Do people actually do this? What do you think?

[smallstrawlargecamel]

I've been worrying and unsure about this for about a week. DH of 20 years, high up position (partner) in a large company, came home one night from his office summer party.
He told me he might smell of perfume as a woman who he works with and who I have heard him talk about previously, had sprayed him and another guy with perfume 'as a joke'.
This woman is not some young girl but about 40.
I was pretty angry (he was unfaithful at the beginning of our relationship and a number of things have happened since which I'm not sure is my paranoia or not). This could be one of those.
Do women actually do stuff like that for a joke? To a partner of a firm, effectively her boss?
He then proceeded to tell me she was an idiot who is no good at her job etc.

Ridiculous thing was I couldn't even smell any perfume!
Am I right to be upset and unsure? How would others feel?

People do all kinds of stupid things when they are drunk, spraying someone with perfume seems pretty tame on the face of it but I'm guessing you are going to add a back story.

I think I must be pretty tame then. Wouldn't dream of spraying my boss with perfume. But I'm happy to be told there is nothing in it and I'm being ridiculous!

If that's all it was then I can't see the issue. You don't knownt h context and I assume it was a joke.

Do you think he's cheating. Is that the issue?

Sounds like he is shitting himself that you’ll smell something and is over-explaining.

Sounds a little too much attention to detail here . Suspicious of you ask me

If my partner came home and gave that story, he had been thinking of ways of covering up the real reason he smelled of his colleagues perfume.

Grown ups don't go around spraying each other with perfume. Especially not those in high positions.

If my Husband came him smelling of perfume and he told me the explanation you have given, then I would not for one millisecond believe him. Over compensation written all over it.
I would be watching him with absolute caution from now on.

I dropped a bottle out of my bag and it smashed and went all up a young handsome coppers leg. We joked about how he was going to explain it. (He stunk of it too the smell absolutely filled his car) I wonder if he went home and caused a thread online about whether he was bullshitting or not.

OP I dont really know what I'd think. On one hand I agree with too much attention to detail etc but also, if he was doing anything wrong hed use some body spray to hide it, not come home giving it away.

The gentleman doth protest too much

Thanks for the replies. Sorry - DH came home so cannot reply properly. I initially thought how nice, he is concerned and is telling me the truth but then thought, no, he could be pre-empting me smelling something ( I was still awake, and not asleep as he might have thought). And now I’m not sure if it is something to worry about or just me overthinking. Your replies are divided. But v helpful

Yep. I smell bullshit not perfume. Sorry

Oh FGS of course he's lying, total over compensation. That's a story that he's been concocting on his way home because there's nothing funny about spraying someone else with perfume

Why on earth would a grown up woman spray a man (her boss?!) with perfume, knowing he was married? I just can't imagine anybody doing this. Anyone over the age of about fifteen would realise it was completely inappropriate and could potentially cause conflict at home. I don't know anyone that would do this.

He's totally lying!

Bullshit

He's been with her and realised on the way home that he smells of her

If it was all innocent he wouldn't have even bothered to remember to warn you.
Something has happened so he is trying to cover and coming up with a story before you mention it.

What a load of crap!! I wouldn't believe this bullshit story. It sounds like he's getting his excuses in before you ask. He's going OTT with the "she's an idiot and no good at her job". It sounds like he's trying to through you off the scent (pun entirely intended!)

Sorry he’s covering his back

ChippyPickledEggs That was exactly what I said to him! That is what I find so hard to understand. That’s when he said she was an idiot and rubbish at her job

Another vote for preemptive strike - telling you an elaborate story in advance to cover up his wrongdoing. His follow-up when you called bullshit, "she's rubbish at her job and an idiot" is just as suspicious, if you ask me.

It is an odd story...does the other guy who supposedly got sprayed have a partner who can confirm somehow ? It is a bit suss to have then diverted the topic to how this girl is a fool. If he has form for being deceitful in the past it isn’t a great look for him.

SHE DIDN'T SPRAY HIM IN PERFUME

He had sex with her or some other form of sexual intimacy and he's trying to cover his tracks. See also his negative comments about her.

Textbook.

This may sound weird but have you washed the shirt ? I would be seriously smelling it. Where is the scent located ? Is it an overall smell or does it feel concentrated on certain parts of the fabric ? Like he was sprayed on the back etc.

The shirt itself is the primary clue here. It sucks you have to consider these things in the first place.

So whilst I agree with @prawnsword that the location of the smell might indicate truth/lie, when you get to the point in your relationship where you're sniffing his shirts to locate the source of a scent, you've probably crossed the Rubicon.

Next story will be she has been sacked so you don't ever think he is with her....