'Several people have been sniffed by our manager': Employee’s dramatic request to ban scents turns into HR nightmare

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Nov 12, 2025 1:00 PM EST

Almost everyone has that one coworker who seems to want to recruite everyone for their personal crusade. At my old job, there was a guy that really hated mayonnaise and actively preached against its use. This was particularly annoying as we worked at a burger place and were given a free shift meal that people liked putting mayonnaise on, more often than not. One person's coworker has declared a full-scare war against… perfume.

Now, don't get me wrong: scent sensitivities and fragrance allergies are very real, and most workplaces will bend over backward to keep their employees comfortable. But in this case, despite the email reminders, the seating adjustments, the "please stop spritzing in the bathroom" Slack messages, and the diplomatic "have you tried a mask?" conversations, the drama kept escalating anyway as the scent-sensitive coworker continued to insist that she still couldn't stand her allergies. Eventually, people ended up getting called into the HR office to get sniffed-tested. 

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  • 01

    When do allergies go too far?

    Cheezburger Image 10574365184
    via DragonImages

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  • 02
    We have a lady at work who has been complaining about perfumes for several months now. Work has sent out several emails asking people to
    via u/shriek-and-creaks
  • 03
    not wear perfume, but her complaints continue. They have also offered her an isolated area to sit in and suggested to wear masks, but she
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  • 04
    wants to continue sitting in her favorite spot and thinks she shouldn't be punished by being separated from everyone else (it's a call center with
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  • 05
    desks in rows, with a 1.5m gap between each person beside you, and a 1m gap with the person behind you) and also stated it wouldn't make a difference anyway since the perfume is in the air.
    via u/shriek-and-creaks
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10574364928
    via YakobchukOlena from Getty Images

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  • 07
    Several people have been called into the office and sniffed at by our manager, and they have all stated the same thing; they're not wearing
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  • 08
    perfume. Two of whom I could vouch for as telling the truth. They don't use hair spray either. I understand scents can come from hair shampoo and
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  • 09
    washing detergents, but it seems this lady is not willing to take any personal accountability for her allergies and sits in the most popular area while expecting others to be completely scent free, when the people accused
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  • 10
    don't even know where the scent is coming from. It's at the point people are starting to feel bu ied and are calling in sick to avoid the stress of being targeted.
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  • 11
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    via macniak

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    I've seen this sub is sympathetic to those with perfume allergies so I'm hoping for some advice from those
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  • 13
    who suffer with it to suggest a resolution to management that works for everyone. We're in Australia, so it would have to apply there.
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  • 14
    Funny_Breadfruit_413 I think she just wants to control her coworkers. If she was offered a solution and refused to take it, then she's the problem.
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  • 15
    We have a similar situation going on at my job. When people complained about the offending party, the person sitting next to her was offered another seat. Others were given masked to wear.
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  • 16
    It solved the problem for the most part. but the person wearing the offensive perfume also started
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  • 17
    wearing a mask. Because of the mask, she now sprays more perfume during her lunch break and doesn't realize she's over spraying.
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  • 18
    Management also never told her she was the reason many people were wearing masks. So it's kinda funny that she now wears one because other people are.
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    via Elnur

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  • 20
    Avehdreader My former boss worked with a woman who wore very nice, very expensive perfume, but she kept spraying it on during the day - she could no longer detect it but it was overpowering to everybody
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  • 21
    else. When she had a meeting with my boss I could literally smell her coming from halfway down the hall (and it was a long hall!) and I would tell my boss "Patty's on the way - she should be here in about 30
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  • 22
    seconds." Some people never learned not to over apply. Maybe just say "Your perfume is nice but it's awfully heavy - would you mind not spraying so often?"
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  • Sounds like people have done everything that they can to limit scents in the office; now it's her turn to do her part because this should really be a compromise. Out with the masks!

  • 23
    SlayyyGrl I don't see you mention that she has disclosed allergies or a medical condition... maybe she's hypersensitive?
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  • 24
    Honestly it sounds like she has been offered quite good accommodations by your workplace and people are abiding by them. It's not insignificant for the entire office to agree to participate in a "no perfume" request.
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  • 25
    Plastic_Doughnut_911 We used to have wall-mounted air fresheners that sprayed scent periodically. They had to go because of someone's asthma.
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  • 26
    I know work places are supposed to make reasonable adjustments but there's a limit. I have had people comment on my use of laundry detergent/fabric softener before...not negatively... but should I be expected to switch to fragrance-free if someone said it was a problem? What if I'd just spent money on some and had to spend more? Where does it end?
    via u/Plastic_Doughnut_911
  • 27
    Jean19812 She should put a good HEPA filter in her area / cubicle that would keep her immediate area clear.. But the situation sounds a little more complicated. There could be a passive aggressive/controlling component..
    via u/Jean19812
  • 28
    Aromatic_Quit_6946 So not wearing perfumes is a voluntary agreement by her coworkers. Legally, once she has been given an option and refused her complaints are no longer valid, nor do they need to be recognized. I suggest everyone wear all the perfumes, colognes, and scents they want.
    via u/Aromatic_Quit_6946
  • 29
    1. An allergy is a medically diagnosed condition, not a preference against something. 2. A Reasonable Accommodation (for a non-medical) condition has been offered. She is just being a b
    via u/Aromatic_Quit_6946

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terrible coworkers relationship advice boss corporate employee allergies Professional At Work work coworkers workplace girlboss employment
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