Mumsnet Talk

IMO, yes they should. And, shock horror, smoke if they want to.
My DH is a teacher, he happily eats garlic and onion virtually every day. If he has a parents evening, he tends not to the night before.
I get a bit cross that the parents are seen as more important than the pupils.
What I loathe is BO. I am aware that there are some people who can't help it but on the whole it's people who just don't wash frequently enough.

I used to work for a well-known optician's chain, which had a rule that optometrists were not allowed to eat curry or garlic the day before work.

Mignonette, it's great you think like that with perfume, when in hospital one of my favourite members of staff makes me feel really ill with her perfume!

Better that than smoking! I remember one OT who seemed to believe (as do many) you can drown out the smell of you smoking with tons of perfume..if only!

My dentist too went through a stage of having very bad breath.
I was wretching more because of his breath, than I was because of the treatment.

Yes, they should. The only time I've noticed a garlic smell was after a ready meal curry when it came out of my skin the next day. That was truly gross, but I couldn't even taste the garlic in it

No one has ever noticed my DCs or OH smelling garlicky, because they don't, even though I use it frequently.

I am careful. Although I rarely work with medically/surgically unwell people I am aware that any strong smell whether it be perfume, food, disinfectant or smoke can be particularly offensive to people who feel ill, being examined or who are feeling vulnerable. I love perfume but I do have to consider that others do not.

I 'never' notice the smell of garlic from anyone else.

Fag breath on the other hand - now that SHOULD be banned!

YABU. Yes they should.

They should not be allowed to smell of tobacco smoke IMO.

<awaits flaming>

How do you know if you smell of garlic? 80% of the meals I cook start with slow cooked onions and garlic. The only time I have noticed people smelling garlicy was whan I was pregnant, it was awful but then everything smelt awful then.

Still recall gagging at my orthodontist's ciggie/coffee breath 30 years ago

Of course they should be allowed! It's got so many health benefits, and I actually really like the smell of it. Have never got why everyone hates it, it's lovely and sweet.
I'm paranoid now though, I love garlic but have always assumed the smell goes after I've brushed my teeth/washed my hands etc as I can't smell it on myself anymore. Bet people have been avoiding me and my garlic breath for years

I'm another one who holds onto the smell. I can reek of it for days if I have a particularly garlicky meal - come to think of it I'm probably not so fragrant today as dh and I went out for lunch yesterday .

I'm not a health professional but I do have to deal with suppliers and customers face to face sometimes, so if I know in advance that I'm going to have to do that, I'll avoid garlic the day before so I don't have to go into a meeting feeling paranoid about having rancid breath.

It smells rosey. Might counteract the garlic (and sweat of hanging over a pool gor 8 jours)

I have to say that I've done this unintentionally, I've eaten something whilst out at lunch or in the evening and not taken much notice of the garlic content and been told by a colleague or friend that I whiff.

I dunno, does it smell?

The reason I lay off the perfume is because I look after women giving birth so I'm with them for 10 hours at a time when they're likely to feeling quite nauseous anyway.

If I was a nurse I'd wear a bit of perfume, and I do if I ever work on the postnatal ward.

What about geranium oil. Is that allowed?

I must admit I won't eat a packet of pickled onion monster munch if I'm working that day. Nor would I wear loads of perfume.

Garlic is healthy!

they should NOT dowse themselves in cheap purfume or body spray in the change room before starting a shift though! eugh! honestly purfume is a person thing, leave it off if you're about to get up close and personal with people as a HCP

When people smoke/use body spray etc on breaks I really think garlic is small fry

munch away!

As a health professional myself ... If garlic is the most offensive smell you have come across then you are lucky! Although any strong smell in a hot and stuffy room can make me feel ill.

I personally would like some people decontaminated and on occasions their homes too.

It is my dentist (who is an excellent clinician) but a very heavy smoker that I wish I could change the smell of (I see him socially too).

Thai fishcakes for lunch then.
Apologies in advance. Will purchase polos on the way.

I eat garlic if and when I want to. Believe me I don't get paid enough to have my free time dictated to on top of everything else.

Should some patients be allowed to be so smelly?

Should ill people be allowed to breath and cough germs all over health professionals?

Personally, when a nurse is covered in my vomit, wiping my backside or mopping up my pus filled blood, I definitely don't want them smelling of anything other than roses.

I don't think it would be reasonable to stop them but it can be offputting. A few years back I had a mammogram on one of the hottest days of summer. The lady operating it had really bad garlic breath, she was kneading my boobs onto the plate and the room was stifling hot with the big machine! I nearly fainted with the pain and the garlic fumes!

I avoid it as much as possible myself as I am one of those people who smells if I do eat it. I feel sorry for dentists these days though with garlic in everything it must make their job a lot more unpleasant.