Today, while at the gas station, I was downwind of a woman who was wearing probably the STRONGEST perfume I've smelled in my life! Heck, it was even overpowering the smell of the gasoline! Not only that, but it was probably the WORST-smelling perfume I've ever smelled as well. :(
As soon as I got a whiff, I started coughing. I have mild asthma, so maybe I'm more sensitive than the "average" person. However, I truly think ANYONE would have coughed if they got a good whiff of this, because it was so strong AND so foul!! The woman actually looked at me, probably wondering if I had tuburculosis or something, the way I was coughing. *wry chuckle*
When she looked at me, I almost said something to her, in a very NICE way, about her perfume. I would not have said it smells bad, because that's a matter of (gross) preference. But I sooo wanted to simply tell her that it was wayyyy too strong for public use. However, I chickened out. :(
Do you think it's ever OK to tell someone this?
2007-09-14 11:33:59 · 55 answers · asked by scary shari 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Maybe I'm the only person who bothers doing this, but I like to try to recognize ALL my favorite answers before I pick the one "Best Answer." :)
I often wish I could pick several as best, but I can't. So -- for what it's worth (no points but it's still a compliment) -- here are my fave answerers, in the order in which the replied, I think:
_Kraygh_, bizou_bear, Blue_Bee, estefani, Randy D, toochins, catsarewild, Melissa, Silva (I'd love to meet your mom, LOL), BennBJ Bear, and JP. Thanks! :)
2007-09-17 19:22:10 · update #1
Have you noticed that hospitals are telling people (including staff) not to wear perfumes or colognes while working/visiting the hospital? Know why? Far too many people react to strong scents, and they don't even have to be that strong to trigger an allergic reaction. My wife reacts to certain scents too, and others will give me an instant blinding headache. If someone cannot use their common sense and use 'perfume' the way it is meant to be used...then they will get told at some point. Whether it is done nicely or not...that will be their only choice.
2007-09-14 16:44:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
As a grown man who has had to smell LOTS of women with foul smelling perfumes, and often stronger than I like, I've come to realize that the stinkin' experience will last only a while, and then you'll go on to nicer aromas, like the gas at the gas stations or exhaust fumes from poorly tuned cars, or sometimes the plain ol' clean air. You can tell them if you want, but, since they didn't ask, you might want to wonder if it's worth the effort, when you'll simply get the "shocked" and "offended" and maybe retaliatory reaction from the smelly thing. Me? I'd just let it go and realize she'll be suffering the consequences in her own world long after you come and go. That's the best revenge. God Bless you.
2007-09-14 11:42:25 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No It is NOT ok to tell them! I can tell you from experience that it'll ruin their day and it's none of your business if you aren't working with them. There's nothing they can do about it right then anyway. It happened to me yesterday. I had a single spray of my fave perfume on. People had been telling me all day that it smelled great so i know it wasn't overdone. But a lady who had no reason to even be near me and could have just done her shopping and left decided that she had should waste her (endangered?) breath for 5 minutes telling me that my perfume was so strong that she couldn't stand near me and that it nearly knocked her off her feet when she came in the store. She said that "people like her exist who have sensitivities so no one should wear perfume." She walked up to me and said "i need to ask you something but i dont know how to do it without being offensive." You cant. It will always be insanely rude. And i will still wear it. Why change for a stranger I won't see again?!
2016-09-22 08:07:03 · answer #3 · answered by Kandace 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-05 14:30:35 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's never okay to tell someone that their perfume is too strong. It's kind of like saying something like this:
"You are so ugly, I don't want to stand near you!"
"Your outfit is horrible...so trashy!"
You wouldn't say things like that, would you? Probably not. The mere fact that you asked this question shows that you are trying to be kind, even though it can be difficult. I know your plight, too, because I've been near many people who have way too much fragrance on...and sometimes the fragrance is nasty. However, because it is a matter of preference and individuality, you may never say "you have way too much perfume on." It would be seen as cruel and more than impolite, and you just might get a little fight about things if you say something like that. So, even though it's hard at times, keep your mouth closed and try to get away from the contaminated area!
2007-09-14 12:14:13 · answer #5 · answered by Misscheerios2 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I just came from lunch at the Marriott, a woman and her companion came close to my table, and I thought I was going to vomit, from the smell of her perfume.
She ended up taking the table about 3 feet from me, and my immediate reaction was "damn I have to move now, and why is it that I have to move, when she should move her smelly ***" Fortunately for me, the a/c was blowing the stench of her perfume away, so my lunch continued with no confrontation. The way women are now a days, I'm afraid I'd get a harassment lawsuit if I said anything. Pretty sad commentary on women's lib.
2007-09-14 22:57:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of Course, but always go about it in the proper way. A person should always know never to wear loud perfumes because people have different reactions toward them, it takes common sense only to put a light squirt of perfume or just to use perfumes or lotions with light sents to them. You could've just told the broad "Excuse me ma'am, I don't me to be rude and please do not take any offense, but the perfume you are wearing is a bit too strong, if I offended you in any kind of way I apologize truly, it's just that I thought that I should let you know"
If she doesn't understand and accept, then the hell on with her, cause honestly her sh!t smelled bad and you was just tryna help her out!
2007-09-14 11:45:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
My quick answer would be "ABSOLUTELY NOT" but I am reminded of something that happened while I was shopping with my mother about 5 years ago. Its sort of the opposite of this situation but anyways........we were in a supermarket and this man had a TERRIFICALLY foul body odor! Everywhere he walked people were wrinkling their noses and moving away from him, including me. Not my mother! she walks up to him and starts asking him about this clothing he has on and he explains that he wears it everyday and it cant be washed. Well...she spends a good half hour explaining to him about how to deodorize it and also gets into how to wash himself and what soaps and ALL THIS STUFF...and he is eating it up and buying the things she recommends!! He winds up thanking her profusely!! This is a true story!! What does it have to do with your question? Nothing and everything. I think there is a way to tell people things you really believe are in their best interests to know. Perhaps I should send my mom over??LOL!!
2007-09-14 12:32:44 · answer #8 · answered by Silva 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think it's okay when you work with that person or are around them constantly. But if it's just a stranger you are only around for a few minutes, then it's really not your place.
There used to be a woman in my class that wore perfume like that, and I would get migranes every time. I asked her politely if she wouldn't mind wearing less or none, and she was so understanding. Why should we all suffer because one person wants to smell "good"?
2007-09-14 11:59:31 · answer #9 · answered by Melissa 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well take the situation like this: If you were her and were going to a fancy date would YOU want to be told you're perfume smelled bad? Well i would like someone to tell me my colone was too strong. But the part about it smelling bad, thats hard to say 'cause if there date likes it and she does too then when u say something about it she could get defensive.
2007-09-14 11:42:29 · answer #10 · answered by runescapepro 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋