Fragrances in the Workplace - "A Matter of Scents and Sensibility"
Wednesday September 3, 2008
Now for those of you who read the previous post about aromatherapy in the workplace and said "I don't want my office smelling like fennel oil," or were reminded of the nice, but clueless coworker who comes to the office bathed in perfume, here's the other side of the debate. This article, Fragrance debate: A matter of scents and sensibility?, actually addresses the issue from the side of those who are sensitive or allergic to scents. And this blog post, Nice Perfume, must you bathe in it? talks more about the appropriateness of scents in the workplace.
What are we to take from this (the moral of the story):
What are we to take from this (the moral of the story):
- Fragrances and essential oils are powerful components that have real effects on our minds, moods and bodies...indeed, many of you were probably drawn to candle and soap making largely due to the array of wonderful scents.
- You can use fragrance and essential oils in soaps, candles, and even just a dab on a cotton ball easily and effectively.
- Some people do not share our enthusiasm for wild and wonderful scents, and may actually have physical sensitivities to them.
Comments
Yes, and then some. I routinely use aromatherapy in dealing with migraine and other neurological disabilities, but am also triggered severally by American cologne and perfume. As I’m sure you know, most colognes and perfumes are primarily alcohol, benzene, and petroleum derivatives, and are heavily toxic, neurotoxic and, in some (many?) cases, directly carcinogenic. Benzene derivatives also can cause disorientation and euphoria (and heavy fragrance users may well be addicted to the benzene rush they get when applying their fragrances.) Even some essential oils can cause severe injury to others, i.e. camphor and menthol can trigger epileptic seizures, rose and citrus can trigger asthma, etc. etc.
Short version: don’t take it to work, for all the same reasons plus a few more that you wouldn’t want someone lighting a cigarette at work.
Questions regularly come up on this subject, and it’s often difficult and touchy to approach staff members about. In the healthcare environment especially, staff could be affecting sick patients. There is a post on www.oshahealthcareadvisor.com that talks about this, particularly in the healthcare. Although there is no OSHA standard on it, there are a few ways you can develop a policy and there is even a campaign for a fragrance-free workplace.
http://blogs.hcpro.com/osha/2009/01/ask-the-expert%E2%80%94general-osha-non-scents-in-the-workplace-or-when-the-smell-of-co-workers-make-you-sick/