The cashier hands me my change, I grab my grocery bags, and breathing shallowly, start to navigate the narrow aisle out the door to freedom, and fresh air. Unfortunately walking in front of me is the woman who is causing me grief unknowingly. Her perfume is wafting everywhere, my face is burning, and it makes me upset how one person can affect so many without knowing it.
It’s all about scents, and sensibility if you have environmental allergies, and perfume is a big offender. The cleaning solutions aisle, air fresheners, perfume, they all ignite a problem in those of us with those kind of allergies. It’s everywhere, and it stinks.
Most people hardly think they would be a problem when they sprayed on that perfume, cologne, or aftershave which is horrific for those of us trapped in a elevator with the over indulgers.
A few weeks ago a resident of my parents apartment building insisted on spraying the elevator with Febreeze to cover up the strong smell of a 3rd floor smoker. So bad that for a week I had to take the stairs, instead of the elevator. Eventually they stopped, but the smell still lingers…and it burns my skin.
Going into a public washroom with it’s fake air fresheners can trigger a problem, walking into a heavily scented retail store, candles, potpourri, all culprits. And the worst, is the woman or man who decides to douse themselves in scent before leaving the house.
Even in the doctors office waiting room there is difficulty, makes me wonder if anyone considers those sitting around them anymore. Stuck in the room for ages, with all those conflicting aromas is torture, and I have been forced to go outside in many cases in order to weather the storm.
Maybe the next time you are standing in the line up you could forgo the heavy perfumes. My nose, and my allergic body would really thank you.
I love perfume, unfortunately it really bothers me, as does any highly scented, or toxic smell. But I do appreciate those who use a light hand in applying their scents in public.
Do you have any problems with other people wearing too much scent? Or is it just those of us with chemical sensitivities?
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I have all the same issues as you Jen, and when in a meeting when several scents all blending together I can't stand it, I have to sit by the door so that I can leave in a hurry if necessary. One of my complaints is stores like Shoppers Drug Mart and Sears put their perfume counters right by the front door, which makes it hard to get inside. I will go out of my way to avoid those doors. I've very often thought I need to wear a button that says I'm 'scent'sitive.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you, Jen. The chemical scents make my stomach so queasy. Love your title : )
ReplyDeleteJen girl it bothers me a great deal as well. The laundry cleaning isle is terrible and I try to almost run through it to pick up detergent (totally unscented, no dyes etc ..) Poor husband battles scents in the air and on fabrics all the time.
ReplyDeleteI have a perfume that is very light.. in fact it is called "Light Blue" by Dolche&Gabbana using it sparingly it is fresh and clean smelling to me and I hope to others if they catch a whiff at all.
Elderly women use "perfume" that must be out of date, many times .. because it is dreadful .. I guess no one has the heart to tell them ?
Yes .. too much in the air without real air being there !! LOL
Joy : )
Well said Jen....any strong scent is offensive, especially the sweet scents of perfumes, candles, soaps and air freshners. I had to stop shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond when they put the candles among shower curtains, towels and bedding!
ReplyDeleteI love wearing perfume. Thank you for reminding us that our favorite scents can cause terrible discomfort for others. It's well to reminded of that.
ReplyDeletexo
Claudia
Standing in the front of my classroom, every day I smelled an awful chemically, pungent, mothball, moldy smell. It was so strong and so bad that I began to get small head aches. College students have an array of smells: stale beer on their breath, cigarette smoke, marijuana, lovely scented perfume, but this one was above all. I was trying to decide if I should call attention to it, wondering how I would tell the class that someone was giving me headaches. I project power point lessons on a screen from my lap top. A new screen had been installed in the classroom and while standing close to it one day, I discovered where the odor was coming from. Over the semester the smell from the new projection screen has faded, but a new one has been installed in the room I use across the hall, smelling just as strong. I also tutor requiring me to sit closely to students and believe me there are days when I long for the sweet scent of too much ode de cologne. However, while not allergic to chemicals, I don't appreciate the over powering scents humans seem to think they need. We can ride the elevator together--or take the stairs.
ReplyDeleteI have a sensitivity but not nearly as bad as yours. The perfume and cologne bothers me alot......esp. in places like elevators.
ReplyDeleteI only wear lotions that are scented. I feel they don't bother others as much as perfume.
I wonder if you could have a mask in your purse when it bothers you in a store or somewhere. It might be a bit embarassing but maybe the person that is offending might get the point. If not they will move away thinking you are contagious.
The worst for me are perfumes like Avon.....I can always tell.
Oh I know what you mean Jen...I have what I would guess to be a milder version of your allergic reaction to strong scents. Some isles in stores irritate the heck out of me but you're right...it's the perfume and colognes that really get to me. I too like the smell of a pretty perfume but only just a HINT of it. My eyes suffer and get sore and itchy and red when there's too much of that stuff in the air. I hope your day is a good one.
ReplyDeleteMaura :)
I once was at a play (that I paid good money to see), and was seated next to a woman who evidently had a poor sense of smell. Her perfume was overpowering. It is terrible, I agree. That is also why most of my homemade soaps are very lightly scented. But after reading this post, I'm going to go into my soap store and make sure that I mention which soaps have the least or no scent.
ReplyDeleteI have big time reactions to fragrance just like you. Sometimes I have to leave a store. I hate the amount of perfume and cologne some people wear. Wish others would think about it. H well. hugs, Linda
ReplyDeleteThat is a pet peeve of mine too. It happened at choir practice the other night when a woman walked by and nearly knocked me (and everyone else) over with her scented lotion. I have difficulty in the laundry aisle at stores and in department stores with cosmetics/perfume displays at their entrances. I don't mind a mild scent or even midly scented candles. Have you noticed some men's deoderant is extremely strong? Hospitals and medical offices here are scent free zones. I guess the less we use scents in our own homes the more we notice them when out and about. Great post! I love your new header. It's really pretty. Pamela
ReplyDeleteWow Jen - I think we are soul sisters. It's not just you. I am exactly the same way and I have a theory. I never had allergies growing up (I'm 50 now) and as a teen, used to wear any perfume I wanted. Gradually I developed allergies /sensitivities to the same things - perfume/ aftershave/candles/ cleaning products etc. I've changed seats in a restaurant because the scent was making me sick. When I was young, I was fine because we had a couple of basic cleaners and perfumes were made from real ingredients, instead of chemicals. I think the overload of synthetic chemicals has caused these problems for many of us. I now only use TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) for cleaning, don't wear perfume or scented creams etc. If we could only educate the public at large!
ReplyDeleteI dislike the smell of too much perfume as well but I am not allergic. I love laundry and cleaning products...except for Febreeze. It actually gives me heart palpitations.
ReplyDeleteI hate strong scents! Not allergic, but they really bother me. (not diagnosed anyway). I can't stand to go into the bath and body stores. I just can't stand the mixture of scents. Candle aisles also affect me. I stay out of them. Headache. I use to work in a deli and some of the people would come in drenched in perfume. That made it terrible to wait on them! When we first got our new cleaning supplies at work they were dispensed from the machine too strong and we all got headaches. People don't realize what they smell like.
ReplyDeleteI have so many problems with chemical and toxic smells that it is keeping me from returning to the work force. I used to get migraines that would put me down for days. Now I'm enjoying my time at home while controlling my environment as much as possible by using natural products that I make myself.
ReplyDeleteYes - mostly the old ladies with the old Avon scents.
ReplyDeleteAbout ten years ago, I had a box of dryer sheets on my desk. Within a couple hours my sinus's were burning and I got a RAGING headache. I stopped using them. What I also discovered was, all of the...okay this is personal, and girl stuff if you are sensitive to that....all of the yeast infections and bladder infections were caused by these well known dryer sheets. After years of recurring problems...there, I've not had a single one since.
ReplyDeleteNot allergic to strong smells, just 'allergic'. Next door's washing and the fabric softener. The woman at choir practice. The GASP woman sitting in front of me at church. It's a big reason why I prefer Body Shop and we've just started using Pears soap. That actually smell of plant extracts, not migraine and cancer inducing chemicals!
ReplyDeleteOh yes our family does.
ReplyDeleteWhen our son was little and being seen by drs or people assessing him I would ring a few days before and ask then not to wear perfume.
Staying away from home is an issue - we have to ask all airfreshners etc are removed and windows left wide open from motels.....
Love Leanne
I get a really bad headache almost instantly if I'm exposed to most perfumes. Fortunately, air fresheners usually don't effect me as they do you. I've also got to be really careful about soap and detergents or I'll break out in a rash. Sleeping in commercially laundered sheets at a hotel or hospital can make me an itching mess. Allergies are no fun are they?
ReplyDeleteCindy at Rosehaven Cottage
Wow Jen! Just spent over an hour catching up on you since your move! All the fun with doggie poo, dead frozen chickens and ghosts! And I hear NO remorse for your decision to relocate! I hear all of your pleas for Springs arrival too! It's very late here and I worry that the buds that did form may have been lost with all of our 20 degree nights! Feels good to "be home" doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI like wearing perfume and my feeling is that it should only be detectable to someone who is standing very close. I'm not a fan of bathing in the stuff, that's for sure. And, I've often wondered how people could work in the perfume dept. in large stores. I'd have a headache in 5 minutes or less.
ReplyDeleteI could not beleive when I read this, as I type this I have a burning rash all over my face.I have enviromental allergies and I'm very very sensitive to scents of all kinds, cleaners and perfumes.My husband and I road down 9 floors in the elevator today with a person with scent on, I now two hours later have the rash raised on my face, this will be red bumpy rash that in several days become dry and flaky, then in a weeks time it may be unoticable if I'm lucky, I hear you and I feel your pain.This is my life and world, I hope some will listen to this post and think twice before spaying air fresheners or putting one of my most hated products PLUG IT IN'S in their homes or apartment buildings, , please everyone, these chemicals are killing us all.We sensitive people are like the canary in the mine, when they tested for bad air they put a canary in the mines, if it died the air was bad.We who have sensitivities are the ones we should be listening to.This is way to long a comment and I will understand if you choose not to print.I feel very strongly about this.
ReplyDeleteSmells can trigger asthma, sinus issues and migraines for me...can't we just have natural scents and some sensibility!
ReplyDeleteI don't like strong perfumes, and when I am around someone has had a "bath" in perfume before they go out I find it really unpleasant, I can't go down the detergent and cleaner isle without holding my breath either. When I am walking through a department store and one of those salespeople with a perfume bottle in hand approaches me I jump back and they look at me as if I'm a bit crazy.
ReplyDeleteLots of doctors offices and waiting rooms that I have been in are scent free Zones, ah what a relief.
My sister is sensitive like that as well. Scents don't usually bother me, but I have no idea how anyone manages to go inside some of those scented candle stores!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous flower shots! I'm not allergic to strong smells, but they do make my eyes water.
ReplyDeleteDuring the spring however, I'm allergic to birch pollen and then I'm over-sensitive to lots of other smells too.
Thanks so much for this post, Jen. I have been super sensitive to scents since I was a teenager, It took me a long time to figure out why I would become dizzy and disoriented around perfumes. This is one of the reasons I hate to go shopping in the mall. It's amazing how many people just don't get it and get really offended if you ask them to please not wear there perfume when riding in the car with you.
ReplyDeleteLaura
Thank goodness so many work places are now becoming Scent Free. I don't have a major sensitivity but even I have an issue with perfume wearers when sitting near them on a bus or in an office. It just smells like chemicals to me, not a scent.
ReplyDeleteWow, did you hit on a hot topic! There used to be a woman at work, who loved 'rose scented' perfume. It was the only scent she wore, and she had become so accustomed to it - she doused it on. ...to me, it smelled like a room full of dead & decaying roses. (Ugh)
ReplyDeleteI get an instant headache from perfumes. I use all fragrance free laundry soap and fabric softener sheets. I use ammonia or vinegar for cleaning supplies..and we use our steam mop for the floors.
ReplyDeleteI blame my allergies from years in the greenhouse..scents and pollen. Mold makes me sneeze..and not once but many times.
There are many places we do not go..candle shops, or shops that sell that potppouri crap. Church is a really bad place..we sit near the back so we can exit if we need to. It never ceases to amaze me how many old women can almost knock you out with their scents. The other day in the grocery store our checker had some terrible perfume on...I wanted to complain..I am thinking about clipping a close pin to my shirt and use it to plug my nose when someone has too much perfume on..maybe they will get the hint. My Mom goes to the masseuse..oh my..what a treat that is for me..not...scented oils..yuck.
I think that all perfume wearers even those who say they wear a light fragrance she be required top stay out of public buildings just like the smokers. I better quite complaining now..I wish there was a solution:)
I really never thought much about how much fragrances can effect some people.
ReplyDeleteIn the last couple of years, a friend has become very hyper sensitive to strong fragrances (due to an industrial accident).
Now, I don't wear any perfume at all around him. It's taken me awhile to be conscious to not put any on.
Wow, Jen, you sure know how to get people to talking! This is such a hot topic and it seems everyone has an opinion. For me, the perfumes aren't too bad. I LOATHE aftershave though. It disgusts me. Ick. But you want to know what gets me really riled? It's when we have a sunny day after several rainy ones and my neighbors decide it's time to set their burn pile ablaze! The smoke, without fail, wafts over to my side of the fence, then works its way up my nostrils and in short order I've got a dizzying headache! And of course the smoke continues to waft. As soon as I step into my house to get away from the smoke, I'm hurrying to close all the windows I erroneously assumed would allow fresh air in. Nope. So infuriating. It's one thing when you live in the country and have a burn pile but when the pile is just on the other side of the fence in a suburban neighborhood, it's just plain selfish. Okay. Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I'll see what else you have to say. :)
ReplyDelete