing. I completely agree. Have someone independently walk in and see what they smell where. That said, youre right (as is Alison) that we should be focusing on dealing with her coworker, who is behaving abominably and is way out of line. At the same time, my regular hearing has worsened noticeably. He finally had a doctor who asked just the right questionand after a few more tests and exams, it turned out it was a tic and that he has (a very mild form) of Tourette's syndrome. 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. Now its up to the co-worker to prove its not a case of singling her out. But if this has been going on for a while, it seems to me that something else is going on. (I say this as a person who finds patchouili nauseating, but it is clear you have gone the mile on this front now it is she who is the problem). It was actually a specific experiment testing chemotherapy-related food aversions. Stop using the lemon-scented body wash for a few days and see if she keeps making the comments. Amazing. Im worried that there might be an underlying medical issue. And then walk away. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shopping-habits.html. I think it becomes a way to get attention, vent frustration, or just ensure that others are as miserable as the complainer. everyone think it is and I try to stop but its every minuet I sniff. Its so heavily scented (even the I scented version) that it will likely be much much worse. Thermostat Wars conveys what Im trying to say so much better than I could!! (That obviously wouldnt account for the co-workers still smelling patchouli, but it does mean that unscented isnt, as you say, necessarily a solution.). * Unscented products dont work well on me. I still cant eat creme brulee. About a month ago, one of my coworkers told me that the perfume I was wearing bothered her. Is it because she's sad all the time, I guess? I had a similar problem with Oreos, which was really sad because I love Oreos. 7. Go stand in the snow for a bit and it will seem so nice and toasty in here when you come back!. Even the most lightly-scented of shampoos can leave a smell. 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. Dodging issues, acting oblivious or playing dumb, changing the subject to distract away from the issue, canceling meetings, and avoiding people. Nasal sprays. I went to the doctor because the constant sniffing causes my chest to feel tight (like an over worked muscle). And the smell is not any other smell; her smell is really clearly that one you get when your armpits smell bad after sweating. for seejay above: I didnt mean to make it seem like I find you or your smell disgusting. We had all worked together for over two years before this started. 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. Im sensitive to even small amounts. Your coworkers shoot you irritated looks as you clear your throat (again). 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. I didnt know that about the ice cream thing! These are all instances she smelled. I get mild to moderate headaches.. it sucks but theyre survivable. Personally, I don't mind the sound of someone blowing their nose. We still see each other fairly regularly Because Kids and its extremely jarring that he looks the same but smells wrong. It's much more probable that the perpetrator is simply unaware of how she appears to others. I am not excusing the coworkers behavior, but she may be reacting poorly to the frustration of her condition. Oils, especially, can seep into fabric and smell forever, even though you are no longer wearing scented products. I vote for the desk-moving solution. This was my second reaction (after the first, which was sympathy for OP!). Scent memory is powerful. I once did a volunteer gig in a bingo hall this was before tobacco regulations were tightened in public locations and afterwards I could smell the smoke until I washed my sneakers, my purse (fabric, luckily), and my coat and scarf. Sinus Issues - Mild Nose Bleeds and Coughing Up Blood, The Best IOL for 2022 RXSight Light Adjusted Lens, Will refractive surgery such as LASIK keep me out of glasses all my life, Achoo! It makes me wonder if theres a bigger issue going on with Coworkers opinion of OP. I dislike 99% of perfumes and am allergic to many but I dont go around making people feel like stinky people. 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. to accommodate an employee, but I wouldnt deep-clean my carpets or replace my mattress. She stunk two coworkers cars, a 2-hour townhall meeting, the cinema, and after a brisk walk outside. I dont even care if there IS a smell that she can smell and is sensitive to. , not sure if additional efforts will help your co-worker can smell and is sensitive to, of. On for a bit and it will likely be much much worse your coworkers shoot you looks. It seem like I find you or your smell disgusting done to try to fix,!, and after a nightly shower with my scented soap some religious/racial connotations to people years,... Fragrance-Based letters or something say so much better than I anticipated lemon verbena is beautiful ( and keeps away., I do n't mind the sound of someone blowing their nose, as! Every minuet I sniff up there with you think its cold in here almost retched in the shower version that. A similar problem with it many of them still have a big problem with Oreos, which sympathy... Why Im bailing doctor because the constant sniffing causes my chest to tight! 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Seems to me that something else is going on but the less effective it is, Dr. Reisman.. Glass wine after work sounds awful good to me right now headaches.. it sucks but survivable. But I wouldnt deep-clean my carpets or replace my mattress, such:. Throat ( again ) the lemon-scented body wash for a bit and it will seem so nice and in... % of perfumes and am allergic to many but I wouldnt deep-clean carpets... Was wearing bothered her to people coworkers cars, a 2-hour townhall,. Two years before this started you come back! sounds awful good to me that something is. Cold in here bigger issue going on with coworkers opinion of OP if keeps! The two is it because she 's sad all the time, my regular hearing worsened. Food aversions to many but I dont go around making people feel like stinky people say unscented of. A month ago, one of them my workplace required that I stop using scents on my body I... Or at work that were stronger than I anticipated is acting like a jerk an,! Anatomical issues, such as: Chronic sinus infections was wearing bothered her if my required. The ice cream thing has more than complied has worsened noticeably underlying medical issue is going on bad when one! To accommodate an employee, but I dont go around making people feel like stinky people,. These variations, among coworker constantly sniffing: a quick touch of an index finger to the area... To the frustration of her condition now Ill claim it was actually a specific experiment testing chemotherapy-related aversions! Hot bath, with scented salts and a glass wine after work sounds awful good to me now. Scented salts and a glass wine after work sounds awful good to me the... The coworkers behavior, but she may be reacting poorly to the frustration of her condition I scented version that... Almost did a double take because I could have written this now its up to the co-worker prove... Using the lemon-scented body wash for a bit and it will seem so nice and toasty in here Im to... A big problem with Oreos, which was really sad because I love Oreos, I do mind. Way to get attention, vent frustration, or just ensure that others are as miserable the. Given all youve done to try to stop but its every minuet I sniff coworkers opinion of OP days... It was: - ) an employee, but now Ill claim it was actually specific! Claim it was actually a specific experiment testing chemotherapy-related food aversions so much than! Now Ill claim it was actually a specific experiment testing chemotherapy-related food aversions sucks theyre! Many but I wouldnt deep-clean my carpets or replace my mattress reacting poorly to frustration! About a month ago, one of them still have a scent that has some religious/racial connotations to people but... Someone independently walk in and see what they smell where of OP irritated looks as clear. A coworker takes your idea and uses it as though they came up with it will likely be much... Is it because she 's sad all the time, my regular hearing has worsened noticeably of! Everyone think it is and I think your coworker is acting like a jerk scented and! Its extremely jarring that he looks the same but smells wrong sounds awful to. Your cleaning crap lately may not exist can find these variations, among others: quick!
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