Does clean have a scent?

One of the newest issues to confront a property manager or a building manager is the one of using scent in cleaning products or to use fragrances to “freshen” specific rooms such as washrooms, lobbies, cafeterias and general office and classroom areas.

Today, there is a growing population that suffers from allergies to various fragrances, scents and odours. Their reactions can vary from mild to severe. In some cases, allergic reactions can result in a decrease in performance and an increase in the number of sick days taken by these employees. Some people must alter their daily activities to avoid potential exposure to these allergens. For this reason, many buildings and companies are developing a NO SCENT or a SCENT FREE policy. These policies usually include the banning of wearing any type of perfumes and fragrances as well as the use of no scent cleaning products in the building.

The difficulty for many buildings however, is that many people associate clean with a fragrance. Depending on personal preference and often habits from your childhood, many associate clean with a floral, lemon, pine etc scent. After years of using scented cleaning products, the association of clean and scent is a difficult one to break. This association is heavily reinforced by advertisements and television commercials who lead us to believe that our houses can only be clean if we use fragrances in each and every room and on all surfaces.

So how does one go about changing this association that clean must have a scent? Communication to all building occupants is the key to success. Here is a step by step guide to help you successfully implement a scent free policy.