Smelly Guy in the Office

[fredr123]

Recently, an office near mine has been occupied by a new hire. He's a nice enough guy and is really sharp.

Unfortunately, he's smelly.

More to the point, he's smelly and he's a smoker.

There is an odor of more than just cheap cigarette smoke permeating from his office. The staff outside his door have complained directly to him that the aroma is uncomfortable. The matter has been brought up with the office administrator who seems to think he resolved the matter by installing one of those timed aerosol sprays in the office. Now, instead of just smelling, it smells like bathroom spray around here. And you can still smell the smell coming from the smelly guy.

The guy is being pretty good about this and he seems to genuinely be trying but the smell is distracting at best and almost debilitating to some with sensitivities. Clearly we're dealing with a First World Problem here, but I would be interested to know how some of you would deal with the situation. I'm sure many of you are smokers and have had to deal with others who complain about how you smell. Were you able to alleviate those concerns or did you just tell them to shove it?

[burn_this_city]

He needs to wash his hands after having a smoke. I'm pretty certain thats where the majority of the smell comes from.

[Huntingwhale]

LOL @ at the Oilers tag.

The only option is to counter-balance it with your own fart scent.

[Hockeyguy15]

Well the good news is you can let it rip all day and blame the smell on him...

Sorry my post doesn't help at all, I don't know how you would go about fixing his smell.

And beat to the punch....Well done sir.

[Rhettzky]

Yeah, washing hands and breath spray. That's pretty much the only solution beyond planting crack in his desk and notifying the proper authorities.

[Traditional_Ale]

Trimethylaminuria

Trimethylaminuria is a disorder in which the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a compound derived from the diet that has a strong odor of rotting fish. As trimethylamine builds up in the body, it causes affected people to give off a fish-like odor in their sweat, urine, and breath. The intensity of this odor may vary over time. The strong body odor can interfere with many aspects of daily life, affecting a person's relationships, social life, and career. Some people with trimethylaminuria experience depression and social isolation as a result of this condition.

Although gene mutations account for most cases of trimethylaminuria, the condition can also be caused by other factors. A fish-like body odor may result from an excess of certain proteins in the diet or from an increase in bacteria that normally produce trimethylamine in the digestive system. A few cases of the disorder have been identified in adults with liver or kidney disease. Temporary symptoms of this condition have been reported in a small number of premature infants and in some healthy women at the start of menstruation.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Trimethylaminuria

Trimethylaminuria is a disorder in which the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a compound derived from the diet that has a strong odor of rotting fish. As trimethylamine builds up in the body, it causes affected people to give off a fish-like odor in their sweat, urine, and breath. The intensity of this odor may vary over time. The strong body odor can interfere with many aspects of daily life, affecting a person's relationships, social life, and career. Some people with trimethylaminuria experience depression and social isolation as a result of this condition.

Although gene mutations account for most cases of trimethylaminuria, the condition can also be caused by other factors. A fish-like body odor may result from an excess of certain proteins in the diet or from an increase in bacteria that normally produce trimethylamine in the digestive system. A few cases of the disorder have been identified in adults with liver or kidney disease. Temporary symptoms of this condition have been reported in a small number of premature infants and in some healthy women at the start of menstruation.

If I'm able to discern a fishy undertone in the smell, I will keep this in mind. So far, I've not found it necessary to investigate the composition of the odor rigorously.

[CaptainCrunch]

Instead of saying good night say "Don't forget to wash under your sack stinko"

[troutman]

I met with a lawyer in Germany (about 10 years ago) and everyone in the boardroom was smoking.

[Komskies]

Hand him a stick of deodorant and some Tic Tacs and say "please use these, you smell like a dirty hooker anus".

[worth]

What about an air purifier? Get your company to pay for one to put in your office.

And I know what you mean, covering up smoke smell with air fresheners is just gross.

In my building a couple moved in who smoke 12 cartons a day. Management put a notice up that you can't smoke in the hallways and that you need to reduce the smell for other people. So they just spray this grape flavoured febreeze everywhere and it smells worse than before. I'd rather just smell the smoke.

[Finny61]

I have the same issue with these greaseball old guys at work that think a bottle of cologne should last you a week at most. I swear these guys must dump the bottle on themselves.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Finny61

I have the same issue with these greaseball old guys at work that think a bottle of cologne should last you a week at most. I swear these guys must dump the bottle on themselves.

Aqua Velvagenarians.

[ken0042]

Years ago I used to manage a store and we often had a lot of "1st generation Canadians" working there. Some had issues with odors as well.

A common theme; many of them having never used the chemicals we are used to would often have a reaction to things like deoderants. This would lead to them not using any, and then smelling.

Turns out the solution for many was to use something more feminine. One guy would use baby powder; and another found a women's deoderant. I want to say he used "Secret"- but that may not be it.

The other thing was that because they missed the health classes we got; they did not know what to expect. For example; many people get a red discolouration under their arms when using deoderant- and the new Canadian assumes it is a rash or allergic reaction.

[YYC in LAX]

You have two options: Either he wears this, or you do. Hope that helps!

[Flashpoint]

Take it to HR (if you have one). It's their job to deal with it, and they probably have better ideas than you'll come up with on your own.

It's affecting your productivity - the boss tends to care when it's hurting the co.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Finny61

I have the same issue with these greaseball old guys at work that think a bottle of cologne should last you a week at most. I swear these guys must dump the bottle on themselves.

hmm.... I have the same problem with these greaseball young guys in my office who think spraying themselves with a bottle of Axe, and coating their hair in some type of aromatic grease before coming to work will cover the aroma of a hard night out drinking beer and eating chili.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by worth

In my building a couple moved in who smoke 12 cartons a day.

Good lord, I hope that's an exaggeration. I can't imagine the stench from that kind of smoke.

[AvsJerk]

Is "grease-ball" not considered a derogatory term in Canada? I grew up about 20 miles north of Boston, and "grease-ball" to an Italian was on par with "spic" to a Puerto Rican. Not trying to be a jerk here, I'm just curious.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by AvsJerk

Is "grease-ball" not considered a derogatory term in Canada?

I doubt it is a complimentary term anywhere.