How One Roommate’s Petty Lavender Revenge Left a Scent That Still Lingers
Roommate horror stories are a rite of passage for many, but few tales combine the perfect storm of manipulation, passive aggression, and a scented payback quite like this one. On Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge, user u/throwaway98765677 shared a saga of a “bestie-turned-roommate” who pushed every last button—until lavender got the final word.
This is a story about how being too nice can backfire, why you should never ignore red flags, and how a single, hated aroma can become the ultimate act of petty—but oh-so-satisfying—revenge.
Giving, Giving, Gone: The Roommate Who Took It All
It all started as many roommate nightmares do: a friendship that should have stayed outside the lease. As our protagonist recounted, she went above and beyond for her “friend”—paying deposits, covering bills, and even accepting a bigger share of the rent after a classic “sob story.” The roommate, apparently flush enough to party nightly, dodged every attempt at a cleaning schedule and contributed little aside from a dining table and “audacity.”
The messes mounted. Dishes piled up. The roommate’s belongings took over communal spaces—so much so that, as the OP put it, “I wasn’t even allowed to exist in my own space except as furniture and a maid.” Attempts to communicate, even via polite fridge notes (“Please be sure to clean up the crumbs and grease after you cook.”), were met with denial and accusations of passive aggression.
One commenter, u/Morecatspls_, summed up a lesson many learn the hard way: “Friends are friends. Roommates are Roommates. And never the twain shall meet.” OP herself admitted, “I don't really think she was my friend by this point,” realizing the harsh truth that some people are only around for what they can get.
From Bleach to Betrayal: When Roommate Drama Gets Toxic (Literally)
Household tension is one thing; sabotage is another. Things escalated when OP discovered her water pitcher—used for drinking, plants, and pet bowls—reeked of bleach. Only she drank from that pitcher, while the roommate enjoyed the uncontaminated fridge water. Testing confirmed her fears: someone was tampering with her water.
Community reactions ranged from shock to outrage. As u/conceptual_con exclaimed, “She was literally poisoning you, your dog, and your plants. Holy shit, OP…” OP tried to pursue legal action, but, as she updated, “apparently it wasn't enough evidence. The cops still have my damn nalgene bottle too.”
The drama didn’t stop there. There were animal conflicts (a reactive dog, a neglected kitten), missing chargers, and, in a deeply uncomfortable twist, a situation involving her 12-year-old nephew that crossed serious boundaries. Commenter u/AerieFar9957 was aghast: “Umm we’re all going to ignore that her roommate slept with a 12 yo boy??? And all she got was lavender everything?” OP clarified that she’d reported it, but, heartbreakingly, authorities found nothing actionable.
Sweet Scented Justice: Lavender to the Gills
After surviving months of abuse, manipulation, and what can only be described as psychological warfare, OP decided that if she couldn’t get justice, she’d get satisfaction. The weapon? Lavender—a scent her roommate “despised with a passion.”
On move-out day, she didn’t just clean; she doused every surface with lavender products, tucked oil and wax blocks into air vents, and left lavender-scented trash bags and cleaning supplies. The apartment would reek of the hated flower for months. As OP quipped in the comments, “To you and me - sure it smelled good, but to her, it probably fueled her ever-burning hate for me, because let's be honest - she never actually liked me, she only wanted to use me.”
The community had mixed feelings. Some, like u/furgurburgur, joked about the length of the story versus the scale of the revenge: “So I just read 17 paragraphs of op venting, just to get to the fact that she made the place smell good….” But others appreciated the subtleties, like u/MoodiestMoody noting, “And this way you weren't hurting the innocent landlord.” Even those who hated lavender themselves (shoutout to u/CrossFitMathIsHard) admitted the poetic justice: “If she hates it because it turns out she’s allergic as well, bonus!”
The Takeaway: Lavender Lessons and Roommate Red Flags
Was the revenge small in comparison to the suffering? Maybe. Did it offer catharsis? Absolutely. As many commenters pointed out, sometimes the best revenge is the one that doesn’t harm anyone but your target (and spares the landlord in the process). OP’s story resonated because so many have been there—trapped in a living situation with a user, unsure how to escape without losing their sanity (or deposit).
Perhaps the biggest lesson? Pay attention to red flags before you move in, trust your gut, and don’t underestimate the power of petty revenge—especially when it smells as sweet (or as nauseating) as lavender to the gills.
Have you ever gotten creative with your own petty revenge? Got a roommate horror story that needs to see the light of day? Drop your tales (and best revenge tips) in the comments below!
Original Reddit Post: Lavender to the gills