What is an appropriate way to inform clients that I am sensitive to the smell of perfume?

Question

I work in customer service in an office environment, and I am sensitive to the smell of perfume and cologne. It makes me sneeze, my eyes water and I get a runny nose, and it often causes me to have headaches. I usually have a reaction a few times a week. Is there an appropriate way to inform clients that I am sensitive to the smell of heavy colognes or perfumes. Would a discreetly-worded sign be appropriate or is that out of line in the customer service industry?

Answer 1

Purchase an air filtration machine.

Answer 2

There is really nothing you can do I believe.. it annoys a lot of people even in an elevator if people wear heavy perfumes or men heavy strong after shave.. but if you want to be professional you have to put up with it.. the only way you could tell them would be if you were asthmatic.. then it could cause you to have an attack and that would be a serious thing.. but unfortunately you just have to put up with watery eyes.. and just keep some headache pills ready.. I am sure not everybody wears such heavy perfume.. perfume should just be like a hint of a fragrance in the air and not like a cloud of scent.. they overdo it and not many people like it.. in the evenings it's adequate to use more exotic perfumes .. during the day one should use light flowery scents.. and not too much .. just a hint of freshness.. but you can't tell a customer that as you rely on them.. only if your health was in serious danger...xx

Answer 3

Talk to your employer about this.  Where I live more and more work places have been designated "scent free environments" because so many people have allergies to scented products.  You may need to ask to have an information session with your colleagues so that they are aware of your problem.  Then it might be your employer who decides how to inform clients.  Where I live signs that say something like Scent Free Work Place are very common.

Answer 4

If you make appointments with people just politely say " I have a little favor I am allergic to perfumes and cologne would it be possible when you come that you not wear any or very lightly have it on" most people will respect that and if you are the first person they are seeing they will wait to put it on till after they see you, but putting a sign up won't do any good because if they put it on already before they came they can't remove it but if they are coming back you could let them know your situation.

Answer 5

A sign won't help until the next time they come.  And, it could just anger people.  

There really isn't a great way to approach this.  Because you are in customer service, you are expected to deal with customers as is, not just if they are scent free.  

Have you consulted an allergist? Get on allergy medicine and buy an air filtration system.  It's just not realistic to expect your customers to go out of their way for you.  You should be going out of your way for them.

Answer 6

I worked with a lady that had this problem.

her approach to it, ws to say the least, novel.

She threw up on them, claiming it was an allergic reaction. She did put a sign on her desk that said: Warning! Strong intolerance to strong colonges and perfumes. (which covered her tail...)

Answer 7

There are MANY posters , buttons and signs made up for this particular thing.  MCS - (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity)  is a HUGE problem for many.

Check out the link below.  Also, do a Google search for MCS and then click on Images and you will see MANY signs / posters for Fragrance Free Zones.

http://www.ourlittleplace.com/spect.html

Feel free to email me if you need any help with this and I will be happy to help you.

Answer 8

This is tricky.

What field of Customer Service and what type of clients do you have?

If you are in a field were this is competition on every corner then I would endure the smell, unless of course, it can possibly kill you, well then, please speak up.

Answer 9

Since the clients are coming to YOUR office, a sign wouldn't do much good because they're already dressed and perfumed for the day when they get there. I'm afraid you may have to live with it until the day comes that people understand that these fragrances cause so much discomfort to so many people.

If you have repeat clients and can work it into the conversation, you might find some that are sympathetic and remember your allergies before their next visit.

Answer 10

My dentist's office has this sign:

Because of staff allergies, please refrain from wearing perfume and cologne.  

Answer 11

Out of line, Sorry you have to change positions.  If it wasn't I would have a sign that said

NO Body odor/smoking/bad breath/etc