Workplace Etiquette: Making Sense About Scents

We’ve talked about how to deal with employees with poor hygiene and unpleasant smells, but what about colleagues who spritz on cologne or perfume in the office?

Many nurses’ organizations view fragrances as a health hazard. As the Massachusetts Nurse Newsletter writes,

At present one in five people in the U.S. experience adverse health effects from fragrance exposure. These effects range from mild to serious with fatalities reported in a very small number of cases.

On the Job Accommodation Network, Elisabeth Simpson, MS, discusses obligations of the employer when it comes to workplace fragrances. Guidelines generally depend on the circumstances, including whether the employee with fragrance sensitivity is sufficiently incapacitated to trigger the Americans with Disabilities Act and who’s responsible for the fragrance (e.g., another employee or a machine necessary to the business).

Simpson also shares some fragrance-free-workplace policies, such as "Cologne, perfume, aftershave lotions, scented lotions, or body washes are not to be worn in the Medical Center" and "To reasonably accommodate bureau employees who have written memoranda documenting chemical sensitivity to perfume, employees will wear no perfume or cologne during business hours when they are scheduled to be within the bureau during their shift.”

Some people believe that education may be more effective than bans, since bans can lead to resentment as people feel that their rights are being curtailed. The University of Alberta has issued a brochure called “Be Scents-ible With the Air We Share,” which focuses on cooperation and suggests that supervisors 

Discreetly approach the individual who is using the scented product and politely discuss the issue. Encourage the individual to refrain from using the scented product as a courtesy to those with sensitivities.

It can also be helpful for the person with the fragrance sensitivity to talk to his or her co-workers about how scents can lead to allergic reactions, headaches, and asthma attacks. A human face is often much more effective than a written edict.

I have a slight fragrance sensitivity myself, so I can’t help but be glad that the use of fragrances is being limited. But I also feel sympathy for people who like wearing perfume, and I thank them for compromising their freedom to save me headaches.

Has this been an issue in your workplace? How did you deal with it?

--by Wendy Caster

Wendy Caster is a writer specializing in finances, health and wellness, and organizational management. She thanks her officemate for always asking if a fragrance will bother her.