Perfume...please don't flame me, but just something to think about before reaching for the bottle

I know that a lot of people love perfumes, and I can respect that. Recent and prior events that have happened at work and just out in the world make me want to just vent a little and maybe even educate. I have, as well as many others have, chemical sensitivity which can bring about allergy attacks and worse...migraines. Many people I have worked w/ or even stood net to in line do not realize how strong and dangerous their scent may be to themselves and others. I can not tell you how many times I have politely spoken to co-workers and advised them that I am allergic and it can cause migraines and they continue to wear it heavily. Many times I have had to go over their heads and consult bosses, and you'd be surprised how few take it seriously. I actually had someone challenge me today about the fact that I plan on having real flowers at my wedding when I claim to have a sensitivity scents, including floral scents! Well, perfumes are not just crushed flower juices, and to be honest, I did not appreciate the comment. I am making a public plea, if you really wish to use perfume...a little goes a very long way and even though you may not smell it on you, others do.

I have attached a link that I think is very important for all to read. It's not just about perfumes...it's about cleaners, etc. You'd be surprised how significant scents are.

Article about perfume

I am sorry for the long vent. Please don't anyone take offense. It's just something that a lot of people are affected by, and everyone should know about it.

PS: The article I have attached is also backed up by a lot of research. If you do a google search and type in: perfume migraine, a whole lot of info will come up. Thanks everyone for allowing me to vent...

I wouldn't flame you for all the money in the world. Thanks for speaking up!

I don't have chemical allergies or even fragrance allergies, but the reality is sometimes both men and women WEAR TOO MUCH DARN FRAGRANCE!!!! I purposely aovid a particular old gentleman who rides my bus every day. He's a sweet old man, but he BATHES in his cologne and it gets on my nerves.

You're right on the money girl. Hope it gets better for you.

And re the article, 'WOW!'

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Posted by Katherine121

I wouldn't flame you for all the money in the world. Thanks for speaking up!

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Exactly - I never thought about what was going into my perfume. I had NO idea about this.

I wouldn't flame you for that either! I'm always very careful about how much perfume I wear. I don't think I'll ever finish a bottle of perfume! My sister, however, goes through perfume like it's nothing.

I'll never forget this one time, when I was a teenager and working at the library (yes, the library!) I had to help this woman with the copy machine. She smelled like she had drowned herself in rose water perfume. I almost threw up and fainted at the same time. I'll never forget that smell! So since then, I've been very careful about how much perfume I put on........

People should be more considerate of your condition, especially if you ask nicely!

Thank you for the article and the post! I get VERY nauseas around strong perfumes. I also get migraines often and anything can trigger them. Thanks again!

Thanks everyone! I have tried to be nice about it saying 'that's a lovely perfume ( ), but I am allergic.' Never works. I sometimes bring up that it will cause me to have a migraine, but a lot of people think I'm BS-ing. I can't win!

I totally agree!!! The woman that works right besides me feels the need to wear this strong perfume that you can actually TASTE when you're near her. It's so bad I get MAJOR headaches!
I've discussed this with the 'higher ups' and they're afraid to say anything....

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Posted by 103005FallBride

I totally agree!!! The woman that works right besides me feels the need to wear this strong perfume that you can actually TASTE when you're near her. It's so bad I get MAJOR headaches!
I've discussed this with the 'higher ups' and they're afraid to say anything....

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What do they think is going to happen? I have the same problem. The woman I work with now has a heart condition and they are affraid to say something that may upset her. Someone should show these people the article I linked to above. Will they be affraid when they cause a major illness and someone calls the board of labor

I agree - it makes me nauseous - I wear a very light scent, and just a little spritz of it - I dont want to smell like I showered in it!

I completely agree heavy purfumes make me sooo sick. Particularly when you get stuck in a crowded elevator with someone who bathed in it.

Some people CAN be nice about it actually, and it's a wonderful thing when they do. (I am highly sensitive to scented products - perfume kills me.)

When I was in grad school, I had a friend who wouldn't wear perfume on the days we had classes together because I told her it bothered me so much. At my last job, the girl who sat behind me would only put on 'one spritz' instead of taking a bath in it after I told her that her perfume was giving me migraines. At my current job, my support staff would spray scented air fresheners every day, but when I asked them not to because of my headaches, they stopped. (On a related note, I stopped bringing fish for lunch when a co-worker was pregnant and the smell bothered her.)

Seriously, why can't people respect the 'airspace' of others? It truly makes my day that people will be so accomodating to help my migraines and my allergies.

To the OP: thanks for the link!