To ask my colleague to not wear so much perfume

[DyslexicScientist]

Its such a difficult thing to say something about, but it gives me a headache and affects my allergies. (-And it also smells like cat piss - wish I knew how to do strike through!-)

Can I really ask someone to do this? Or should I ask via email? It could be pretty embarrassing for both of us.

If you want to ask her to stop at least have the decency to ask her in person.

Just have a conversation in person. Like an adult. Explain to her that her perfume causes you problems.
No need to be embarrassing unless you are going to say things like 'cat's piss'.

I've had to tell a colleague not to use that particular perfume once, it really gave a me a very bad headache. She didn't mind. I think best approach it with her and explain your allergies.

She may be accidentally over spraying.

When you wear a fragrance for a long time, you stop smelling it "noseblind" or something thanks fabreeze for the name

As a result, the fragrance you used to wear 3-5 sprays of, you spray more and more of so you can still smell it. Making you smell like "holy crap"

Maybe strike up a conversation about the fabreeze noseblind advert... "Yeah, it's a real thing"
"I can't believe that some people don't know you're only supposed to wear a max of 5 sprays of perfume and reapplying isn't because the fragrance has faded, it's because you've stopped noticing it"

Or something like that...
I wear fragranced oils. They're very strong. I'm always cautious that I may be over fragranced

Worked with someone years ago who wore so much poison perfume that it gave me a headache, I politely mentioned it and she stopped. She told me she was so use to the scent that she couldn't smell it!

Never heard of a scent free office and have been working in them for 10 years.
You could maybe say 'I'm so sorry to ask, but strong perfume really sets my allergies off, is there anything you could do about it?'

The only perfume that gives me a headache is Giorgio Beverley Hills. It's very overpowering.

I wonder had her perfume not "smelled like cat's piss" would it have had the same effect?

I am a perfume holic and always but always wear it. And I'm no Jo Malone grapefruit and lemon kind of girl either. But a woman in my old office wore Tresor by Lancome, and she probably wasn't putting half a bottle on every morning- it was just that it was so utterly vile, it seemed like she was.

Obviously I couldn't say anything because I would have looked a twat.

Wish our office was scent free - one of my colleagues has just adorned her desk with one of those reed diffuser things with all the reeds stuffed into it. Christmassy, but a bit much

Maybe just say you're sorry to have to ask but wonder if she'd mind wearing a different perfume for work as you're finding that one gives you a headache. I don't think its that unusual (and I don't understand why anyone thinks it's okay to squirt the stuff around in the office).

I'd bring it up with everyone on the team. Say that perfume gives you terrible migraines and ask them all if they'd mind not wearing it at work.

I still remember the overwhelming smell of Obsession which the very nice lady beside me squooshed over herself with abandon at least twice a day.
Wish it was banned, certainly spraying in the office should be.

Jesus, Annie, this thread is similar to your problem! (though not as bad, obviously)

How's things going, BTW?

I recently sat the Public Service Exam in Canada and they asked you to adhere to the 'scent-free' environment in the testing room...

My problem has sadly not been resolved yet, toffee. Boak

i work with someone who smokes like a chimney....she sprays tons of carboot sale perfume all over her.....stale cigarette smoke/cheap perfume.....smells divine!

Oh, I do sympathise, I can't bear strong perfume in confined spaces, I dread being close to someone wearing it in restaurants, aeroplanes, theatres and cinemas as it can give me a splitting headache. It doesn't have to be very strong either, I am very sensitive. Those places should definitely be scent-free.

I'm going to have to have the conversation too, a colleague has just returned from mat. leave to the desk next to me (she sat elsewhere before) and her perfume is making me feel sick, good luck, a scent-free office would be fabulous.

I feel your pain, Annie.

I worked with someone once who had very badly decaying teeth, a mouthful of rot, it was medieval really, the smell was incredible. She affected the entire office.

HR did nothing. Nothing at all.

It would appear that smells within an office will always pose an issue for someone - be it perfume, body odour, halitosis or food smells.

scent-free office? Fantastic idea!

just have a quiet word, say you react to perfume and would she be kind enough not to use it.

no-one should smell of anything. To many of us, perfume is just another reek.

Have you moved desks Annie? On the days that there are other ones free in your office?

No, not yet toffee. I am going to push for a new desk, which makes me sad as I love my office.

Oh, just read back up to ChinaSorrows post which implies that 3-5 sprays is light usage. If I wear any at all it is 1 spray from at least a foot away otherwise my own fragrance gives me a headache, and I only wear inexpensive EDT types. If 3-5 sprays is what most people use then no wonder so many give me headaches.

I was with my husband for a medical procedure last week and unthinkingly sprayed perfume on before taking him for the appointment. A gentleman and his wife sat next to me in the waiting area. After about five minutes, he began to sneeze..and then he and his wife began to whisper. Another five minutes went past and they got up and moved across the room. I was mortified! He was clearly reacting to my perfume ( not my BO, I hope!!!!) I made a note then and there to be very careful in the future of my spraying habits.

I used to work with a young woman who overdosed on Anais Anais (or as I called it, anus anus)
I felt sorry for our chemotherapy patients who felt nauseous even before they smelt het