Woman Sues Over Excessive Perfume

[Christine]

I agree with another pp. I have to wonder why know people are like this, same with food allergies, years ago you didn't hear of this very often. There wasn't one person that I knew that had food allergies when I was growing up or allergies to chemicals. Makes me wonder what is going on.

I wouldn't say I'm allergic. I think the scents have gotten much stronger. I actually used to wear perfume through my 20s and never had an issue. I remember "back in the day" the strongest selling perfume was that awful Tabu stuff. Then came Calvin Klein's Obsession. That was probably the first perfume that I went "whoa!" to. Now, more and more of them are just REALLY strong (and not nice on top of it). I know that my daughter wears this Miss Dior something or other and it is the worst stuff. Chokes me up bad if I'm in the car with her.

So, I don't think people have changed with regards to scents as much as the scents themselves have changed. I think all that Bath and Body Works stuff is also really strong.

 

[2Eskiedogs]

I used to work in a call-center that was scent-free. Since I've had my boys, it seems that I'm more sensitive to scents, resulting in migranes.

I think the problem is that people drench themselves in their cologne. They are so used to the smell they can't tell if they have enough on, so they spray some more on. Do you really need to use the scented body wash, then the lotion, maybe some powder and then cologne too?

When my DS(16) was a baby, my aunt and uncle offered to take care of him, while we moved to our new house. As my aunt and uncle have gotten older, they seem to drench themselves a bit more in cologne than in years past(him - gray flannel cologne, and her- channel#5). Needless to say when I picked my son up, he reeked(the diaper bay and everything in the diaper bag)reeked of cologne. I developed a migrane driving home with him. When I got home, I left the diaper bay in the garage, took his sleeper off in the garage(it was summer) and promptly took him in to give him a bath. The clothes and blankets in the diaper bag after numerous washing, the smell didn't come out - I even added vinegar to the rinse cycle. That night the diaper bag, and what clothes and blankets that were in the bag went out in the trash. I don't see them that often, it's too bad.

 

[Christine]

When my DS(16) was a baby, my aunt and uncle offered to take care of him, while we moved to our new house. As my aunt and uncle have gotten older, they seem to drench themselves a bit more in cologne than in years past(him - gray flannel cologne, and her- channel#5). Needless to say when I picked my son up, he reeked(the diaper bay and everything in the diaper bag)reeked of cologne. I developed a migrane driving home with him. When I got home, I left the diaper bay in the garage, took his sleeper off in the garage(it was summer) and promptly took him in to give him a bath. The clothes and blankets in the diaper bag after numerous washing, the smell didn't come out - I even added vinegar to the rinse cycle. That night the diaper bag, and what clothes and blankets that were in the bag went out in the trash. I don't see them that often, it's too bad.

This happened to my DD too when she was about 3 weeks old. My in-laws came over for a visit. They both wore some sort of matching perfume/cologne. It may have been Obsession where they make the male and female version? The stuff was god awful. My dd smelled so bad when they left that I had to take her up and bathe her. I scrubbed her poor little head but I still couldn't get the smell out of her scalp. Same with her clothes--it took several washings.

Years later, we purchased a used mini-van from them and the smell never came out. It was all embedded in the seat belts and wherever they had touched when the scent was on their skin.

 

[cats7494]

I am well versed in civil rights laws; I am a civil rights investigator and this was absolutely a violation of her rights. This is a basic reasonable accommodation issue; she requested an accommodation from her employer and was denied.

It is well within her rights to be protected under the ADA. She apparently meets the definition of a person with a disability: “A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.” (EEOC, 1992).

This is a medical issue and should not have been treated any different than if she requested an accommodation for any other medical condition.

The employer could have easily accommodated her:
•Maintain good indoor air quality
•Discontinue the use of fragranced products
•Modify workstation location (place her in a more enclosed area/office)
•Modify the work schedule
•Provide an air purification system
•Modify or create a fragrance-free workplace policy

She was not accommodated therefore her lawsuit was justified - per the law.

 

[sasywtch]

I just spoke with my friend and he has an article where cologne manufacturers, Glade, laundry soap anything with fragrance is putting formaldihide (?sp), acetone, pestiside agents in their products. (lotions and perfume seem to use the pestiside as their products were attracting bugs to stick to you ).
I was an avid cologne wearer for years until 5 years ago but when you know someone who gets violently ill and can't breathe, you learn it's not that important. Ivory soap is good and keeps you clean.

 

[declansdad]

It would bother me. I don't wear a ton of it, just a little, but I love my perfume. Sorry, but I would have to find somewhere else to work. I don't know of any places where I live that have that policy.

There really isn't many places here you would work. People don't need to wear perfume if it affects the people they work with.

Scratch that, you could work at a perfume counter.

 

[mhsjax]

There really isn't many places here you would work. People don't need to wear perfume if it affects the people they work with.

Scratch that, you could work at a perfume counter.

Oh great, that would make even me ill. lol

I guess it just depends on where you live, but I haven't encountered that here, but also if there was someone that I worked with that had an allergy to it, I would not use it during work hours. Also, I am not one of those that spray myself all over, I have friends that get headaches from the stuff but they can be around me, so my level of usage must not be too bad.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Regarding the McD's lawsuit. What part of "HOT" coffee did the lady not understand. Because of her I know get luke warm coffee at Starbucks. You don't drive and have a hot cup inbetween your legs.

What starbucks are you going to--all the ones we go to are piping hot (not that we go often as I can't stand coffee). I get the tea and even with two of those brown wrapper things, it burns my fingers and it is a good 30 minutes before I can attempt to sip it unless I'd like to burn the entire interior of my mouth.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I think she was within her rights. She had tried to get it resolved and nothing was done.

I have gotten more sensitive to perfumes/colognes as I've gotten older. If I'm around someone who has drenched themselves in too much, I get horrible headaches.

I hate it when my In-laws come stay with us. They usually stay at our house for 3 or 4 days and my FIL drenches himself in cologne.

I've asked him nicely not too since it results in me having bad headaches while they stay here.
He always forgets and I have to keep mentioning it. They sleep in my sons room since he has a double bed and I always have to wash the sheets/blankets in bleach to get rid of the smell as well as the pillows.

I also put baking soda all over the mattress and vaccuum it off after a couple of hours. Then flip the mattress. That seems to do the trick for DS so he can sleep in his bed again.

I hate it when they come visit. DH refuses to recommend they stay in a hotel. We always stay in a hotel when we visit them.
I'm looking forward to when they can't travel anymore which is horrible but true.

 

[Rora]

Excessive perfumes and colognes make me feel sick but I certainly wouldn't sue!!

I'm shocked she won!!

 

[sasywtch]

Excessive perfumes and colognes make me feel sick but I certainly wouldn't sue!!

I'm shocked she won!!

I'm not sure why you would be shocked. Anything that the scent stayed for an hour or more is enhanced by a chemical. People can be allergic to chemicals. You will find it more and more I think in governmental agencies where they have the health and safety offices. They know a lawsuit can loom if one cannot come to work in a chemical free atmosphere if they are allergic. All the scents in the long lasting agents whether it be colognes, perfumes, laundry soap, the dreaded fabric sheet which seems to be the worst for those afflicted have chemical agents in them. I'm not a huge proponet to these things but I am careful when I'm around those who are allergic. I've seen the results of someone not able to breathe, the heart racing, swelling. I still wear perfume if I go out on a weekend but even though I've showered twice and changed clothes, he can still smell the scent come Monday morning and he keeps his distance.

 

[allison443]

Excessive perfumes and colognes make me feel sick but I certainly wouldn't sue!!

I'm shocked she won!!

Well, if you read the information posted, it made her sick enough that she had to miss work. She had medical documentation that it was really disabling (not like some of us who just don't like the smell, etc.). She tried to get it resolved and her employer didn't remedy it. I'm sure you've heard of the ADA. So it isn't really shocking that she won, based on the specific facts of this case. Also her employer settled the case, the case wasn't decided by a jury.

 

[shortbun]

As someone who has allergies to certain companies fragrances, I totally applaud her for taking a stand. I think the award was small compared to how sick some people and their constant spraying have made me.

 

[DMRick]

I've had this sensitivity for almost 20 years. It started when many of us worked in a building that had an unexplained smell. Many of those people ended up with sensativites to scents. We have a scent free area in church, but so many people drence themselves, I often have to leave while I'm well enough to drive, before the migraine starts. Hubby does music up front, so it's hard for him to leave with me. Many perfumes used to have just a few ingredients. Now they have many, and most of them are unpronounceable. I can't believe the amount of people with allergies and sensativities nowadays. We put so many chemicals on our bodies.
I buy all of my unscented products in Ireland. Luckily my son lives there and my daughter in law sent me some when they first got married. It's a product called Simple. They only have natural products, no added scents. I love the shampoo's. powder, hand cream, deoderant, antibacterial soap, etc. Unfortunately it's not sold here in the US.

I've had to leave show performances, especially after the mid-break, when people go to the wash room and reapply their hand creams and fragrances. My granddaughter and grandson don't wear perfume around me, yet it's in their clothes and I have to hold back (even though they are washed before they are with me).

The plug ins and scented products in people's homes are sometimes overwhelming. I had a meeting in my home Tuesday night and everyone was told to come scent free..but their clothes still stunk. A mask on an airplane is always close at hand to me.

What you might think is a light amount of perfume, is enough stick to my clothing and I have to change as soon as possible. What you think is a light amount of perfume, smells like a broken bottle to me.

Do I miss perfume? Yes, but when I get a migraine and everything is fuzzy, and I'm nauseous, and I miss out on activities, at those times, I'd like to see it get banned. I did work in a scent free office (actually the whole floor was) for the state of NY.

All that said, I use avoidance, because people just don't get it, and I can't expect that they will, because they have the right to wear it.

 

[scuba]

DMRICK, hopefully i'm not putting words in your mouth but, very nice. I like your last sentence. Folks have the right top wear the perfume. I agree with that statement. Unless the workplace has a policy against it. I work in an Emergency Department, there isn't an official policy against it but we have 2-3 patients who seem to exacerbate their COPD and or asthma around folks wearing perfume.

The lawsuit was won because the employeer had the obligation alleviate the situation. Work spaces could have been traded. My Wife works in a Cubical environment as an IT professional and for years folks in her office wished they has that particular cubical and another wanted this one. Alittle communication and the cubicals could have been switched making it a much enjoyable work environment. I cannot believe that the employeer could have just switched folks up. Lastly on this point. I have accidently splashed on too much and usually my friends and family have stopped me and said...whoaaa there American Gigolo, too much AVON......

I don't think the purfume wearer was sued, just the employeer for lack of action. One morning while my wife was putting on her perfume, I watched her spray the perfume into the air and she walked through the mist cloud, I looked at here and said what the heck are you doing. I was completly unaware that there are DIFFERENT preperations of same smelling perfumes, one is more concentrated and will last longer therefore less is needed. maybe this employee didn't know the difference. Also my Wife and I will now buy a bottle of perfume or colonge and a smaller bottle to keep in the car of gym bag because it is far easier to re-apply after the scent has wore off then to take off too much scent.

This is going to open up a whole can of suits from now on. What about the folks with foul body odor? what about the chain smoker of cigar smoker? I take care of folks in my ER that if they would only wash that shirt more than say....just once a year it would increase their image 100%. Heck if they just ran it under a water faucet once would be better.

 

[Took]

I totally agree!! I used to tell my DD's that if I can smell you before I see you - you have too much perfume on!!!

I agree that, for most people, a little scent if fine. I certainly appreciate that the person tries to "tone it down." However, for me, even a little is often too much. With some floral scents, I simply can't tolerate them for more than a minute or two without a serious headache and allergic symptoms. I try to be polite and put up with it when I have to if at all possible. If it's just too over-powering, I leave (saying "excuse me" and nothing else). If i know the person well and am on good terms, I might mention that their scent unfortunately triggers my allergies, but I try to be nice about it. Most folks are very nice.

I'm fortunate that no one in my area wears perfume or uses scented candles or anything AND I have a door on my (small) office. I don't think we have a no scent policy but few seem to use scent in our whole building.

As for the suer, I say she acted probably in the only way she could given the conditions. Migranes and allergies are just too miserable!

 

[disykat]

Also my Wife and I will now buy a bottle of perfume or colonge and a smaller bottle to keep in the car of gym bag because it is far easier to re-apply after the scent has wore off then to take off too much scent.

Personally, I think "reapplying" is where people get into a danger zone. When the wearing doesn't smell it anymore, it doesn't mean that it has worn off, it means their nose has gotten used to the smell.

 

[declansdad]

I didn't realize that wearing perfume was a right.

 

[DMRick]

I didn't realize that wearing perfume was a right.

Believe me, I wish whatever they use to make perfume would dry up and blow away, and we would never have scented products again. Most people who wear perfume don't get that there clothes hand onto the scent through multiple washes, their little is my lot, and when they reapply it, at something like a show during intermission, usually I get to miss the second half. That said, I think unless it becomes against the law (and I doubt I'll live long enough to see that), wearing perfume is a right. Of course there are exceptions, such as places who mandate their place is scent free. So I'll continue to try to avoid it, because as far as I'm concerned, it's my problem. I do bless those who try to be scent free when they know they are going to be around me.

Declan..I'm only talking the US. I understand from an article I have that even your school teachers cannot wear scents. No public places the article says. Do you not have our equivalent of the American Civil Liberties in Can? Here, they would be all over it, I'm sure. I wondered how you are able to do it.

 

[declansdad]

Believe me, I wish whatever they use to make perfume would dry up and blow away, and we would never have scented products again. Most people who wear perfume don't get that there clothes hand onto the scent through multiple washes, their little is my lot, and when they reapply it, at something like a show during intermission, usually I get to miss the second half. That said, I think unless it becomes against the law (and I doubt I'll live long enough to see that), wearing perfume is a right. Of course there are exceptions, such as places who mandate their place is scent free. So I'll continue to try to avoid it, because as far as I'm concerned, it's my problem. I do bless those who try to be scent free when they know they are going to be around me.

Declan..I'm only talking the US. I understand from an article I have that even your school teachers cannot wear scents. No public places the article says. Do you not have our equivalent of the American Civil Liberties in Can? Here, they would be all over it, I'm sure. I wondered how you are able to do it.

Yes we have the equivalent to your civil liberties but I highly doubt you would find the right to wear a scented product in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I also doubt you would find it in yours.