Is it wrong to wear my new perfume to work? AITA?

Someone brought a brand-new caramel perfume to a theater job, and it turned into a full-blown coworker conflict faster than a prop falling off a shelf.

The OP, an 18-year-old woman, works with a tight crew she gets along with, then this year the team got a few new people. On a hot day, she spritzed her perfume when she got inside, then put it back in her bag. Later, her colleague asked if she sprayed herself, and when she said yes, the colleague got mad because it made her nauseous.

Now OP is stuck wondering if she should ditch her favorite scent just because one person’s stomach hates caramel.

Original Post

So, me (F18) work in a theater and have a lot of colleagues, who I have a good relationship. This year, we got a few more people to be on our team, and I don't know them that well yet.

I got a new perfume from my grandmother for Christmas and I love it. The perfume is caramel scented (one of my favorite scents).

One day I got to work and it was hot outside, so I used the perfume when I got inside. (It was only me and my colleague there.) When I put it back into my bag, she asked me if I sprayed myself with something and I told her yes, with my perfume.

She then proceeded to get mad at me for using it, because it made her nauseous. I didn't know what to say to that...

Like, do I apologize for using it? I don't know what to think, since I don't think it's my fault for not knowing it, but I told some of my friends and they didn't say I was at fault here.

I'm just confused now. Should I stop using it when I'm going to work and she's there too?

Do I just ignore it? I obviously don't want to make her uncomfortable or anything, but I also very much love my perfume.

So AITA for using it? EDIT: I was on the bus for 1 hour before that, I was sweating very much, probably smelling from it too.

Should have said that.

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This is like the cookie tradition ruined when someone betrayed the secret recipe.

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That’s when the theater’s “new perfume smell” moment turns into a “why are you doing this to me” moment for the colleague who got nauseous.

OP tries to explain it was just her perfume and she didn’t know it would bother anyone, but the bus ride and sweating detail adds a whole new layer.

The part that makes it messy is that the colleague wasn’t there by accident, she was right there, asking the question and then snapping.

Even her friends are split on whether she’s at fault, so OP is stuck deciding between keeping the perfume and keeping the peace with coworkers in the same workplace.</p>

What would you do in this situation? Share your opinion in the comments.

OP might love her caramel perfume, but nobody wants to be the reason someone else feels sick at work.

Still not sure? See why she stepped back from hosting after family members questioned her decision in this AITA about passing on hosting duties.