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# Commentary: You smell lovely, ... and you’re making me sick

By Kathleen T. RhemDLA Public Affairs

When I entered the Pentagon as an Army sergeant first class on the evening of 9/11 to take my first emergency night shift as a writer/editor under the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the most notable thing was the smell – burning jet fuel and other chemicals in a visible, acrid purple haze hanging at about face level that stung my eyes and throat. Not surprisingly, “night shift” was a misnomer. Over those first few frantic weeks, I worked around the clock, only going home a few times to shower and change clothes, clothes I later threw away because that awful smell never came out. In the years that followed, I came to understand the smell wasn’t the only thing that stuck with me, and I was eventually diagnosed with cough-variant asthma exacerbated by chemical sensitivity.

Now, 22-plus years later, my workplace has become a minefield of asthma triggers, but none more dramatic or harmful than perfume, air fresheners and other heavily scented products used by co-workers.

As some of us get used to more consistent in-office presence after a long stretch of primarily telework – cubicle living, face-to-face meetings in conference rooms, cafeteria lines and crowded elevators – use of strongly scented personal care products should be considered among other common courtesy issues when working in proximity to others. Minimizing use of perfume and air fresheners is no different than choosing not to play loud music, carry on conversations on speakerphone, or let food rot in a communal refrigerator – things we avoid to respect and get along with others.

Many people are bothered to some degree by strong fragrances. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly a third of respondents across several studies said they are irritated by scented products worn or used by other people, with headaches and breathing difficulties being the most reported symptoms.

In my experience, most people don’t understand they may be causing difficulties to others through the use of scented personal products, and it’s easy to become desensitized to fragrances we’re in regular contact with.

DLA doesn’t have an official policy on use of scented personal products in the workplace. But how can you help not inundate those around you with heavy fragrances? Officials in the DLA Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Program Office offered the following guidance:

“A fragrance-free environment helps create a safe and healthy workplace for all and accommodates those with fragrance sensitivities. DLA’s goal is to be sensitive to employees and visitors with perfume and chemical sensitivities. For the workplace, employees are encouraged to use only unscented personal hygiene products (e.g. shampoo and conditioners, deodorants, soaps, lotions, creams) and to avoid wearing and bringing to work perfumes, fragrances, lotions, aftershaves or colognes. Also, the use of air fresheners and deodorizers, potpourri, and scented oils in the workplace is discouraged.”

If you are negatively affected by strong scents in the workplace, first talk to your supervisor to ensure you aren’t being subjected to such things as part of your mission, particularly in industrial sites. Also try discrete personal conversations with anyone wearing heavily scented products. Respect and kindness go a long way to defusing awkward conversations. I always start from the assumption someone doesn’t know they are causing me harm. If you are uncomfortable with this approach or unsuccessful in your attempts, discuss options with your local leaders or Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Program Office.

I didn’t ask to get sick from serving my country, but the cause and nature of my disability shouldn’t matter. I and others with breathing difficulties, headache disorders, and other conditions or sensitivities to strong fragrances deserve to be safe and comfortable in our workplace. In many cases, that takes awareness and consideration from our co-workers. 

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