Coworker and cologne

[Anonymous]

A fellow coworker wears way too much cologne. He comes to visit my officemate at least twice a week and stays in our office for about 20-30 minutes... Sometimes more...chatting while his cologne is clogging every bit of air in the office causing me to choke, cough, and sometimes get a headache, and it lingers LONG after he leaves.

I don't know how to address this in a polite manner. When he first started wearing the cologne (he didn't before), I just commented on it thinking he would get the hint, but it seems like I fueled his ego and he douses himself in it even more. My office mate agrees he smells up the office, but doesn't want to hurt his feelings either

Please help me address this. It's getting extremely annoying! I am suffering as we speak and he left out of here half an hour ago.

[Anonymous]

Hey Co-worker, I don't think you realize but your cologne is very strong and I'm very sensitive to smells--they give me a nasty headache. Could you use less when you're going to be working with me? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Bob, I'm so sorry, but I seem to have an allergic reaction to your new cologne. I enjoy talking with you - is there any chance you would consider not wearing that cologne to work?

[Anonymous]

What kind is it?

[Anonymous]

"Hey Larlo, I don't know if you know this, but Larlene [high up person] hates cologne and is allergic to it. You might not want to wear it if you're going to hang out here. Just a heads up for you."

Say this in a whispery confidential tone as if you are doing him a favor.

[Anonymous]

I think that if you're in the midst of a coughing/watery eye attack you can gracefully say, "Bob, I'm so sorry - this is embarrassing to admit but I'm allergic to cologne. That may be what's going on here. I'm so sorry"...I can't imagine he would be offended in that context.

[Anonymous]

Larlo and Larla, I'm sorry, but can you two take your conversation into the hallway? Larlo's cologne, while nice, is a little overwhelming for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that if you're in the midst of a coughing/watery eye attack you can gracefully say, "Bob, I'm so sorry - this is embarrassing to admit but I'm allergic to cologne. That may be what's going on here. I'm so sorry"...I can't imagine he would be offended in that context.

That and get a desk fan.

[Anonymous]

In my company I would tell HR and they would handle it. They wouldn't say it was me complaining, just address the issue.