topic Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance in Beauty

What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

Jordan2 — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 19:54:05 GMT

Have you ever worked with or have a family member who seems to have been heavy handed with fragrance? I have, but I don't want to hurt someone's feelings by saying their fragrance is too much. I say nothing and just try to bear it. Do they really not smell it on themselves?

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

geezerette — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 19:59:00 GMT

Yes. I have a dear close friend that not only personally overdoes the fragrance, but her house smells overpowering too. And the thing is she has a very bad case of asthma.

She's very sensitive and if I ever did more than hint that perhaps she'd be better off without quite so much fragrance in her life, it would devastate her.

I figure people have to put up with things they don't like about me, so I need to do the same.🤷‍♀️

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

Carolina925 — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 19:59:29 GMT

I had a coworker who used to mix all kinds of different fragrances, saying she wanted her own "signature fragrance"; she'd give me headaches and everyone knew when she was walking down the halls. I'm guessing she didn't smell them on herself since I rarely can smell my own perfume after about half an hour. I can't think of a single way to let people know when it's too much.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

decaf — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 20:03:51 GMT

It's worse than annoying, you can develop allergies to fragrance if you're forced to be around someone who constantly overdoes it, as in a work setting.

ETA- This happened to my husband, any perfume now starts him sneezing and getting a headache.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

Carolina925 — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 20:05:34 GMT

@geezerette , I feel the same way about people putting up with my little quirks. Since I never can smell my own perfume, I may be guilty of overdoing it, as well.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

decaf — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 20:17:09 GMT

@Jordan2 If it was a co-worker I'd definitely ask a boss to step in, to tell the worker not to wear any fragrance at work.

It's more sensitive with a friend or relative, I'd try to bear it unless it's someone you see all the time. Then I'd be direct, but in a non confrontational, caring manner.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

Jersey Born — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 20:25:48 GMT

@Jordan2 - Many years ago, my mother liked the smell of Giorgio, and I truly disliked that intense smell. I did tell her, and I encouraged her to switch to another one. I was quite relieved when she discovered Lancome's Tresor, because even though I did not completely love that fragrance, I found it much more pleasant to my olfactory senses than Giorgio.

While I felt completely comfortable discussing this issue with my mother, I don't recommend telling someone other than an immediate family member that their fragrance is offensive to you for the very reason that @geezerette mentioned-- some people are extremely sensitive to negative input, and they will feel extremely hurt.

Another thing to consider is that there are worse things to smell than even the strongest perfume, like a co-worker who comes to work with breath stinking of alcohol, cigarrettes, and coffee. I once offered such a co-worker a mint when I had to work closely with him at an offsite location, but he declined it. There is only so much you can do to remedy such a situation without coming off as hostile or unkind.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

qualitygal — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 10:42:54 GMT

I once worked with a lady who was kind enough to say she was sensitive to perfumes and had to take pills. I wasn't heavy handed, she was just very sensitive to perfumes. I appreciated her honesty and saved the perfume to wear, places she wasn't. It was all good, I appreciated knowing that, and didn't want her to be uncomfortable or even miserable, if she had a reaction of sorts. We can communicate kindly and not everyone will react badly to the truth.

Came back to add: if you are a garlic lover, if you overdo, it will come out your pores, or was that cumin? I was around someone once who was that way. Wow, and I love garlic, so now, I'm careful of that too.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

manny2 — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 20:39:30 GMT

The amount of fragrance that is offensive is subjective, so unless it's so heavy you can almost taste it I wouldn't say anything. We can't control what other people do. If you are at work in a tight space I would just go to a supervisor, and let them handle it.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

KingstonsMom — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 20:41:44 GMT

My DD recently bought a 'designer' fragrance that she absolutely loves, but I had to tell her that it was waaay too strong, the way she was applying it.

She swears that she only did a spritz on her wrist and one on her throat, but still it was way too much.

I mean, if your Mom won't tell ya', who will?

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

1Snickers — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 21:17:54 GMT

@Jersey Born A lady in exercise class wore Giorgio and I would have sneezing fits. So, I moved far away.

Then another lady who liked Kimshi (a hot spicy Fermented dish that stays in the system) exercised near me.
I joined another gym.

🤸 🧘🏼 🏋🏼‍♀️

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

PA Mom-mom — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 21:39:31 GMT

@Jordan2 My DH and I are allergic to scent. His Mom is 94 and has always loved strong perfumes. Our eyes water like crazy when we're in her apartment. She gives me new tops she purchased especially for me. However, they have been in her apartment long enough to soak up the scent. I can't even wash it out! But, she is 94, so I'm not going to offend her. The office I worked in had a no perfume rule, but that didn't stop people from using it. Fortunately, I had an office to myself, so that limited the time I had with them.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

SloopJohnB — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 21:50:33 GMT

@Jordan2 Yes, a coworker, but luckily they're in another room for the most part. Every time I smell their cologne, Steve Perry's voice from Journey pops into my head.....Don't Stop Believin' ......."Smell of wine and cheap perfume " 🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

Then I can't stop getting the song out of my head..... But I don't have the heart to say anything. ❤

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

Kachina624 — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 22:18:00 GMT

When a person uses the same fragrance over a long period, they can no longer smell it, becoming "nose dead" to it, so they use more and more until it becomes intolerable to others. I had a friend/co-worker that used the stuff that smells like roses. After years of wear, she smelled overpowering like a greenhouse. Nobody could stand to sit near her in a meeting.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

Still Raining — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 22:23:37 GMT

At work, one person had allergies and we were all (men too) asked to refrain. It was very nicely done and there were no hard feelings.

Yes I was one of the guilty ones, but have been more careful since.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

on the bay — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 22:33:11 GMT

I never told my sweet stepmother.

But I have been on the other end too when once I sprayed some before going into church and one woman kept waving her hand and then moved away an isle. So dramatic!🙄

I felt sorry and bad and embarrassed for having caused some discomfort, esp cause I usually refrained from wearing any. I just thought I might try again, never realizing how strong it was. It wasn't even perfume and I sprayed just a little.

For me I really miss wearing any scent. I don't because so many are sensitive to it.

I don't know what happened to make so many so sensitive to anything.

I miss wearing some and smelling it myself.

So when someone still wears some, even if overwhelming, I don't say anything.A lot can never smell it on themselves unless they put a lot on, never knowing that it may affect others. And I agree they should know this.I never wore any again in church, nor other places either.

I do know there are some who have asthma and things who really can't be around a lot of different smells.

But I also think there are a lot who could reign in the responses.

Like the word "reeks" and waving their hands and things like that.

Not necessary.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

kittyloo — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 23:15:17 GMT

its fairly common now to see signs in doctors office about wearing fragrance, but IMO most don't really enforce it.

i do remember several years, i was in a chemo room full of patients. probably 30, and the gal they put next to me REEKED of Charlie. (remember that one?)

i complained to the nurse, that i was gonna vomit breathing that in. couldn't believe in that situation, how anyone would think its ok to drench themselves in purfume before going in for their chemo session.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

skatting44 — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 23:21:54 GMT

Yea, have had the experience with co-workers and friends . I sneeze alot when someone wears any perfume with musk .

I really can'y stand that patcholi fragrance that women and men wear that is so strong that it lingers in the air for a long time- it gives me a horrible headache !

I was fortunate to have my own office and did not have to share work space with someone in close quarters . I did have to tell my friend that I was really sensitive to perfuses that had musk or rose scent.

Had a teacher who must have dipped her clothes in White Shoulders - can't stand that smell.

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

justashopper — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 02:15:16 GMT

I would find a way to politely or anonymously let the person know. It's unfair for you or anyone to suffer headaches etc over perfume.

I know someone that was asked by her boss to chill on the perfume. And this girl was definitely offended. And took the stance, why should I not wear perfume I like because it bothers her???

I found that response almost as offensive as her stinky perfume. Sufficed to say, I stay away from this person. I don't know which stinks worse-- her perfume or attitude.

LOL

Re: What To Do With An Overwhelming Fragrance

jellyBEAN — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 02:34:31 GMT

I'll never forget, many years ago, I had purchased a sporty Ralph Lauren perfume for ladies (can't recall the name now), and I thought it had a nice 'fresh' scent.

One day I was sitting in my cubicle at work, and another girl who worked in my department got off the elevator, right outside my cubicle, and said "Who's wearing bug spray?" I kept mum but knew she must have not liked my perfume choice.

I never wore the perfume again. (This really did hurt my feelings as I thought it was a nice cologne.)