Question about perfume/cologne

Published

I love to wear perfume, but I know some people are very sensitive to certain scents. I noticed that when I've been in doctor's offices or at the hospital, I rarely smelled perfumes/colognes. So is wearing perfume out of the question for me when I start my clinicals?

Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
"parfume"? i hope that was a typo. it's not even phonetically correct.

i have to wonder, what about allergies and asthma? does your school not care about triggering those either? and if you're counting on perfumes and colognes to cover body odor, i can guarantee you're wearing too much. bathing, deodorant and wearing clean clothes keep you from smelling bad.

so what if she spelled perfume as parfume? give her a break!

bathing, deodorant and wearing clean clothes keep you from smelling bad.

what about your above statement-you missed the comma after deodorant. i hope that was a typo! :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's not a good idea to wear anything scented. Remember, what smells good to you may not to someone who is sick. Some people are very sensitive to smells. Of course it's good to be clean, but maybe save the scents for after your shift.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

Ugh. I do not wear perfume at work nor did I wear it in school during clinicals. I have all the other days of my life to wear perfume. I bathe with a scented body wash but that's it. I've only ever had one person comment on my smell. It was a patient and I was leaning over him in very close proximity messing with his IV and he said "D*mn you smell good!" It took me off guard and I said "What?" and he repeated himself. We have one CNA on our floor that as soon as she's on the floor (which is large by the way) we can smell her. I don't usually have a problem with allergies but her perfume REALLY irritates my sinuses. It's especially bad if I have a cold. I feel so bad for our COPD patients or any patient that has a hard enough time breathing as it is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
"Parfume"? I hope that was a typo. It's not even phonetically correct.

:uhoh3:

Oh stop! Maybe she ment parfum and that my friend IS in the dictionary. It is french for perfume.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/parfum

I love parfums, but I stay fragrance free at work. A shower and deodorant goes a loooong way.;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Honestly,

If I was a patient with asthma, or post op or whatever and had some nurse come in with some really strong perfume, or even not so strong, but obvious.....I would rather smell BO. Perfume makes me nauseated. Dont force your patients to smell it either. Deodorant is enough!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
so what if she spelled perfume as parfume? give her a break!

bathing, deodorant and wearing clean clothes keep you from smelling bad.

what about your above statement-you missed the comma after deodorant. i hope that was a typo! :uhoh3:

you don't have to put a comma before "and."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:uhoh3:

Oh stop! Maybe she ment parfum and that my friend IS in the dictionary. It is french for perfume.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/parfum

I love parfums, but I stay fragrance free at work. A shower and deodorant goes a loooong way.;)

Yes, parfum, not parfume. "Parfume" is incorrect either way. I understand that I'm being nit picky and I'm okay with that. :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My fiance had spinal surgery a coupe months ago. He was NPO for 3 days prior to surgery and on a LOT of dilaudid and morphine and whatever else they would give him, so his stomach was already unstable. While he was coming out of surgery someone placed an aromatherapy cloth on his chest which was enough to push him over the hill and make him vomit for the next 20 minutes. Not an easy task for someone in a halo. Until that experience, I never realized how large an impact scents can have on patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Where I work the rule is least is better and strong smelling perfumes, deodorants, aftershave etc is not allowed. All the local hospitals I have noticed have posters up saying perfume, aftershave etc isn't allowed

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Please do not wear perfume to clinical, even if your school allows it. The last thing sick people need is to have more chemicals irritating their respiratory systems. I'm one of those who is very sensitive to smells. If I walk by someone wearing a lot of perfume, my nose turns into a faucet and runs non-stop for hours. It takes 3 benadryl to get it to stop, and then I have to fight falling asleep where I stand.

If you came on my unit with perfume that I could smell, I would have to refuse to work with you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.

Strong scents trigger migraines for me and many other people I know, not to mention what it does to someone with a compromised respiratory system. I cannot STAND perfume or heavy cologne.

There was someone I used to work with (not a nurse) that wore so much cologne you could follow the "trail" of scent to find him.

Like other posters have said: Soap, water and deodorant is enough. Oh, and clean clothes. That helps, too. :up:

For your patients sake, leave it off. Please.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I love to wear perfume, but I know some people are very sensitive to certain scents. I noticed that when I've been in doctor's offices or at the hospital, I rarely smelled perfumes/colognes. So is wearing perfume out of the question for me when I start my clinicals?

Ummmm....I would hope that you don't. It is inconsiderate to your patients and coworkers who may have respiratory issues. Keep the perfume for your time at home, not at work.

Person with Lung issues,

blueheaven

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion