Scents and excerise????

I think if the management of your gym won't act on your behalf, you have should say something to the new member.  Be direct.

How about telling her you are a cancer survivor and that has forced you to look into the causes. One of the things you have learned is the amount of carcinogens in body sprays, perfumes and lotions. Tell her she needs to start looking at labels because cosmetics are full of toxins and over time they build up and cause cancer cells to grow. Tell her all about the aluminum in antiperspiraants, the parabens, alchohols, etc. etc. Then whip off your shirt and tell her to have a look at what lies ahead if she doesn't start thinking about these things. In other words, fight fire with fire! If God wanted us to smell like flowers, he would not have bothered to make roses.

Just as an aside on the "perf perp", when I used to wear a scent - Tea Rose - I loved it so much that I was putting on enough (a lot!) so I could smell it.  Well, you can imagine that would be a problem for others around me.  As an alternative, I did try to get my boyfriend to wear the perfume so I could enjoy the smell on him.  I cannot understand why he said no.

Debbie

Debbie - I don't know what it is about "Tea Rose" but I have an Aunt who really goes for that too. I think maybe once you start wearing it you can't smell it.

I usually try to vote with my feet on smelly people at the gym. If you always go at the same time of day sometimes there get to be little cliques of people who're also there then, and things can be pretty heated.  People can be very sensitive about their personal issues!

There is this one woman at my gym who insists on opening the door to the outside in the cardio room, then she gets on a machine as far away as possible from the door. The machine I like best is right next to the door, and I'm one of these people who is cold all the time.

There is a huge sign on the door that says "don't open' (it screws up the HVAC) but she still does it. Well, one day I came in and closed it and this woman was all over me..... I felt like saying something snippy about her having hot flashes but I thought better of that.

Now whenever I see her or her little group of cronies it's the evil eye for me, even in the weight room.

So I say -- talk to the manager but proceed with caution. It is entirely possible to get yourself into the middle of a war at the gym.

You were there on a see-how-you-like-us-pass?

I think if you don't have a commitment to that gym and there are others in the area that you might shop around a bit.

I just spent this morning on an elliciptal where the TV didn't work because the one where the TV works is next to the door that the woman who is always hot opened. I may be stuck, but if you are still looking for a gym home -- take advantage of it if you can!

Rose,

Just an idea for you to consider...  Since there's a sign on the door saying "don't open' (it screws up the HVAC)" if the door's open when you walk into the cardio room, turn right around and find a staff member, and ask if there's something wrong...after all, since members aren't allowed to open the door (since it would foul up the HVAC), a staff member must have done it (yes, I know you know that this woman does open it, but if you turn around as soon as you see the door, you haven't seen anything of the sort this time). 

And as they know, a problem with HVAC can be minor (hard to regulate the temp, etc), but HVAC problems can alsobe dangerous!  For example, a malfunctioning HVAC system can cause exposure to natural gas, carbon monoxide or who knows what.

I suspect they'll tell you it's nothing of the sort...then ask them to please come close it (since you, of course, wouldn't want to touch the door, since only staff should be opening--or presumably closing--it since doing so could affect the HVAC).  That way, the woman who most likely opened it can complain to the staff member closing it, not you.

It sounds like this gym refuses to deal with members who cause problems/won't follow the rules.  If they don't want to close the door, ask them why.  And now you should sound alarmed.  Should you be concerned about your safety? 

BTW, I would also check the rules for your gym...they may or may not say anything about perfume or scent, but they likely do say something about gym etiquette.  One national chain says (in part) that they:

"will not tolerate any inappropriate conduct. Such conduct includes, without limitation, using loud, abusive, offensive, insulting, demeaning language, profanity, lewd conduct or any conduct that harasses or is bothersome to members"

It sounds like the behavior of the woman who opened the door (both opening the door, and her conduct when you closed it) could be characterized as falling into violation of such a nice general "play nice" rule.  It is, of course, up to the management to enforce such rules.  But if their easiest avenue is to ignore it, then you'll want to consider how to make it easier for them to enforce the rules. 

For example, if they refuse to deal with the issue, consider deliberately not lowering your voice when you discuss your concerns (and alarm about potential danger).  That they can be heard not responding to you may encourage them to do something. 

Lucy, it sounds to me as if the perfume/scent is harrassing/bothersome to you.  So you may want to check your gym's version of the "members should play nice" rule. 

Hope you both can soon return to a calm peaceful gym attmosphere!

LisaAlissa