How do you politely deal with a co-worker who wears too much cologne?

Question

I have a co-worker who typically wears way too much cologne. You can smell the cologne for at least 5 minutes after the guy has left the room. He leaves a cologne trail wherever he goes. Not only is it smelly, it makes my eyes burn and it makes me sneeze like crazy. That said, he's a _really nice_ guy, and I know it would embarrass him terribly if someone addressed him directly and asked him to tone down the cologne.
What is the proper way to handle it? I'm thinking of asking my friend in HR if there is a policy on scents in the office (i.e. no candles, no incense, etc.), and if so, asking her to send a polite email to employees just to reiterate the scent policy. We have more than this one person going a bit overboard with cologne/perfume/strong-smelling lotion/etc. I just notice this person because he's on my team and I work with him daily.
Any ideas?

Answer 1

I don't think I'd take it upon myself to talk with this guy about it. Even though he's really nice and you would phrase your request in a nice way, he still may become offended and it would create tension/hard feelings. Not fun, considering you have to work with this guy closely it seems.

I'd go to your HR and ask about the policy. Even if there isn't an official policy regarding cologne/perfume, your HR manager would probably still send out an email to everyone letting them know there's an asthmatic person (or some similar excuse) in the office and to please tone it down if they wear perfume/cologne.

Answer 2

First I would check out on that policy and see if there isn't a memo that can't go out to everyone, that way he wont feel discriminated against. If that option isn't avalible then I would type out a letter to him (so there is no hand writting to match up to) and tell him you enjoy the way he smells just that some times it may be a little strong. Less is more. Explain that sometimes when a cologne is naturally strong that oyu don't need to put as much on. Also inform him that because it is so strong it can bother people who are sensitive to strong smells. Be polite about it and be positive that he does still smell go but needs to cool it just a little.

Answer 3

I think he would be MUCH more embarrassed to if he knew that this question was posted on Yahoo instead of addressing him directly :)

Speak to him about it in private. Just tell him that you love his cologne but you're clearly allergic to it. Ask him if he would mind not wearing it at the office or at least using less of it. If you emphasize the fact that you're asking him to not wear it because of a health issue rather than your own personal opinion, he probably will not be offended.

Answer 4

Nothing is more revolting than too much scent, especially when it's the cheap stuff!

I'd just pull up a face mask when I talk to them... they'll get the hint.

Seriously, I had a co-worker who kept reapplying her cologne because she couldn't smell it on herself any more. I waited until she spritzed again, and then told her that really, we all could smell her just fine. Maybe her sense of smell was becoming "too used" to the cologne.

Answer 5

I worked in a office like this. Not only did a woman wear too mcuh perfume, at certian points in the day, she would re-apply at her desk. Several people complained, HR got involved, told her to wear less perfume many, many times and as far as I know, her cube is still a vapor of cheap Obsession knock off. I mean, what are they going to do, fire her? The labor bored would freak.

If your co-worker is wearing too much cologne, you might take him aside and say "I don't want to seem high maintainece here - and I like your cologne, but I'm a little allergic to it. I was wondering if - for me, you might wear a little less." Make it seem medical, not personal.

Answer 6

You could start a purfume convo with someone else in the office within ear shot of him. And explain how you feel less purfume/cologne is always sexiest, since you can only smell it when you get close. Like it's there just for you, not the whole world or office...

Answer 7

The question you should be asking yourself is this...Is it more polite to not say anything and let coworkers keep building resentment towards him, or to just pull him aside and tell him so he can correct the behavior?
Personally, I would pull him aside privately, let him know that his cologne is a bit strong, and that you're telling him because you care, and hate to see other coworkers making an issue of it behind his back. I think he'll correct the behavior, and probably be grateful to you for letting him know.

Answer 8

I used to work with a girl named "Liz" who used to use a lot of a cologne I really found offensive. It was not the smell but rather the fact that it always gave me a sinus headache.

I found an excuse to leave the room if I felt it was unbearable.

Answer 9

Maybe, you could engage him in small talk and and drop a hint by talking about this "other friend" of yours who wears really strong cologne and would do better if he toned it down. . He might catch the hint and get the message. I dont know how much you guys talk but this might work.

Answer 10

I am allergic to most colognes and perfumes. I simply state "I like the smell of your cologne but it doesn't like me". And I let them know that I am allergic.