Dear COWnselor:Last Friday, I was in line at Old Main Café when I was accosted by a hideous stench. One of the gentlemen in front of me was wearing the most offensive cologne. How should I alert this gentleman to his putrid odor while keeping his dignity intact?~Superior Smeller
Dear Superior Smeller:
Whether it is too much cologne or too little, we have all found ourselves involuntarily smelling someone else’s chosen odor. If it is someone that you encounter often, such as the person in the assigned seat next to you for the semester, it is appropriate to let them know that their scent is bothering you. You might say, “I am sensitive to strong smells. Would you be able to wear less cologne on the days we sit next to each other?” But, if it is someone you only encounter in passing, such as in line at Old Main, it may be better to breathe through your mouth until they are no longer in your space. And for our cologne wearers: one spray on each wrist and one on your neck is more than enough.
Best of luck with clearing the air!
~COWnselor
