besthealthmag.ca

[Kat]

In the March/April issue of Best Health, Anne Mullens writes about the science behind fragrance sensitivity. She says that according to Dr. Roy Fox, the medical director of the Nova Scotia Environmental Health Centre, notes that about 16 percent of Canadians are sensitive to environmental triggers such as smells.

I'm one of those people - I have a strong sense of smell (although it's stronger some days than others) and can smell bad breath or cigarette smoke-saturated clothing from quite a distance - which makes riding the subway not so pleasant some days. And perfume bothers me a lot as well - so much so that I'll get up and move on my commute to avoid the stinky.

I went shopping at Jacob in the fall - a store I used to regularly visit. The store was so strongly scented with perfume that I asked them why, and apparently, it was a new corporate policy to promote their fragrance. Not that there was anything wrong with the perfume per se, but it was so strong that I told the cashier I wouldn't be visiting again (and felt sorry for anyone who had to work there). Not sure if they're still doing this as I haven't been back.

What all this means is that wearing perfume has become even more of a statement than ever, and many workplaces, schools and other public spaces (like yoga studios) are asking people to stay scent-free.

What do you think? Do you wear perfume, and if so, how much? Does strong fragrance affect you?

[Yvonne Brooks]

I do wear a light fragrance each day. But if I have a medical appt, a visit at the hospital, or going to be close to people for a length of time, I will refrain. Many perfumes will trigger my migrains, so I do respect other people's "air" space. Some men and women wear too much perfume.
Yvonne brooks

[pamelanault]

As a Massage Therapist, I too understand the no smell policy. I do wear, on occassion, perfume. But I have frangrance sensitivity and get headaches and sometimes migraines. I think people just need to be a little bit more respectful to others about this. I think the worst is the people who seem to marinate themselves with the perfume/cologne. Most companies have a bodywash, lotion and eau du toilette, and it states on most packages to use all three so you don't need to spray excess perfume/cologne and it helps hold the scent longer. And no need to re-apply during the day cause we can still smell you even if you can't since you applied in the morning!

[A Dreams-Teller]

Hi Kat,

Great topic! I am very fragrance sensitive, an unfortunate situation because I love perfume and never pass a fragrance counter in a department store without sampling. But those days are over for me. I remember sampling a strong exotic scent one day and within a short time developed a headache. I realized that it was caused by the strong fumes emanating from my wrists where I had dabbed the lovely new scent. Sometimes I forget and sample again only to be revisited by another one of those fragrance headaches.

So, I don't wear perfume and avoid fragrance laden cosmetics. Smelly soaps are also off my shopping list.

A Dreams-Teller
http://www.adreams-tellerblogspot.com