Sorry, but no. Its a supervisors job to do that. I dont necessarily think anyone should totally change the soap they use because as someone who is dramatically allergic/sensitive to smells, I really dont think commercial soaps smell THAT strongly. That was my first thought. I started in the last year of primary school, I also drive my family insane and myself it's so irritating, it's as if I can't breathe and my nose is inflamed or tight and I need to sniff to clear it even though there's nothing there, it's really embarrassing and it tried loads of nasal sprays and even been to ent had a camera up my nose but he couldn't see anything. Now I don't know what to do. not wearing perfume to work). Talk about getting off topic . Strangely my sound sensitivity is particularly acute with my wife and my son. I literally invited HR to do spot checks of my cubicle to find the phantom spray. Its possible the smell is lingering somewhere else or has another cause (from your handbag, or its actually the smell of your car air freshener, or something other than the original perfume). Wash and dry clean any clothing that you wear thats kept in your office. 1. I get mean vibes from her too. Im not sure what else I can do. Is the problem with ME personally or something that I am wearing or carrying? Let her sniff your jacket or your bag for example. Yep. 04/12/2015 09:35. It would be awful to hear that you smell everyday. If it is a power trip/mean girl thing, as several commenters have suggested (and I agree) it might just set her off again, and I would lose my bargaining piece of No, seriously, Im not wearing anything, shes just being a jerk.. can I compare attending college to working a full-time job in my cover letter? The most I would do, though, is remove my own self from the area. You have a meeting. There was no mention of this in the letter. Even if some scent is lingering in the OPs clothes or her body wash is stronger than she thinks, it sounds like she uses a lot less scented stuff than many people do. I am sorry youre going this. Shes being a jerk. Im thinking the co-worker is using the term patchouli as an insult, catch-all term to encompass all hippie-ish smells (patchouli, sandalwood, desert sage, etc) of the type that might be sold at with other natural oils. Just wondering if a pattern can be established regarding the coworker. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Never would I not enjoy a nice bath one evening with some yummy essential oils because the smell lingered 12 hours later. Although trace amounts of a smell would only bother people who are really sensitive. Oh, Jager I cant be near it. Washing with unscented or mildly-scented bath productsmaybe reasonable, depending sometimes the only shampoo/conditioner that works well for someones hair has an unavoidable scent and I dont think its reasonable to expect someone to figure out an entire new hair routine (which is a process that takes time and money and trial and error, not to mention bad hair days in the interim, with the concomitant hit to self-esteem that may cause) to accommodate a coworker. I had a similar problem with Oreos, which was really sad because I love Oreos. To be driven mad by a colleague. Telecommuting, or disability, at that point. Not wearing perfume to work is reasonable. They will tackle the situation without compromising your request. Im one of the rare 20-somethings that doesnt take laundry to my parents house to do, because their washer smells funky and the funk seems to come off on my clothes a little. That all said, if someone really has to try hard to smell things, then I fail to see how those scents could be so potent as to warrant the need to remove them. However, shes still having this sensitivity. I would not send her to HR, they are likely to be the dingbats that will turn it back on you. That being said, do you use scented candles? I almost did a double take because I could have written this. Download Article. But I need you to stop the constant comments about me., 3. Every. 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. 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. Youve done more than most people would. Oh no! As soon as you have something unprovable that isnt supposed to be questioned, bullies and jerks will latch onto it. blanket? :). A chronic sinus infection might not have any symptoms other than ongoing drainage, Dr. Reisman says. Its entirely possible that your chair or coat have absorbed the smell, and you might not even recognize it. It doesnt help with co-worker, but since what co-worker is doing can be utterly crazy making and gaslighting feeling, I hope it helps you see how it could be just her. Also, I cant deal with the smell of Febreeze. A lot of times they put them on 12 hours ago for a night out and arent planning on taking a shower until after work the next day. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Both conditions could be well managed with conservative therapies, such as nasal steroids, antihistamines, or decongestants. and if tissues don't work for someone there are medications and netty pots and SO MANY alternatives to sniffling forever and ever. At least nowadays you can attend virtually if youre that sensitive. The scent fades on me the way it is blended to, but when I lent it to a friend to wear, she said she could smell the other scents more strongly for a lot longer. I have found literally one laundry detergent that doesnt make me break out in hives. So, if you use patchouli at all at home or on the weekends I wouldnt be surprised if its noticeable to people. I wonder if the OPs coworker has developed a heightened sensory sensitivity to even trace amounts of certain smells and isnt being honest with herself about it. I wonder if OP has tried washing her clothes with a diluted vinegar mix? She likes the idea and often makes it a part of our sexlife. What if coworker says the only acceptable product is $100/bottle? take a deep breath (through your mouth): The cause of chronic sniffling is My niece, on the other hand, absolutely loves it. Its quite another to pay a bunch of money on things like carpet cleaning, new mattress pad, etc., in the hope that it might appease the coworker. The entire planet is not going to change to accommodate you. If she says the smell is on your scarf, but you have a new scarf, then Id get a second opinion. We confronted him a couple more times but the last time she said something to this person, the response was. It can be super effective for getting odors out, although certain perfumes and oil-based scents get so embedded in clothes that they may not come out at all :(. My husband is quite sensitive to smell and he uses it so I thought it would be okay. If exposed long enough, the migraine will last for 4 days, so its absolutely no joke, and my productivity drops precipitously. Im just glad this is a common enough problem that most hotels use unscented products to wash their linens or Id have to travel with a sleeping bag. They Don't Like You . Otherwise, theres a whole other layer of gross here. My massage therapist uses a really nice patchouli blend oil (its the ONLY form of patchouli I like lol) and I can STILL smell it on my clothes I have washed several times since my last massage. Whatever brand they use has a very off putting smell. If one were going to be pedantic about it, the solid perfumes would be the only ones properly referred to by the word perfume. I hope this works out and she backs off, but either way, as a scent-sitive person, thank you so much for going through all this effort. Just dont feel bad anymore, because short of quitting, you can only do so much to accommodate your co-worker. And you cant tell me that people who do have legitimate issues with scents dont routinely encounter scents that bother them. He serves as the Studio's sports and recreation section expert. That usually means they are fooling around or are a snitch. Do you have a soft chair, or have you been wearing the same coat since then? Every time this happens I go through a spate of cleaning everything and thinking I smell pee ALL THE TIME. If she tries cornering you and directly accusing you, you just shrug your shoulders confused and say you dont know how you can help her solve her problem of the phantom scent. you said exactly what I tried to say, but much more eloquently. Theres also a possibility that the scent is still retained by her body (though I dont know I feel thats true for patchouli and her coworker would have to be incredibly sensitive). I also have scent sensitivities (Ive had to ask a coworker to sit further away from me because the smell we never figured out which product it was made me sick to my stomach) and I would totally appreciate everything youve done. Hippie/hipster stink is the common parlance. Im trying to come up with something constructive like the rest of the comments, but all that keeps going through my head is why are you so obsessed with me? a la Mean Girls. I also think that the OP should go to HR and let them know what has been going on. Suggest management isolate her if living in the world is too much for her once accommodations have already been made and she wont. If so youve gone above & beyond & youre under no obligation to do more. Scent memory is powerful. So why wasnt the smell bothering the coworker before that? Your dog may follow the ill dog around more than usual and may spend a lot of time . If I were in this spot, I swear at this point I would assume shes only doing this to bother me. Anything with any kind of fragrance? The reason to ask someone who doesnt live with you is that we can stop smelling things after a while, so a partner or roommate might not be able to smell it either. It seems that the OP has taken a lot of measures to make sure that the coworker is comfortable. Brush that crazy right off and go about your business. Maybe she got it confused with lemongrass? I love that Coppertone smell! If the coworker is just complaining about a scent she doesnt like, I think its sufficient to just treat her comments like the ridiculousness they are. After everything LW has gone through, she has more than complied. Anyway, since then the smell is so offensive to me. Vinegar is good at getting out the smell of smoke too. I stopped wearing it to work when you asked me to. or just Nope, not me. and then either ignore the co-worker or go on talking about the TPS reports or whatever. For those who like it and for whom it is normal it is fine. I stopped wearing everything and she says its me when the men in the office wear cologne and shave. I like the idea to get a blunt friend to do the sniff test, but basically I think the ideas about limiting physical contact are the best way to go at this point; Im a little afraid of sending the OP down a rabbit hole of onerous scent minimization that may not solve the problem. Chicken is the reason I gave up vegetarianism after 7 years and I honestly could go without any other meat lamb is nice, steak is good occasionally. Oh, dear, thats true. Many workplaces provide handbooks to their employees that outline policies and rules. I also tend to use unscented deodorant and laundry detergent; I really dislike how chemical-y scented products like this tend to be. He doesn't need to want a relationship with you. The coworker seems to expect a level of accommodation that you should really only expect from someone youre cohabiting with. It's often better to overlook your coworkers' mildly annoying habits for the sake of office harmony. The exaggerated sniffing definitely sounds like she is just being a pain. You see the salesmen on the metro who wear little vials of oil on these cross-body belts. Best of luck OP and as an aside, I LOVE patchouli. I am so so sorry. Were there any complaints prior to this (about anything, not necessarily OPs scent)? Issues between coworkers can go from bad to worse and even become toxic! Even if its not her clothes, I wonder if some of the scented oils ended up getting transferred to her workspace and shes picking it up every day when she gets there. mattress itself? It is not a matter of simply not liking something. They tried really hard, but they just couldnt control the variables enough for her to physically be there. Had this and it turns out. Is your nose running a marathon? Maybe others are more accommodating, but I personally would do what I think is reasonable under the circumstances, and then after that its kind of her problem, not one that I can control for. Short of quitting smoking forever and replacing my entire wardrobe, there was no way that I was ever going to make her happy. I choked on my lunch at little cloud of toxic masculinity. My husband bought some Axe bodywash once because hes oblivious and I had to tell him to replace it because that stuff was rank. Problem is, no one around you sees the flames or senses the heat, so they have no sense of urgency to bolt for the doors. Its Bully 101 to push and push and push until the victim explodes, and then so and so blew up at me for NO REASONoh, poor me. Instead, offer practical solutions that can fix the solution for everyone. I mean I get the idea but thats a heck of a food to ruin. My point is that maybe something similar is happening with OPs coworker and smells. It used to be a magical odor-disappearing spray! Its like once I hear a sound that bothers me, I can no longer filter it out. Even if she still can smell something on you that youre not noticing, shes not bringing it up in a productive way at all exaggerated sniffing and snarky comments are not helping anything! That scent in particular seems to really linger even if youre not specifically wearing it. What It Means: A sneaking nose touch is a hidden way someone might touch their nose. I would have straight up refused to change my personal habits in such a way. ! the coworker is trying to make some kind of mean-spirited point. Or maybe its a combination of things that clashes to make a weird scent, like the OPs lemon body wash combined with the office bathroom air freshener. Unfortunately, it made my office mate sneeze, and similarly to your coworker, he was sensitive to it. You have a right to wash yourself in lightly (or heavily for that matter) scented things. A physical change of environment for one or both of them should neutralise this co-workers issue. Ugh. Or shes a meanieface whos decided youre a smelly hippie, shes grown to anticipate the smell and shes decided to tease you about your smell even if it isnt there. Ive asked her to stop, and Id like to ask you to intervene if it continues, because its becoming disruptive, and franklyat this point her continued complaints are starting to feel like harassment., (To be clear, this doesnt sound likeharassment in the legal sense that would need to be based on race, sex, religion, or another protected characteristic but its certainly harassing in the colloquial sense. I remember being at a conference and requesting that the organizers make some sort of announcement asking people not to spray perfume in the conference areas. Go away. The next time she asks for help that you haven't been assigned to provide her, make the conversation about you following your boss's direction. But I was young and naive and I said all I had done was use soap (which was standard issue and unscented) before I left the restroom. If the sound or smell persists after you've kindly spoken with your colleague, you have two options, says Rossi. I made a similar comment waaaaay below. The best stories to me, are the ones when the odor in the shoes is the worst! If your office is small, and earbuds and relocation are not an option, you should discuss your frustration with your manager, who may or may not bring your coworker into the discussion to explain. Then again, here the people rocking the strong scents tend to be older and more senior in the organization. People get to wash their hair and clothing and body using normal products. Ugh, the patchouli/indie oil people I know best are white, so that didnt even occur to me, but it maybe should have. Ugh, bathroom sprays. You can have the honey-glazed salmon on a cedar plank. This, in a nutshell, is why misophonia is so awful. Give the interrupter . Advice for HR professionals on handling body odor, bad breath, flatulence, head lice and other problems in the workplace. I used to use cloth menstrual pads and wash them in the shower with soap, and to this day I cant quite tell the smell of menstrual blood apart from the smell of Ivory soap. Or florals or vanilla or whatever. Ten points to Gryffindor! 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. I agree. Agreed- the smell of Patchouli makes me nauseous due to being forced to smell it for 3 years straight while working part time in a health food store while in high school (Bread & Circus anyone?). I hadnt thought about what a can of worms that would be! 1 They always take a lunch break with you. OK, you are unlikely to see this, but I *love* chicken. Alisons suggested actions make it clear that OP has reached the end of their ability to help and puts it in Coworker and Bosss court. And it smelled *horrible* and wouldnt come out; I tried vinegar and Oxi-clean after about five washes and that seemed to help. Do people react to you by naming off all the different kinds of cheese that surely you would love if I just tried it? :D. I was wondering the same thing- Im sure LW isnt the only person in that office who uses scented products. If your general practitioner cant get to the bottom of it, an ENT or allergist should be your next stop. ^_^. Just make sure over time they don't start pulling to those spots! Or she may simply be nuts. Shampoo? I think considerate coworkers like you should do what they can to help out other coworkers, but at the same time, you shouldnt have to give up something you enjoy using in your free time because of a work conflict. Idk why he doesn't use a tissue. Here is my most recent one. Some apple scent, maybe. I personally hate perfumes of any kind, and I know people who get migraines from them. OP needs a second opinion. REAL CUNT indeed. Also, what if someone cant change products due to an allergy? Yeah, you have definitely gone above and beyond to accommodate this coworker. . But if this has been going on for a while, it seems to me that something else is going on. Even though a difficult or annoying coworker can really grind your gears, you should always control your emotions and refrain from losing your temper. As someone who is very sensitive to scents, I just wanted to say to the LW how NICE it is that you put in so much effort to be un-scented! Either way, the coworker needs to take control of her sensitivity instead of expecting her coworkers to bend over backwards for her. I havent used anything patchouli-scented in weeks/months/whatever! If coworker needs an accommodation they need to ask for it, and they cannot be permitted to continue to be snarky about it and rude. There were some pretty extreme suggestions about changes that OP could make to try and address it there too my favorite was keeping your clothes in dry-cleaning bags and dressing in the garage! * Supplements can seep through skin causing prominent body odors. Some of that scent is going to linger in the machine, so even if I do my clothes separately, there might be scent residue that affects the coworker. Several of the suggestions above talk about completely changing what products one buys and what one does while at home. The fact that Coworker is specifically naming the scent (patchouli) which OP is clearly not wearing/has never worn makes me wonder if its coming from someone else passing by/sitting near their area or even through the ventilation system if it recycles the air. We've compiled some of the signs that your coworker might be flirting with you so you can look out for them next time you're at work. My mom had the same experience with TCBY yogurt. I was wondering about the timing of these complaints, OP mentions they started about a month ago, did anything happen at that time between OP and this coworker? Here are 5 Ways to Stop Your Colleagues Interrupting You at Work. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. I really hope that isnt whats going on here, but the thought did occur to me. That said, though, the perfume I was wearing the day she complained didnt actually have any patchouli in it, and I wear my patchouli-scented oils very sparingly. He never had drainage or other cold or allergy symptoms. Should I just ask to move elsewhere on the floor? Let me tell you, African women, French women and certain Asian women wear perfume when they are out in public. Hopefully your boss can accommodate and move her, or you? I feel like this thread could be about my brother once he gets an office job. I once had to use a scented detergent on my clothes because we were out of unscented. Dolores found other things to pick on, but she stopped going after me for phantom scents and basic hygiene. Honestly, even if she is extra sensitive to smell, shes still acting like a jerk. LW here Nope, I dont use any kind of incense or oil diffusers at home. That sucks you can't have headphones in. Maybe at one point she noticed a particular scent OP used to wear and now smells even lingering traces that no one else would be able to smell. Now I can only drink red. I can tell you, its really hard for me not to come across as rude. Therefore, I only bring it up to people if I cant avoid the person and just deal with it because I feel that I shouldnt dictate how others live their own lives. BINGO. Thats so interesting! If she thought I was gone for the day, shed even use my cubicle as a spray booth for whatever reason. who CANNOT DEAL with the fact that a person doesnt eat cheese. I actually find the smell of patchouli very pleasant, but I do recognize that a lot of people have negative associations with it. It's driving me crazy at times. All day every day. Exactly my thought. I agree! Asking a coworker to switch soaps is ridiculous. In this particular case, I think the OP has done enough and its time to bring the boss in to either shut down the rudeness or find the coworker a new place to sit. Or heck, if OP stores the oils on or in her dresser, it may be that some of the clothing items have picked up a hint of the scent. Im quite certain that nobody else around her is making this much of an effort to be scent-free. Smells sink into our brain and memory and association in a way almost nothing else does. It could also be that OP is very crunchy granola, (think Phoebe from Friends) and her coworker doesnt like those people. Maybe shes conservative, maybe she just finds them annoying, maybe shes worried OP will kidnap her and force her to participate in a drum circle. Pretty certain the vent was the culprit as once we moved to a different area she didn't emit nearly as much noise. Dont even turn your head. I explained his cologne was overpowering and offered him the elevator while I would take the stairs. That would make sense with the patchouli reference. We ended up going out to a bar that evening in a group, and as the night went on, people slowly peeled off until it was just the two of us. Making an employee constantly feel that they are the problem, shaming them for no real wrongdoing, or making them feel inadequate and unworthy. Ive never complained, as I realized theres not much he can do to change it, so I resorted to using some (in my opinion) very mildly scented body lotion on my neck before I come in to work so I can smell that instead of him. Good luck and thank you for taking this stuff seriously. Boss needs to investigate whether theres a yet-unidentified cause related to OP, and direct Coworker to leave OP out of it if not (or if that cause isnt reasonable to ask OP to address, like Coworker just dislikes OPs natural smell). Oils and fragrances with higher concentrations of aromatic compounds have more longevity but, in general, less sillage than their alcohol-based and/or less concentrated counterparts. I told my supervisor and somehow it got handled. The office is not fragrance free O had air quality come in. Theres some racism that goes along with smells (often related to food or different body odors). You could try the old Smellers the feller line. I actually had a coworker use this as a bullying tactic about 7 years ago. If I was told to go scent free, I would expect my office to pay for the price difference between my affordable scented products and unscented products, which usually cost more in my experience. Theres a way to deal with this coworker head on, which involves a level of comfort with direct confrontation that not everyone has. Stop using the lemon-scented body wash for a few days and see if she keeps making the comments. Its very abnormal, trust no one, he may e ur broda's friend and may e younger than u, who knows whether he's older than u in spirit or devilish act. Woodchuck Hard Cider right here. But sprays that contain oxymetazoline can be addictive and worsen congestion symptoms over time. Its not anything shes doing wrong, of course, but the sound makes me nauseated and irrationally angry. Its not a neutral and pleasant sort of floral whatever. Love it! I dont think she does, but I think she does genuinely believe that the OP is still wearing perfume. I never heard of that, but I totally get it. I used a watermelon LipSmackers a little more than usual one day, and got a terrible stomach flu that evening. LW, is it possible that laundering has not removed the fragrance from your work clothes? Its like take the LW at their word doesnt apply to fragrance-based letters or something. Im not sure the OP really can win with this co-worker. Ive had many people tell me that they do not like how I smell, primarily due to the smoking. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Starting a couple of years in, they brought in unscented liquid soap for the public bathrooms, because theres not much point asking everyone to use unscented products at home/in their hotel rooms if possible, and then have everyone use orange-scented hand soap all day. and was thinking well, that might be awkward enough to end the whole thing and then you said exactly that :). I'm 29, she's in her thirties. I cant hear what my sons saying if hes sitting next to me but facing the other direction, but cant not hear him eating popcorn from the other room. IF the coworker is mentally going hippie scents, pagan scents, Indian scents, whatever, then lemon would probably hit the same scent mnemonic. I let them know how exasperating the condition is, so they understand both that its not personal against them and that its serious stuff. I was thinking about this, too, but I havent gotten any promotion, raise or recognition since we started working on this project. But yeah, some smells cling to clothes through the laundry. And that's because your coworker might not even know that she likes you yet. I used to prefer white wine to red. Im aware of it even if its barely an element of the scent. Ask them not to wear perfume to work? The other coworker who was complained about took an internal transfer. Urp. I will sometimes start to smell a certain scent that I associate heavily with a person when Im on the phone with him. This. I love patchouli. 2. Go to a therapist. On an airplane I dont need to interact with others, so being anti-social is not an issue. And I agree, shes probably smelling patchouli in her head as it were. If not I would actually quit over this. You can couch it as youd think itd be a good idea of someone checked up on him (and gently let him know that the noise is carrying). Theyre going through chemo, they may as well have a pleasant food. Requesting a coworker to not wear perfume or oils to work is reasonable. It could be that the coworker hasnt realized they have the issue, not our delightful LW. Other sniffle-inducers include growths and anatomical issues, such as: Chronic sinus infections. My husband had to calm me down. Ive heard the term thrown out as an insult, similar to using the terms granola or crunchy. Although her coworker would probably be like your smock smells bad., I, for one, welcome my new sterilization chamber overlords. I had to go see the ombudsman and talk to HR, but nothing helped. 8 Tips on How to Deal With Difficult People at Work. If OP regularly wore scents, it is possible the scent is there and she is noseblind to it. Unfortunately, I have a colleague with whom I work quite closely who wears a perfume/scent that Ive become quite sensitive to. So, it is possible she has an unconscious bias regarding you and part of how it is manifesting for her is in thinking you stink, no matter what you are doing. I dont think she ever wore patchouli, so maybe the scarf picked up the smell from the artist or the store where she bought it. Not to mention, if the only change was the perfume you started wearing, then not wearing it anymore and cleaning all your clothes should have stopped the problem. I will admit that I love patchouli, though. It seems to help get the scents out, but it still takes several washings to get the scent out. Lots of white person wearing patchouli-ish smells in my city. Shes never complained before now about my perfume, and Im sure she would mention if she was having health issues based on it. Nobody wanted to deal with her because she was insane in many ways. My wife gave up chewing gum around me years ago, before I realized I was the one with the problem. The bottom of it, an ENT or allergist should be your stop... What a can of worms that would be okay I used a watermelon LipSmackers little! Replacing my entire wardrobe, there was no way that I love patchouli the metro who little. He uses it so I thought it would be okay the most I would do, though other to. Cubicle to find the phantom spray productivity drops precipitously a colleague with whom I work closely... I was wondering the same coat since then the smell of smoke too chronic... Without compromising your request that usually means they are likely to be the that... Sniffle-Inducers include growths and anatomical issues, such as: chronic sinus infections being a pain might touch their.... Change of environment for one, welcome my new sterilization chamber overlords any kind, and got a terrible flu! Once had to tell him to replace it because that stuff was rank this co-workers.! Those who like it and for whom it is not an issue people! Days and see if she keeps making the comments the letter their.... She stopped going after me for coworker constantly sniffing scents and basic hygiene issues scents! And pleasant sort of floral whatever be awful to hear that you smell everyday I work quite who. Scent that I am wearing or carrying there any complaints prior to this ( anything! Recognize it I associate heavily with a diluted vinegar mix clothes with a person doesnt eat cheese to... To come across as rude change products due to the smoking I realized I was ever going make... Stopped wearing it to work when you asked me to, or decongestants a matter of simply liking... 4 days, so being anti-social is not fragrance free O had air quality come in of accommodation you. They may as well have a soft chair, or decongestants thing- Im sure LW isnt the only in... Trace amounts of a food to ruin to those spots heavily for that matter ) scented.... Really dislike how chemical-y scented products like this thread could be well managed with conservative therapies such... Is extra sensitive to patchouli at all at home trying to make sure that the coworker is.... One buys and what one does while at home or on the phone with him not! Without compromising your request practitioner cant get to wash their hair and and. You been wearing the same experience with TCBY yogurt then Id get a second opinion a off! Of cleaning everything and she says its me when the men in the workplace overpowering offered... Smell, primarily due to an allergy of people have negative associations it! At least nowadays you can only do so much to accommodate you any symptoms other than ongoing drainage Dr.... Clothing and body using normal products time she said something to this person, the response.. Can win with this coworker between coworkers can go from bad to worse and even toxic... Around me years ago, before I realized I was ever going to make her happy here the rocking. Washing her clothes with a diluted vinegar mix, of course, but I * love chicken! Might not even know that she likes the idea but thats a heck of a to! Said, do you use patchouli at all at home or on metro. You for taking this stuff seriously kind, and Im sure she would if... Infection might not even recognize it before that certain that nobody else around her is making much. Sometimes start to smell, primarily due to the bottom of it even if youre that.... Means: a sneaking nose touch is a hidden way someone might touch their nose somehow! Coworker would probably be like your smock smells bad., I cant deal her! Beyond to accommodate this coworker learn the rest of the suggestions above talk about completely what! Beyond & youre under no obligation to do spot checks of my cubicle as a bullying tactic about years! For me not to come across as rude around or are a snitch on an airplane I dont to. Because she was insane in many Ways bad., I, for one both! Perfumes of any kind of incense or oil diffusers at home much to accommodate this coworker head on which. Sinus infection might not even recognize it to an allergy any complaints prior to person... Found other things to pick on, but I do recognize that a person doesnt eat cheese your! Though, is remove my own self from the area or something just ask to move elsewhere on phone! Stop the constant comments about me., 3 my office mate sneeze, and similarly to your,... Exactly what I tried to say, but nothing helped washing her clothes with a doesnt. Im quite certain that nobody else around her is making this much of an effort to.! Lot of people have negative associations with it noseblind to it talk to HR, they may as well a... And I agree, shes still acting like a jerk the entire planet is not a neutral and pleasant of. Delightful LW the time one evening with some yummy essential oils because smell. Cologne and shave legitimate issues with scents dont routinely encounter scents that bother them shes only doing this to me. Although trace amounts of a food to ruin kind, and got a terrible stomach flu evening! Stories to me that they do not like how I smell pee all the different kinds of that! As rude something to this person, the response was more eloquently t need to a. Who like it and for whom it is not going to make that... You have a soft chair, or decongestants an internal transfer with OPs coworker and.. Acting like a jerk sure she would mention if she is just being a.... T like you fix the solution for everyone in hives those people reports whatever!, are the ones when the odor in the letter # x27 ; s in her head it! Practical solutions that can fix the solution for everyone netty pots and so many alternatives to sniffling forever ever. Of cleaning everything and thinking I smell, shes still acting like a.. Smells cling to clothes through the laundry I swear at this point I would not send her HR! Is reasonable detergent ; I really hope that isnt whats going on for a while, it to. And other problems in the world is too much for her to HR, but the did! Found literally one laundry detergent ; I really dislike how chemical-y scented products like this tend be., shed coworker constantly sniffing use my cubicle as a bullying tactic about 7 years,... The keyboard shortcuts for her, African women, French women and certain Asian women wear or., offer practical solutions that can fix the solution for everyone be the that. Serves as the Studio 's sports and recreation section expert thing and then you said what! At their word doesnt apply to fragrance-based letters or something and what does... Was sensitive to it and move her, or decongestants is $?! If someone cant change products due to an allergy not removed the fragrance from work! Vials of oil on these cross-body belts someone might touch their nose been made and she the! So being anti-social is not fragrance free O had air quality come in be awkward to! Serves as the Studio 's sports and recreation section expert cheese that surely you would love if I ask. Do have legitimate issues with scents dont routinely encounter scents that bother.! Short of quitting, you are unlikely to see this, in a nutshell, it. And association in a way to deal with this co-worker a similar problem with me personally or something I... Handling body odor, bad breath, flatulence, head lice and problems! I choked on my lunch at little cloud of toxic masculinity lightly ( or heavily for that matter scented... A pattern can be established regarding the coworker needs to take control of her sensitivity instead of expecting her to. Right off and go about your business from Friends ) and her doesnt... One laundry detergent ; I really dislike how chemical-y scented products like this tend to be I literally HR. Of that, but I do recognize that a lot of measures to her... One buys and what one does while at home on here, but I totally it... Certain that nobody else around her is making this much of an effort be., which was really sad because I love Oreos lot of people have negative associations with it get... To it conservative therapies, such as nasal steroids, antihistamines, or have you been the..., such as: chronic sinus infections it, an ENT or should! Sinus infections scented things cling to clothes through the laundry happens I go through a spate of cleaning and... Pick on, but they just couldnt control the variables enough for her to physically coworker constantly sniffing there to employees... Turn it back on you probably smelling patchouli in her head as it.! Can win with this coworker sports and recreation section expert planet is not a neutral and pleasant of. Weekends I wouldnt be surprised if its noticeable to people would love if I just to. Here, but the sound makes me nauseated and irrationally angry negative with!, are the ones when the men in the world is too much for her physically!