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AIBU?

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Original poster

Should health care workers wear perfume?

38 replies

Imnotfeelingwell · 08/03/2025 07:03

NC as potentially outing
The title says it all.
ive had several stays in hospital this past year and the number of health care workers who wear incredibly powerful perfume is so high. The last person to visit took my obs about 20 mins ago and her perfume which smells awful to me is still lingering.
if you are an ill patient wrestling nausea the last thing you need is to be enveloped with a fugue of chemicals. I don’t suffer from asthma or allergies etc but I can’t imagine it’s much fun for people who do.
I have had remarkable care from these workers and am in awe of the work they do. My complaint is purely about fragrance.
AIBU - they should be able to wear fragrance
AINBU - they should not be allowed to wear fragrance.

OP posts:
Whatsthefrequencyalfie · 08/03/2025 08:10

I’m with you op! I’m a nurse but most of my patients have sensory issues and can become completely overwhelmed by strong scents. The amount of support workers that just don’t get it!

HelmholtzWatson · 08/03/2025 08:06

YANBU - As a patient, I have received explicit instructions NOT to wear perfume to medical appoints as it may upset other patients.

Given this, doctors and nurses shouldn't wear it either.

PreventPomtoPerson · 08/03/2025 08:06

It’s probably better than them smelling of sweat after a long, physical shift of running round helping patients. I work around some pretty bad smells sometimes so always make sure I smell nice to mask it a bit. If I start struggling I purposely try to smell myself rather then what’s in front of me.

CorsicaDreaming · 08/03/2025 08:03

@FarmGirl78 - I don't think that's OP's key argument, to be fair...

FarmGirl78 · 08/03/2025 07:54

I'm the pretty certain the NHS expenditure on Patients being prescribed antiemetics because of ward staff wearing perfume is next to zero.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 08/03/2025 07:52

Same in the 90’s. Plain deodorant no strong perfume.

Flamingoknees · 08/03/2025 07:48

Galwaygirl · 08/03/2025 07:26

When we were student nurses we were not allowed to wear perfume on wards!

How long ago was that? I trained in the 80's (the time of very heavy perfumes) and there were no rules about perfume. I can imagine I left a trail behind me 😳I worked with girls who used to respray in breaks, because they were worried about smelling sweaty, when close to patients.
That said, YANBU OP. Though it's a good job I've retired, as I wear perfume, even if I'm on my own in the house - and have done every day since the 80's. It's automatic, like putting knickers on.

DustyLee123 · 08/03/2025 07:34

I felt sick from a doctor who obviously wasn’t wearing deodrant, and him flapping his arms around in short sleeved scrubs was awful.

Original poster
Imnotfeelingwell · 08/03/2025 07:32

Galwaygirl · 08/03/2025 07:26

When we were student nurses we were not allowed to wear perfume on wards!

I wish this was the case now!

I’m wondering if I could reduce the anti nausea drugs if the staff laid off the perfume .

OP posts:
Galwaygirl · 08/03/2025 07:26

When we were student nurses we were not allowed to wear perfume on wards!

Nitgel · 08/03/2025 07:22

Some perfumes are so strong and give me a headache especially on the tube.

Wrongsideofpennines · 08/03/2025 07:20

It's possibly to hide the fact they've just been outside smoking on their break. They know some patients prefer the perfume to stale cigarette smoke.

It may be unpleasant but I don't think you can ban healthcare workers from wearing perfume.

CorsicaDreaming · 08/03/2025 07:17

I hate really strong smells too, and can imagine when you're really unwell it's much worse. Hope you feel better soon OP and can back in the fresh air.