Perfume overdoses

[pris993]

My office went "scent free" at the same time they went smoke free. Maybe the time has come for ships and restaurants to do likewise.

 

If folks buy good quality... don't need to use much and it is not offensive. I have worn sents all life and always get complements .... never had any one complain even when going to an allergy clinic.

[Flatbush Flyer]

If folks buy good quality... don't need to use much and it is not offensive. I have worn sents all life and always get complements .... never had any one complain even when going to an allergy clinic.

 

 

Allow me to be the first to ask: "And just how do you know that you're not offending anyone?"

 

All sorts of folks are offended by all sorts of things. And it may be their nature to just say nothing.

[fantasy51]

If folks buy good quality... don't need to use much and it is not offensive. I have worn sents all life and always get complements .... never had any one complain even when going to an allergy clinic.

 

I agree and disagree with this, Pris.

 

I agree with the fact that no one needs to use much, and perhaps the fact that no one has complained is testament to the fact that you are a considerate perfume wearer and only put on enough for people to smell when they are very close by (which is how it should be).

 

I disagree that good quality perfume is not a problem. Unfortunately even good quality perfume contains chemicals and can be a problem if obtrusive.

 

I also agree with the previous poster who pointed out that often people do not complain. At the moment our society is not aware enough of the problem of Multi-Chemical Sensitivity for complaints to be acceptable. Those of us who are sensitive tend to put up with the side effects or just absent ourselves from the situation, rather than complaining.

[Reader0108598]

If folks buy good quality... don't need to use much and it is not offensive. I have worn sents all life and always get complements .... never had any one complain even when going to an allergy clinic.

 

 

That's the problem, everyone thinks it is the other person who is offending people . My scent is fine! :confused: Coworker complains bitterly about another coworkers perfume, all the while slathering on perfumed hand lotion, once again :confused:.

Edited June 17, 2016 by Reader0108598

[lisiamc]

I live in the UK.

I buy A'kin unscented body wash and shampoo.

I use Essential Waitrose sensitive handwash.

I use Surcare products to wash my dishes and clothes.

 

It is not too difficult to find unscented products if you are motivated. There is generally at least one alternative in good supermarkets. However, I buy the A'kin products online.

 

One problem, though, is that sometimes a 'perfume masker' is used to cover up scent, and this too is a chemical!

 

As a person who doesn't have sensitivities, I'm happy to not wear perfume for the benefit of random unknown people. But I'm unlikely to spend more or special-order household products from the internet unless I have a family member or close friend who will be affected. I'm the type who will do something that's easy, but not if it requires too much effort for uncertain benefit. And I think that's probably true for a lot of other people as well. Maybe those with sensitivities should be encouraging mainstream manufacturers to market more unscented things?

Edited June 17, 2016 by lisiamc

[Reader0108598]

As a person who doesn't have sensitivities, I'm happy to not wear perfume for the benefit of random unknown people. But I'm unlikely to spend more or special-order household products from the internet unless I have a family member or close friend who will be affected. I'm the type who will do something that's easy, but not if it requires too much effort for uncertain benefit. And I think that's probably true for a lot of other people as well. Maybe those with sensitivities should be encouraging mainstream manufacturers to market more unscented things?

 

What we use in our households are our own business. The fact that you are happy not to wear perfume in public places, shows you are a considerate person.

 

 

Reader

Edited June 17, 2016 by Reader0108598

[cbr663]

If folks buy good quality... don't need to use much and it is not offensive. I have worn sents all life and always get complements .... never had any one complain even when going to an allergy clinic.

 

The idea that "good quality" equals a "better" product has been dis-proven in research which has shown, for instance, that inexpensive lipsticks often contain the less amount of lead.

 

The problem is that most people who buy something off the shelf in North America just assume that it is safe. Nothing is further from the truth when it comes to fragrance. There is a gov't loop hole that considers fragrance to be a trade mark secret and its ingredients do not need to be disclosed to the consumer. It also means that the fragrance has never been tested for safety.

 

Independent studies have shown that over 3000 chemicals are used in the fragrance industry and most have not been tested for toxicity. Most of these chemicals are derived from petroleum and many have been linked to cancer and harmful health affects to humans. (http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/fragrance-and-parfum/).

 

Did you know, for instance, that Johnson and Johnson did not start to remove formaldehyde from its baby shampoo until 2011? (http://environmentaldefence.ca/2013/03/23/beauty-products-are-harmful-heres-why/).

 

Fact is that these are toxic products that should be at least labelled as such.

 

http://environmentaldefence.ca/report/report-not-so-sexy-the-health-risks-of-secret-chemicals-in-fragrance-canadian-edition/

[Cruise4Fun2Sun]

While I am not personally sensitive to fragrances (other than disliking some of them), I've witnessed some distinct reactions as described by PP with exception of the anaphylactic reaction. Personally, I do not wear perfume and any personal care products I use are lightly scented, so at least I am not adding to the problem. I've had coworkers and relatives that are huge offenders though, and given that some of them have worn what I describe as "awful" smells I can only imagine the plight of those with true reactions.

 

With regards to the fragrance industry, there is limited regulation (with some chemicals banned I believe), but since the mid-century there has been health and safety research and the industry self-regulates via organizations such as RIFM and IFRA. Take that as you will -self regulation seems a bit of an oxymoron, but in looking at the few thousand chemicals listed, many remind me of the GRAS ("generally recognized as safe") compounds that are allowed in foods and cosmetics as regulated by the FDA. I am not a regulatory specialist so no need to try to argue with me, but I have worked with industries impacted by these regulations.

 

Irregardless, others wearing more than a touch of perfumes and fragrances is very much a real and physical issue for those people with fragrance sensitivities.

[CallyCruzer]

There seems to be some "sensitive" people on this board - that feel their toes are being stepped on regarding "perfume rights" LOL. Bottom line, I am not allergic to perfume but I find it's nauseating when someone either steps into an elevator and they smell like they just took a bath in a bottle of perfume or cologne. Not to make too general of a statement but usually its a smoker that has lost their sense of smell and have no idea they smell like a whorehouse LOL!! Bottom line, I have had to ask my server to move my table in restaurants on and off the ship because someone sat down at a table close to me and I was getting nauseated from the cloud of perfume. I can't tell you how many times I have walked onto an empty elevator and the person who had been on previously had left their strong scent. The offenders have no idea - or care. Just is life......

Edited June 17, 2016 by CallyCruzer

[Sandy Sails]

I'm scent-sensitive enough that I use products that are fragrance-free (not unscented, which still has a chemical scent). But if I'm around somebody who has over-dosed in the perfume or cologne, I'm not shy about letting them know it's offending me.

 

Please people, just bathe already and quit trying to hide your stink with that awful perfume!

[pghsteelerfan]

I'm scent-sensitive enough that I use products that are fragrance-free (not unscented, which still has a chemical scent). But if I'm around somebody who has over-dosed in the perfume or cologne, I'm not shy about letting them know it's offending me.

 

Please people, just bathe already and quit trying to hide your stink with that awful perfume!

 

Exactly!

 

We were flying home from a cruise several years ago and there was a couple seated in front of us, probably in their 60's. One of them had a problem and was "releasing odors", but I don't know if it was him or her. Every time there was a "release of an odor", the woman whipped that bottle of perfume out and sprayed it to try to hide the smell. The result was the same as a women's restroom when someone uses perfume to try to hide an odor. This happened multiple times on a 2 hour flight. I had a pounding headache after that trip. I wanted to say something but didn't because I didn't know these people or how they'd react, and an airplane certainly was not the place to find out, so I suffered. When the MIL who uses perfume as a substitute for a bath/shower wore it into our house the one time, I said something. It backfired on me and she overreacted. The next time she came to our house, she didn't have it on (we had asked her nicely not to wear it), but within a half hour, she pulled it out of her purse and sprayed it all over herself and our loveseat. I had to use straight Pine Sol to cover the scent and I could not be in that room for several days. The headache was excruciating and I ruined the fabric on our love seat trying to get the smell of the perfume out. She is no longer welcome in our home.

Edited June 17, 2016 by pghsteelerfan

[wwcruisers]

Exactly!

 

I had to use straight Pine Sol to cover the scent and I could not be in that room for several days. The headache was excruciating and I ruined the fabric on our love seat trying to get the smell of the perfume out. She is no longer welcome in our home.

 

Please don't think I'm flaming you, because I mean no offense by my question. :o

But, I am curious as to how perfume gives you a headache, and the smell of Pine-Sol doesn't? I use a lot of different household cleaners and (next to bleach) Pine-Sol has the strongest, most lasting odor of anything. :eek: I'm just a little surprised that someone with sensitivity to scents wouldn't stick to the more "natural" household cleansers, like baking soda and vinegar. :confused:

[Sandy Sails]

Please don't think I'm flaming you, because I mean no offense by my question. :o

But, I am curious as to how perfume gives you a headache, and the smell of Pine-Sol doesn't? I use a lot of different household cleaners and (next to bleach) Pine-Sol has the strongest, most lasting odor of anything. :eek: I'm just a little surprised that someone with sensitivity to scents wouldn't stick to the more "natural" household cleansers, like baking soda and vinegar. :confused:

 

That's a really great question and I hope pghsteelerfan comes back to answer for herself. A lot of scent sensitivity is strictly with perfumes. I can clean house with the good stuff ("with bleach") and not be bothered. But add a fragrance/perfume to anything and I'm toast.

 

pghsteelerfan, what your MIL did is inexcusable; makes me so angry just thinking about it. I may have grabbed that bottle of perfume out of her hands, cursing her, kicked her out, and billed her for a new loveseat. Grrr!

[Reader0108598]

Okay not trying to offend anyone really :) The term "scent sensitive" is a misnomer to me . I am not "sensitive",You could put me in the hospital with an exacerbation with a chemical/perfume. (Respiratory distress)

 

Let me say I am not one of those people standing there fanning their hands in front of their noses. :) lol

Drives me nuts when coworkers do it, just because they do not like a person or their perfume/scent. Same coworker uses Lysol sprays, hand lotions, hair spray ect...

 

Peace and have a great weekend!

 

Reader

Edited June 17, 2016 by Reader0108598

[AZ Ocean Lover]

My mother always told me that only my husband should be able to smell my perfume.

[Reader0108598]

My mother always told me that only my husband should be able to smell my perfume.

 

Your Mother is a wise lady,but you already knew that!

 

Tried to add a smiley, but forum is acting up!

 

Reader

Edited June 17, 2016 by Reader0108598

[luddite]

Please don't think I'm flaming you, because I mean no offense by my question. :o

But, I am curious as to how perfume gives you a headache, and the smell of Pine-Sol doesn't? I use a lot of different household cleaners and (next to bleach) Pine-Sol has the strongest, most lasting odor of anything. :eek: I'm just a little surprised that someone with sensitivity to scents wouldn't stick to the more "natural" household cleansers, like baking soda and vinegar. :confused:

 

These modern, cheap fragrances -AXE and Giorgio are prime examples- are made in a lab with chemicals and god only knows what's actually in them.

My spousal unit sold perfume for a lot of years. Giorgio was the first of them that went to the lab instead of using naturals oils and such. The laboratory fragrances are real prone to causing headaches and other reactions.

It's a true shame that products like AXE wash have convinced teenagers that girls won't keep their clothes on when the kid pours that carap over his head.

[NLH Arizona]

I've always wondered why the cruise lines don't have a little reminder about using too much perfume. I think maybe some men and women just don't know that they have put on too much.

[luddite]

I've always wondered why the cruise lines don't have a little reminder about using too much perfume. I think maybe some men and women just don't know that they have put on too much.

 

We absolutely believe that.

After a while they are just inured to it. A scent pot at home, scented trash bags, some fragrance device in the car... after a while their smelled is just shot and they don't realize that they simply reek.

[cbr663]

Please don't think I'm flaming you, because I mean no offense by my question. :o

But, I am curious as to how perfume gives you a headache, and the smell of Pine-Sol doesn't? I use a lot of different household cleaners and (next to bleach) Pine-Sol has the strongest, most lasting odor of anything. :eek: I'm just a little surprised that someone with sensitivity to scents wouldn't stick to the more "natural" household cleansers, like baking soda and vinegar. :confused:

 

I realize the question wasn't posed to me, but I thought I would share my Mom's experience. It doesn't matter whether the scent is strong or mild as the strength of the scent doesn't matter. It is the chemicals that are used to make the scent that is the problem, not the perceived strength of the smell.

 

My Mom never has a reaction to a natural scent like say a vanilla bean or cinnamon stick. Nothing chemical or toxic there. Same thing with scents from actual flowers. You can bring a big batch of real lilac flowers into her house and she will not have the slightest reaction. Bring in a lilac scented candle and she is in a life and death situation.

 

So while most people will tell you that they are allergic to scents or sensitive to perfume, as it is generally easier for people to understand it, it is actually known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivities in reference to the more than 3000 chemicals that can be used to produce a scent or fragrance.

 

In the case of someone having a reaction to perfume and not Pine-Sol, it is simply because the person doesn't react to the chemicals used in Pine-Sol.

[pghsteelerfan]

Please don't think I'm flaming you, because I mean no offense by my question. :o

But, I am curious as to how perfume gives you a headache, and the smell of Pine-Sol doesn't? I use a lot of different household cleaners and (next to bleach) Pine-Sol has the strongest, most lasting odor of anything. :eek: I'm just a little surprised that someone with sensitivity to scents wouldn't stick to the more "natural" household cleansers, like baking soda and vinegar. :confused:

 

That's a really great question and I hope pghsteelerfan comes back to answer for herself. A lot of scent sensitivity is strictly with perfumes. I can clean house with the good stuff ("with bleach") and not be bothered. But add a fragrance/perfume to anything and I'm toast.

 

pghsteelerfan, what your MIL did is inexcusable; makes me so angry just thinking about it. I may have grabbed that bottle of perfume out of her hands, cursing her, kicked her out, and billed her for a new loveseat. Grrr!

 

I think it depends on if it's cheap perfume or name brand and if the perfume is oil based or water based. I have an aunt who wears a lot of perfume, and although it stinks, it does not give me a headache. It's rather expensive perfume, my mom told me how much she spent on it, good grief!!! :eek: Her choice, not for me to judge. But the perfumes she wears are water based, while MIL's is oil based and it's from Avon, but I don't know the name. Another thing that will set off a headache..."Pepe le Pew", the skunk that moved into our neighborhood last year. When he gets the dogs across the street, it's eye watering, gagging, and can wake you up from a deep sleep at 4:30AM. That will give headache, within an hour. The headaches I get are sinus related, but it was explained to me that there are nerves that run along the side of your face (I think it was three), and in some people when sinuses are inflamed, it puts pressure on those nerves, causing the headache.

 

As for the Pine-Sol, when I'd do normal cleaning, I used it sparingly (a little went a long way) and didn't mind the fresh, clean scent. No longer use it, they changed the scent, it's now "perfumy" and not "pine", can't stand it. I now use bleach based products (a MUST for kitchen and bathrooms), but if there are no fragrances, no issue. I don't use straight bleach though. Chlorine in pools doesn't bother me. On our last cruise, they had the cover over the back pool to hose the top of it off one night and the smell of chlorine was strong, never bothered me. As for the love seat, it was last resort after trying baking soda, Citrus Magic (a natural odor eliminating product for pet urine, mainly cats), Lysol spray (clean linen scent), no luck with any of it. I used the Pine Sol a few days later and yes, it was strong (even bothered DH, but he knew not to complain about this) and we had to have fans going and windows open, but to me it was better than that perfume. We believe it was the Pine Sol that ruined it by stripping it of the Scotch Guard, so now the color is kind of dingy.

 

Sandy Sails...yes, what MIL did was inexcusable. She did it when I was in another room but I was able to smell it immediately. To her, it's her son's house and therefore it's hers (she did not pay for it, DH and I did/are). Very possessive of her children, thus our marriage was not approved. There have been problems since she found out we got engaged, 25 years ago), mainly on her end. That's why we have to live where we do. Close enough to family, but far enough away so our marriage doesn't crumble. Believe me, there was so much I wanted to say that night but another relative held me back. After she was told to leave by that relative, "you know what" hit the fan for poor DH. The good thing that came out of it was that he saw her true colors that night...finally.

Edited June 18, 2016 by pghsteelerfan

[fantasy51]

My Mom never has a reaction to a natural scent like say a vanilla bean or cinnamon stick. Nothing chemical or toxic there. Same thing with scents from actual flowers. You can bring a big batch of real lilac flowers into her house and she will not have the slightest reaction. Bring in a lilac scented candle and she is in a life and death situation.

 

I have a problem with some lilies. I could feel myself wilt until I wanted to curl into a foetal ball. I lost all energy. I assume my blood pressure had dropped. I had some testing and supposedly I am also sensitive to things like lavender. I tore out all my lavender bushes just to be on the safe side.

 

It's not just cheap perfumes that are a problem. Once when I was teaching, my assistant came into the classroom wearing really strong perfume. It was 'Dune', by Dior, which is not a cheap make. I had previously told her that I had a problem with perfume, but each time I moved back while talking to her she'd just say in a sarcastic tone 'Oh, you don't like my perfume!' Anyway, this day I gave her a job that kept her away from me but it was too late. I reached a state of near-collapse. I judged I was not well enough to even drive home, but risked the 2-minute drive to a colleague's house to lie down for a couple of hours before I returned for the afternoon when the headteacher insisted. (I was too ill to fight him.) He thought I should be grateful because the assistant had gone home at lunchtime and changed her clothes and washed herself. That was a waste of effort as perfume can't be washed off. Also, she was not going to be in my room that afternoon. Would you believe that on her next session in my room she wore perfume, albeit a different one and not as strong? It took a new headteacher to finally send a letter home asking people not to wear perfume in my classroom.

[fantasy51]

As I understand it, most of the time it is a 'sensitivity' rather than an allergy. If we are constantly bombarded with these chemicals then it's as though a level builds up in our bodies. When it reaches a certain point, we 'explode'.

 

I have spent years cutting out these chemicals and taking my level down as my body slowly detoxes. This means that I can now tolerate the occasional exposure to chemicals without an overt reaction. However, I know that there is the danger that each exposure brings me closer to the line where I will have a serious attack.

 

I strongly believe this is the case with everyone (other than those with actual allergies who are in a different situation), whether we show a reaction or not; it is just that some of us are more sensitive than others and reach that exposure line first. We are the canaries in the coal mine who show you what could happen if you don't change your behaviour fast! This overuse of scented products in advertising (and other needless uses) will one day cause a serious problem in society.

Edited June 18, 2016 by fantasy51

[cbr663]

...

I have spent years cutting out these chemicals and taking my level down as my body slowly detoxes. This means that I can now tolerate the occasional exposure to chemicals without an overt reaction. However, I know that there is the danger that each exposure brings me closer to the line where I will have a serious attack.

 

I strongly believe this is the case with everyone (other than those with actual allergies who are in a different situation), whether we show a reaction or not; it is just that some of us are more sensitive than others and reach that exposure line first. We are the canaries in the coal mine who show you what could happen if you don't change your behaviour fast! This overuse of scented products in advertising (and other needless uses) will one day cause a serious problem in society.

 

I agree with you. These products contain toxic chemicals that affect all of us differently. My Mom didn't start having this problem until she was in her mid-forties.

 

I also believe that these chemicals build up in your system. I was drying off after a shower one day and noticed a tenderness with my arm pits. Imagine my surprise when I raised my arms and saw both arm pits swollen and covered in a rash. Turns out I had "suddenly" developed an allergy to the underarm deodorant that I had been using for nearly 40 years.

 

Of course, it wasn't "sudden". My body had just finally reached the tipping point of all the toxins that I was using every day in my deodorant. Then began the long process of finding a deodorant that was okay for me. I was lucky in that I found an on-line source that had tested about 110 different deodorants and all but 7, iirc, contained known skin irritants. I finally picked one of those 7 and everything has been fine since.

 

I can tell you from helping my Mom deal with her restrictions that is has been a constant struggle. After all, getting rational, sane and intelligent people to refrain from doing something that is known to be harmful to themselves and others is a very difficult task indeed.

Edited June 18, 2016 by cbr663

[fantasy51]

I also believe that these chemicals build up in your system. I was drying off after a shower one day and noticed a tenderness with my arm pits. Imagine my surprise when I raised my arms and saw both arm pits swollen and covered in a rash. Turns out I had "suddenly" developed an allergy to the underarm deodorant that I had been using for nearly 40 years.

 

I have been negligent lately. About 30 years ago I had the idea that I should change my shampoo and conditioner from time to time, so that I was not getting the same chemicals pouring down my body all the time. Like you, I have now found a shampoo that suits me and I feel like sticking with it. What if I develop a sensitivity to one of the chemicals in it? Perhaps I should be looking for another shampoo so that I can alternate them. Seeing you found 7 deodorants, I wonder if you should alternate 2 or 3 of them? There are no doubt some slightly different chemicals in each one and you would therefore be giving your body a rest from certain ingredients. Just a thought.