Help me understand this please!
 

I will try to be tactful. The subject is people that wear perfume.

Today I was hugged affectionately by a lovely neighbor. Her perfume, although not a scent that was appalling (as many are) was all over me after the hug.
My hair, my clothes, the whole side of my face.

Within 10 minutes I had a raging headache. I was on my way out and had no time to change my clothes, so I washed the side of my face and sprayed myself with unscented Fabreeze…… it didn't make a dent in the smell that lingered all over me until I could return home and shower.
This is not the first time this has happened to me.


It is getting to the point where I dread going to a group gathering. Being hugged by multiple people (or even just sitting next to perfumed people on a couch) and picking up the residue of the different perfumes each is wearing is unbelievably annoying.


I can't believe that someone wearing scent wouldn't get annoyed when another's scent invades their own body/clothes/hair as they hug. They want their OWN, don't they? Or is it okay for all the perfumes to mingle? Or don't they know the difference? :shrug:
I gotta say, many scents don't go well at all with others rubbed on top… or when multiple ladies are side by side somewhere, all wearing perfume that competes.

I honestly don't understand this. Even if the majority of stuff did not give me a headache, I'd much rather smell the fresh air we are in, or the food we are eating at the time.
Instead the perfume demands the attention. Sadly, that's how I am beginning to look at it- as a detraction rather than a compliment to an otherwise beautiful woman. AND, they pay good money for this effect? !!!
I truly do not understand.
I'll add a bold P.S.- Do you mind if you leave your scent on somebody, or in someone's home after you have gone? Or someone's auto?
Just curious.

I agree with you. I prefer not to be subjected to it either. Remember when we were young and our mothers told us subtle was better? They were right!!

Then there was the school of thought that you should layer the scent for the most impact. I think there are still a few around that do that. Too much for my senses, but I'm sure some ladies don't feel completely put together without perfume.

Many "elderly" women wear something called Shower to Shower. It's very strong and over powering.

I've been hiding my feelings for years about this subject. I am allergic to scents. Scented soaps, body lotions and perfumes. It actually closes up my throat and gives me a headache. I have a couple of neighbors who wear so much that I can't be around them. The other day I was getting an EKG and and the technician smelled like she had bathed in it. I had to go home and shower because of the lingering smell on me. I just wish others would be more conscious of it because it really does cause a problem for others.

Add men's aftershave to the perfumes too - dreadful and nauseating to say the least.

My husband brought me a very good French perfume last time he traveled and wants to know why I am not wearing it, hard to tell him I can't because people are allergic to whatever they put in perfume these days.

This has to be something new, because when I was a working woman people used perfumes in the office and they were not overpowering or offensive. The manufacturers must be adding something to make the perfume stronger and cloying.

If it's a nice scent I enjoy the lingering effect in the car. And I always love to walk in someone's home and subtly smell their signature scent. But it's a fine line. Personally I don't wear a scent 'cause of not wanting to offend someone.

I don't want to be contrary but I have never hugged someone and had their perfume or cologne come off and linger on my body or clothes. I love to smell nice perfumes and other aromas though so maybe it has and i didn't notice it was on me.

Was in the dermatologist waiting room the other day, Small room, Dr. Caspers.... and a gentleman came in (notice I DIDN'T say elderly) and he had overused his aftershave. We all sit quietly for a moment and then three people stepped outside.

I don't think he knew he had used too much.

We all survived. BUT... I feel sorry for people who get headaches from scent.

Some folks have asthma, copd and emphysema...scents can adversely affect them. Have any folks posting here have had issues with breathing? We had a family member who couldn't have anyone wear anything scented (powder, deodorant, perfume etc.) as their throat closed up. It's not only about being offensive but it can be a health-issue.

I know of some work places, churches etc. who ask that folks NOT wear anything that has scents.

Overuse of perfume offends me, and I am not allergic to anything. But having it in the car I'm riding in or on a person around me bothers me. I just don't like the smell of any perfume. A subtle, fresh scent of cleaning products in someone's home is nice, but having to sit next to someone who just spritzed herself is not.

Hand lotion, Shower to Shower Body Powder and the like don't bother me. But perfume does.

I'm going to put up with your annoying fragrance, and you have the opportunity to enjoy my spritz of Chanel 5 which I intend to wear every day.
Nobody can control what everybody else has on their hair or skin. If you're allergic that badly, why not put your hands up before the hug and ask if the person is wearing perfume. It isn't easy to move away and say I'm allergic to perfume but it's a reasonable and assertive way to cope.

:agree:

I am still old fashioned enough to enjoy perfumes and aromas just like we did for most of my life.

There always was someone who over did it.....but it never detracted from the majority who did it right.....and still do.

btk

I think we're talking about overuse here. At least I was, anyway. If it permeates the car, it's overuse. If it rubs off on the person you're hugging, it's overuse. Otherwise, bring on your Chanel #5!

I gave up wearing perfume when it became obvious so many people were allergic to it.

If you wear it every day, you get used to the scent and continue to spray until you think you've got enough on - then it's too much. For those of you who use it every day, it's already on your clothes so you may not have to add any. Just saying....

A small amount of fragrance is okay, but some men and women seem to take a bath in it. I am very sensitive to some colognes and there is nothing worse than having a show ruined for me at the Savannah because of someone wearing too much and my eyes burn and my head gets congested. There really is no reason to wear that much.

Apparently, some people do not know their perfume is overpowering and what to do? If 12 people told you....? maybe we CAN do something about it...but not if we are all too wussy.

As we get older some people lose their sense of smell. Most of the time, people don't realize that they lose their sense of smell because it happens gradually.

I wear perfume every single solitary day and will continue to do as long as I live. I do not wear the cheap stuff but rather better brands. If my perfume offends you, I have no problem with you not bothering with me.

I am also allergic to strong perfume or cologne. But if I am beside someone with an overdose of perfume or after shave or cologne. I say in a voice that the person hears, man she....he ... or it smells like a skunk. They usually disappear in a hurry.

Maybe they have strong body odors they have to cover up!

Your "better brands" are made from flowers, to which many are allergic. I hope the people who are rendered breathless from that will actually be in a position to get away from you before their throat closes up or they get a migraine.

A second-hand scent problem!

At duplicate bridge games in TV, the directors now make an announcement before the start of every game to please not wear any type of scents because they adversely affect some players, especially those with COPD.

I've always been sensitive to scents -- at the very least, they give me headaches; when worn heavily, I start wheezing and can barely breath. Not a pleasant sensation.

As long as cologne is not over doused, I much prefer that to the fragrance of armpit.

When did we become a nation where we penalize all for the issues of a few? Not being able to wear fragrance because one person is "sensitive" is ridiculous. If someone is that susceptible then they should be seeing a doctor for help combating the problem. We have taken issues to the extreme. I will sound callous I know but quite honestly, your issue is not mine.

guote: As long as cologne is not over doused, I much prefer that to the fragrance of armpit.

LOL, diane, I so prefer armpits.

Kitty - EWWWW - nasty - LOL

It's not just one person, and some conditions cannot be treated. A little less self-absorption when out in a group in an enclosed situation (church comes to mind; rec center functions, and the like) is helpful.

If a person wants to douse herself with perfume and go take a walk in the park, that's one thing; but please don't sit next to me at church or that Christmas party with 200 people. And don't hug me, either! :pray:

Ummm - you're not gonna like this but quite frankly, I don't care. I have reached the stage in my life where I don't give a rat's behind what other people like and don't like. I will damned well do as I please aside from something illegal. Don't sit next to me - thank you !

Wow, maybe NY would be better for you! There's quite a few million more there that you could not care about.

I understand what you're saying, DougB, but having lived in North Jersey and spent a ton of time in NYC, this is not a normal attitude from that area. Maybe honest to a fault, but people really care about each other out there.

I used to work with a girl who claimed she would go into anaphylactic shock with floral based perfumes. Don't know if it was true or not, but we all tried never to wear floral scents. Instead I bought mildly scented lotions and diluted them with unscented lotions. The result was a very mild scent that didn't bother her. Now I can't stand full strength scents of any kind. I guess it's all a matter of conditioning.

Where was all this "sensitivity" when we were growing up in the 30's, 40's and 50's?

How are the fragrances of the dish soaps, laundry detergents, bar soaps, sun tan lotion, incense in church(!!!!!), etc, etc......handle in this modern day?

btk

don't know about others, but we use fragrance free in our house. don't sit in the sun so i don't need sun screen...incense in church - i know i am in for it before i go so we sit near the rear doors and bring extra, extra kleenex - and offer it up to god until i can get outside

Maybe people who are sensitive to perfumes can get a service dog that will alert them to the strong scents before they have an adverse reaction. (Sorry. I couldn't resist.)

:boom:

I haven't had a chance to use this since the good old days in the POLITICAL forum:sigh:

btk

There are so many more chemicals in use now than there was in the '30s, '40s, and '50s. And the population has exploded, so people are constantly jammed closer and closer together. People have developed allergies that they wouldn't necessarily have had back then.

And we're more aware of the problems because we have more sophisticated means of communication.

Amen

There is a certain perfume older women wear that must be from the 1950s, and it is just plain nauseating. Most perfumes don't bother me at all but some do.....I run when a perfume tester approaches me at a department store entrance.

The one that older women wear that is nauseating is always unmistakably the same one. I don't know the name of it, but I've had to leave gatherings here because of it smelling like a combination of moth balls and maybe Eau de Funeral Parlor.

We have attended several churches here, where it seemed that all the friendly, sweet ladies at the doorway had taken a soaking bath in that godawful perfume. Several times, the services were inspiring and well led, but I had to leave early because of that awful perfume, and there was no way we'd join and attend there.

Does anybody know what it is? Somebody needs to tell women who wear it.

I honestly think the problem is that we have become a nation of whiney people who have to punish all for the issues of the few. What ever happened to majority rule.

Wouldn't have this issue there. We don't sweat the small stuff.

If you don't sweat, then no need for dousing one's self in perfume.