Fragrances: Do or don’t?

This is a recent post that landed on my social media feed. I am a huge fan of Pixar, and one of their movies that tugs at my heartstrings is “Up” which was released in 2009. Not only does the opening sequence make me cry like a baby every time, but the character Dug is one of my all-time favorites. If you have ever had a Golden Retriever as part of your family, or spent much time with one, you will recognize this goofy and loving breed in Dug.

But the love of Goldens is not what this is post about. Dug is bothered by Carl’s cologne and lets him know how unwelcome the overwhelming scent is by saying “Too much smell!” and “It made my nose get dead.” I can definitely understand what Dug is going through here!

Perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, even strongly scented lotions or deodorants can create difficult situations in workplaces. While some people may not be bothered or even notice a fragrance, others could be put off by them or could be made ill by the chemicals. I can easily get a headache or even start down the road of developing a migraine when I am around someone whose fragrance is too strong. Others become nauseous, sneeze or cough, or develop other physical symptoms when they are sensitive to smells.

I appreciate that people want to smell good, and may have quite emotional attachments to certain scents. Perhaps it is a smell that reminds them of a loved one or a particularly important time in their life. Maybe it was a gift from someone special.

I also undestand that no one sets out thinking “I am going to overpower everyone in the room with my fragrance today!” as they leave the house. Even if the excess application of a fragrance is bothersome, I do not believe it is intended to irritate or cause illnesses.

(And, truly, I am grateful that the scent is “offending” on the side of being overly perfumed rather than the body odor side of smells!)

Because none of us wear name tags that say “sensitive to chemical smells” to alert others, I advise that we consider others’ experience in the workplace or out in the world. For fragrances, apply them very lightly so as not to overwhelm others with the scent. As my grandmother would say, your perfume should not enter the room before you do or linger after you have departed.

It can be helpful to enlist the help of a friend or family member, especially if you have one like me who is sensitive to smells, and ask them how powerful your cologne is. Just as we get the assistance of others for advice on whether a tie or scarf matches a suit, or for a quick check to make sure that no food is stuck in our teeth, our friends can be allies in helping us to make sure that our fragrance is not too much for those around us.