Cultural question re perfume/cologne

[Gidney N Cloyd]

I'm allergic to many types of perfumes. Not all brands, but it seems to be the cheaper stuff that starts me choking, itching, and even affects my thinking & mood. I can deal with almost anything in small doses-- at least for a little while. If some bad stuff wafts into my office, though (and I can't usually tell where it came from) I don't always maintain my composure.

This morning was one of those times. Someone walked into a nearby office fully loaded and I started coughing. Not knowing who dealt it, I turned on my fan and made a disparaging remark about it to know one in particular. "Damn cheap perfume" I think I said.

Later the person from the other office reams me out because she felt I offended the "west african" man who was visiting her (and who was in fact wearing the cologne).

I did some googling but I can't find any reference to how objecting to someone's cologne could be offensive on a cultural level. Can anyone educate me on this?

I'm not going to stop being vocal but I'd like to be sensitive to peoples backgrounds.

[Love Bug]

1. Was he a coworker or a client?

Not much you can do about a client, but you can talk to HR about a coworker who take a bath in cologne. I don't think it should matter where he comes from. At my job we used to have a sales guy who, I swear, left a vapor trail.

I like perfume myself, but am always careful to either not wear any or very little if I know I'm going to be in a crowd.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. Actually, he was a student.

We have a large number of foreign students here and there do seem to be some groupd who use perfume more than others but I always just assumed it was more due to falling for American advertising or something rather than a cultural tendency.

[TrogL]

2. I have that problem at my office

During the day, we have a no-scent policy for people like me.

After hours, though, the contracted-out cleaning staff comes in and stinks up the place. Yes, they're all West African.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. So there's a west african-perfume cultural connection?

I mean, a fairly deep connection like I've shamed him and his family?

[Left_Winger]

4. I'm allergic to many types of cologne as well

There is one person with whom I work and they literally swim in cologne everyday. It is easy to tell where this person has been up to thirty minutes after they have left. The entire wing of our building wreaks of the stuff by the end of the day. I used to avoid this person but was accused of being insensitive and mean to them. I explained my allergy to the boss, but to no avail; the reason given to me was that it was a cultural thing for this person and that I should be more considerate. Luckily I had the opportunity to move to another wing in the building and avoid any clashes.

When exposed to colognes I cough, my eyes begin to burn and water, and if I must endure it for long periods, I do begin to choke uncontrollably.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. So what culture were you supposedly being insensitive to?

[Left_Winger]

7. I was supposedly being insensitive to Cuban women.

I try to be friendly to everyone, but this amount of cologne was/is actually detrimental to my health.

[medeak]

8. dr friend overwhelms patients with her perfume

have talked to her about it when doing hospital rounds but she won't give it up... she's black and buys very expensive stuff.