Woodsmoke smell at work

[Lobo]

After 2.5 years of unemployment I have landed a job but I may loose this job due to the smell of woodsmoke on my clothes. The person in the neighboring cubicle is complaining about the smell and threatening me with my job. I cannot use perfumed air cleaners because they put her and another person into asma (spelling?).

I need this job! Can anyone help with a non perfume woodsmoke antidote?

Lobo

[patriotchick]

febreeze?? the kind that is for allergens?? thats sort of a crummy attitude for your co-worker to have. I would just febreeze myself, it doesnt stain clothes and smells nice. I used to use it when I smoked cigarettes and it worked. good luck and congrats on your job!!! fingers crossed and prayers offered that you can keep it.

[MooseToo]

i assume you heat with wood - as opposed to operating a part-time meat smoking business -

many people heat with wood and there is no hint of woodsmoke on their person or clothing - perhaps you are witnessing God's hint to remind you that flue maintenance is past due - BEFORE carbon monoxide provides a more striking hint -

[rivahmom]

Moose, you said what I was thinking. I have never had the smell of woodsmoke in my clothes or hair as a result of a wood burning stove. Also, if the lady is threatening your job as a result of this then ask to be moved to a different location in the office or file a harrassment against her. I know I can only smell people when I'm right up on them, this includes smokers, so I would say she is just complaining to start trouble.

[walls0stone]

I like the local say'n... you never smell your own barn. Now that's a way of say'n take the plank from your own eye, however it's true... you don't smell your own home smells.
tell them it your new GREEN deoderant.
Tell them it's the smell of fighting our depnedence on foren oil...
tell them it's the only smell that covers up the sent of their tested on animals make up.

I have a woodstove, and disspite the cleanest of clean fireplaces, my hair will smell a hint of smoke after I opent the door to toss in a log. But I see many clients in a day as well. So I keep a small bottle of Fbreaze in the truck, I also use this becouse I don't want to call on a client who has a garage or farm, and then call on a flower shop.

[patriotchick]

if this person is drying clothes near a wood burning stove they clothes may smell like smoke....a kid i went to school with got the nickname "hickory" for that very reason, his mother dried their clothes over a wood burning cook stove in the kitchen. He smelled like bacon or some other smoked meat....always made me hungry hahaha.

[Native87]

I agree with walls 100%. Lil Miss better than you/us has more offensive and even dangerous snit in her pocketbook than smoke wilk ever produce. I have to commend you on being a gentleman.

[musicman]

If you have an upstairs open the stairway when you open your stove up, that gets rid of smoke fast. And open your draft up for a minute or so before you open the door cuz a flaming fire doesn't smoke as much. Burn only dry seasoned wood too. Every little bit helps.

I can't believe anyone would complain about that. They need to get a life.

[Suzy]

Since I am the only one who totes in the wood now because of husband's heart attacks, as well as taking at the ashes, keeping the fire going, etc. etc. etc....

I often smell of woodsmoke but since I don't work in an "office" no one has said anything.....I do cover lots of political and governmental meetings but nobody has said anything or given me strange looks....if they did I'd probably check my shoes thinking I had something on me from the chicken, goat, or rabbit barns!!!!.....

anyway, best wishes! sounds to me like she's just trying to start trouble (by the way, I HAVE asthma and SEVERE allergies but we heat with wood out of necessity and I'm living with it.....) best wishes!

[Lobo]

Wow! I didn't want to sound like a complainer and make the other person out as a troublemaker and you folks read the truth. she is a troublemaker, but she is honestly having trouble with someone's perfume today and is not breathing well.

Thank you for your suggestions and well wishes. Yes I had to clean the chimney, I am burning smelly (keeps the bugs away) birch. I am going to wash my clothes and keep them in the greenhouse and get dressed on the way to work at a gas station. I am living in a tipi style tent so I can't move them away from the smoke.

I have a got a natural non perfumed spray which has helped and she hasn't mentioned it.

Thank you all.

Lobo

[Mr.B]

When I worked in the clinic at the V.A. Hospital I always liked the smell of the paitents that burned wood at home in the winter time. *

Sounds like a case of someone should pay more attention to there work than what someone smelling like wood.

-B

[CarolAnn]

Lobo -
My brothers and sisters and I always got teased in school because we smelled like creosote - our whole house did because of the big old homemade wood burner we had for a few years. We were lucky it didn't burn us all up! But my point is - folks who don't live with wood heat really can be sensitive to the smell. (And insensitive about it!)

Your idea of keeping the clean clothes in the greenhouse is a good one. Frebreeze also does work - I've used the non-aerosol kind of sprayer on some chairs I got from a friend who is a heavy smoker. It took out that smell nicely. You might be more saturated with it than you knew - so perhaps spray your car uhpolstery also. (And have a friend give it and you the sniff test when you're done!) Good luck with the troublemaker next cube - seems like there's at least one in every office!

[Lobo]

I found out yesterday that my job is on the line if I don't get this cleared up. Miss TROUBLEMAKER has gotten the rest of the office to speak to our boss so in the boss's eyes it's a big problem.

I used to be proud of my ability to survive w/o an income for 2 years but this woman has taken away my self esteem that I gained excitedly when I got this job. I REALLY hope I can ge rid of the smell and keep my job and stay warm.

Lobo

[epeterd1]

That's sad. I can't believe there is no way to move one or the other of you to rectify the situation. I'll pray for you, but if the people there are like that, maybe you'll be better off away from there.

[Mr.B]

Sounds like a bunch of B.S. to me. Maybe you can talk to the Human Resources dept. if you have one at your work place. Or some kind of alternate employee dispute program.

Sounds like the trouble maker is the big hen (bully) in the office and has gotten others to go along with her.

I see things happen like this at the place I work at. People writing others up for the stupidest things.

Like I said before. This is from employees not paying attention to what they should be doing...working.

-B

[12vman]

This (http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3249002&cp=&origkw=polo&kw=pol os&parentPage=search) stuff compliments the smell of wood smoke very well and the Ladies will drool.. *;)

[Lobo]

Thought I'd update you on this situation.

The troublemaker was talking condescendingly to me and I asked can we speak like equal human beings and she screamed and yelled at me telling me I was fat and ugly and I stink a little too loud and someone reported the incident ot the Union and I believe she just quit. I wish it hadn't turned out that way but...

[pcrowder]

Sounds to me like she was making the work place more than just a little hostile...I hope she is gone for your sake - no one should have to endure being verbally attacked and humiliated when they go to work.

[rivahmom]

Sounds to me like she was making the work place more than just a little hostile...I hope she is gone for your sake - no one should have to endure being verbally attacked and humiliated when they go to work.
+1
and I'm glad others seen her for what she is as well.

[Mr.B]

What is Karma again?



-B

[rantinraven]

Lobo I really doubt that anything you could have done would have appeased this woman. I know this thread is old but I wanted to give a solution in case anyone else ever has the problem. Personally I like the smell of woodsmoke so doesn't bother me at all. My hubby has his closed washed for deer season in some kind of "no scent" wash. He says there is also something you can wash your body with as well. I use borax in the laundry and it doesn't leave a scent either. As I said I don't think any of those two things would have made her happy. If you dried your clothes outdoors she probably would have complained of them smelling like sunshine. Seriously though even if you yourself are sensitive to smells borax washing soda should do it. Raven

[CarolAnn]

I'm so glad rantinravin brought this back up to the top because I missed the post where the "lady" quit. WAY cool! There are people that take their sour attitudes with them where ever they go and it's awfully nice when they go somewhere else!

[jen_in_southtexas]

Im happy she's gone Lobo. It seems she used her medical condition as an excuse to to get her way all the time. One thing for sure is that there was no need for the insults and name calling. I'll bet everyone is at ease now with her gone.

jen

[Kyhome]

Way cool for certain, it ashame she didnt get the door in her nose on the way out. !!hehehe!! We burned wood for about 15 years and not once did anyone ever comment on us smelling smokey. Now I wonder if we did. lol. Anyways so gald she is gone from your world. Rick

[bookwormom]

one of the good smells in my book, right along with the smell of coffee brewing, earth after a rain in spring, fresh hay, sheets fresh off the line. so many good smells that say life is good. That is a poor woman, I hope she is happier where she is now.
Now If you smelled like a wet dog Lobo and I was next to you, I would bring you a bottle of Febreze.

[pcrowder]

bookworm - Oh yes, I agree! I LOVE the smell of a campfire, and fresh-ground coffee in the percolator, but I also love that old "antique" smell that you can find in old quilts and linens - reminds me of my cousin Nellie's steamer trunk of quilts when I was 7 years old, and I'm 50+ now! And rose toilet water - reminds me of my grandma Esther - she wore it all the time.

O yeah - and I love the smell of bacon frying! *yum!

[Lobo]

rantinravin-thanx for the borax suggestion. Trouble did mention that laundry hung outside smells bad too. (Can't please her).

bookwormom-If I smell like a wet dog please in kindly words tell me why you are handing me the Fabreze. This whole problem here at work could have gone smoother if she had spoken pleasantly and privately. I had to tell a friend about his oder and we did it privately and freindly and it worked our very well.

Yes, life is more peaceful here now and I have made new friends in the office.

[Catalpa]

Glad it's working out for you, Lobo. Can't believe she complained about the smell of clothes dried outside - I think cotton clothes dried in the sunshine smell like heaven.

And honest woodsmoke? (No trash, or punky wood) To me the smell of woodsmoke is an aphrodisac. ;)

[mtwildflower]

Glad it's working out for you, Lobo. *Can't believe she complained about the smell of clothes dried outside - I think cotton clothes dried in the sunshine smell like heaven.

And honest woodsmoke? *(No trash, or punky wood) To me the smell of woodsmoke is an aphrodisac. * ;)

LOL...it is for my husband too.

You know, not to defend her as much as point something out, but some people are very sensitive to noises and light and touch and taste. It's not surprising that someone can be overloaded on scent as well. I truly believe that for some, an over load on the sensory system can be very very stressful and cause them to be difficult people. I highly suspect that this woman was so overwhelmed and so tired of being so sensitive, particularly if she doesn't feel like she can breathe, that it spilled over into her being a nasty witch to you.

Ultimately, it is her problem but honestly, I would rather be the one who is trying to figure out how to keep from stinking than the one who thinks everything stinks. KWIM?

[Catalpa]

That's a good point - I have to deal with several sensitivities. I cannot deal with flourescent lights, the big in the ceiling kinds they have in offices. It's impossible for me to see a computer screen under lights like that. I've dealt with it by climbing on my desk and unscrewing the lights that are directly over my cubicle. Fortunately my coworkers allow my idiosyncracy.

And cigarette smoke makes me physically ill, and I'm extremely sensitive to it, to the point that if someone is smoking in the car ahead of me, it makes me so sick I have to pass them before I choke. I've never understood why cigarettes make me sick, but woodsmoke turns me on... ???

So it is possible that this woman can't stand woodsmoke, but she surely could have dealt with her weakness a better way.