wearing perfume to work

LeahJet, ASN, RN · Dec 1, 2005

Whenever I think of loud perfumes/colognes, I think of this particular GI doctor who thought he was God's gift to all women. I can just hear his loafers clicking down the hall and smell his Polo (yesss POLO...yuk) cologne way before I saw him. The only swooning going on was from sensory overload.

The fact that he was a creep made the smell even worse.

nurseman99 · Dec 1, 2005

in a dozen yrs of nursing 55-60hrs a week i have never seen or heard of a pt upset about aftershave,perfume,or cologne,unless the wearer far exceed their parts per million of spray.you know the person;they lather in chanel 5 or brut as though they are expecting ms/mr right to waltz by and be literally knocked over by the fragrance.as far as an asthma attack, 55hrsx52weeksx12yrs =alot of time in nursing having never seen a post perfume status astmaticus....

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Dec 1, 2005

i work on a pedi unit and it is pretty frowned upon. our kids are usually wheezers, and the scents set them off. i do love it when RT comes in smelling like they do sometimes... the kids can be worse after their tx than they were before from those smells!!

:-(

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2005

The day after Thanksgiving, I was stupid enough to go out shopping. I had little choice as my laptop was totally dead, and I needed a replacement.

I was stuck in Best Buy behind lookiloos that couldn't make up their minds for 45 minutes straight. And because I was buying a laptop, I wasn't permitted just to go to the front and checkout.

Right behind me there was a gentleman buying norton antivirus that decided that I had to HEAR ALL ABOUT HIS PROBLEM!!!!!! Two or three or four times. And he was wearing the most!!! Gosh awful!!!! nasty reeking cologne!!!!!

And though I was doing my best to do the polite "ignore" (make no verbal responses, smile weakly, move away) that one does when you don't want to say, "Go away, you are annoying the heck out of me and you smell bad""), he just kept rattling on, moving closer with his nasty cologne.

I was about to pass out from the nasty fumes by the time that I made it to the front.

Sorry, but people should smell like people and not like "Stetson Man".

And we are not at work to be attractive, we are there to do a health related job. And smelling like "Poison" is detrimental to that job.

smk1, LPN · Dec 1, 2005

thought this would be interesting. what's your policy? i wear a light body splash if any.

i don't start my program until spring so this may change due to policies, but i use eucalyptus and mint body wash in the shower, (very refreshing) and pwder fresh secret anti-perspirant. i can smell my body wash for about 1 hour (very faintly though like shampoo). I am not big on perfume, but if i am going out i like heave and blue by GAP, or vanilla fields Garden Botanika, tommygirl or chanel no 7. When i start clinicals though most likely i can still use my body wash because it isn't strong, but if now i will switch to OLAY or DOVE body wash.

mhairiroberts · Dec 2, 2005

Having been in the business of breaking bad news to parents occasionally but significantly in my practice for a number of years. I have never recovered from meeting a parent years after the death of her baby who told me that the smell of the perfume I wore on that day reminded her of the occasion each and every time she smelled it.

Lesson Learned. I have never worn perfume to work since.

Reflective practitioner

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 2, 2005

WOW that is a powerful thought-----

welcome to allnurses.com mhariroberts!

jailnurse1033 · Dec 2, 2005

I do wear a little perfume to work, but I work in a prison. On more than one occasion when I've gone down to Booking the Officers have asked if I would stand in front of the fan for a moment (to blow the smell at them) - I guess it beats that unique blend of piss/vomit/clorox odor that seeps out of the drunk tank!

Gogetter · Dec 2, 2005

I have had the displeasure of witnessing an allergic reaction to the "pretty scent" If you were there you would never ever ever ever wear any kind of a scent to work again !! :banghead:

cathyish · Dec 2, 2005

having been in the business of breaking bad news to parents occasionally but significantly in my practice for a number of years. i have never recovered from meeting a parent years after the death of her baby who told me that the smell of the perfume i wore on that day reminded her of the occasion each and every time she smelled it.
lesson learned. i have never worn perfume to work since.
reflective practitioner

wow!

i'm not one to wear perfume to work, but your story is so powerful. thank you.

Marijke · Dec 2, 2005

I also have a problem with a lot of perfumes (including all the mentioned one spritz of bodywash etc.) especially the cheaper ones, most expensive perfumes with true essential oils don't bother me nearly as much. The fruity stuff makes my chest very tight in no time flat.

For years I was having problems coming of nightshift, about 3 times a week. There was a companion coming in with a dialysis patient. When she entered the building you could smell her perfume hundreds of feet away. Finally last year just after Christmas, I encountered, she was on her own and I talked to her. Explained to her what perfumes can do to other people and showed her the Canadian lung association sign, which is posted at every door. I was amazed I could actually do this and certainly tried my best not to offend her. I have never had a problem with this lady again. Just hope I did not hurt her feelings, but some people just appear to bath in the stuff.:uhoh21:

Marijke

gilliansl · Dec 2, 2005

>I am a bit disappointed that the cleaning solution we use is so strongly >scented though. I have the pleasure of regular asthma attacks at work, >but I guess if you're going to "bite it," no better place than in the hospital.

I see no logical rational for restricting judicious body scents and using cleaning chemicals that would knock a horse down at 40 paces. I too have asthma, but mine was caused by non-notification that the exterminator was on the floor, even after I'd espressly stated that I'm deathly allergic to insecticides. The hospital nearly killed me! No, the stuff has no scent, but scent isn't the issue!

All these things are the reason I MUCH prefer a nice 8-5 physician office. I can have nails, polish, perfume... in fact, it's practically required by most of the docs I've worked for.

Gillian