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My sense of smell really isn't that great. It is mostly the imaginary smells that get me. If I get nervous I think I can smell body odor. I run to the bathroom rub my arm pits and smell my fingers kike the girl that was on Saturday night live. I always keep deodorant close by and I am probably one of those women that use too much fragrance. I just use the light body sprays though. I too smell imaginary smoke. If I ever really did step in dog poop, I would probably think it was my imagination again and not look at the bottom of my shoes. Yikes!!!

Yes, I can't wear perfume or use strong chemicals because I will have respiratory issues. I nearly choke when I have to be in a crowded place with people who are wearing strong perfume. Sometimes I wish there was a little label on the perfume that said, "Please, only ONE squirt, there may be people you come in contact with today who are allergic to this scent!" My grandmother used to take a bath (figuratively) in Estee Lauder Youth Dew and we would all nearly die!! I have had asthma all my life, but it doesn't not seem that CPAP has exacerbated the symptoms or the sensitivity to smells.

porete wrote:Yes, I can't wear perfume or use strong chemicals because I will have respiratory issues. I nearly choke when I have to be in a crowded place with people who are wearing strong perfume. Sometimes I wish there was a little label on the perfume that said, "Please, only ONE squirt, there may be people you come in contact with today who are allergic to this scent!" My grandmother used to take a bath (figuratively) in Estee Lauder Youth Dew and we would all nearly die!! I have had asthma all my life, but it doesn't not seem that CPAP has exacerbated the symptoms or the sensitivity to smells.

I remember Youth Dew. You could smell that stuff a block away. It was very popular too.

Seems like it is still popular with very elderly ladies...I can smell that smell a mile away!! Just wait 'til you get stuck in a doctor's office with someone who doused themselves with it.

We had a closet full of Old Spice. My aunt sent it to my father for birthdays and Christmas and he was violently allergic to it. But we were too polite to say so and of course we couldn't throw it away because it was a gift. After my parents moved west, my sister threw out 20 years worth of Old Spice products.

I have found my asthma is better since I went on cpap, probably because my gerd is under better control. I have always been sensitive to scents but hitting menopause threw it into overdrive.

Pine-sol, ugh

Janknitz wrote:...The worst is when the scent is so strong it lingers everywhere--I hate getting on the elevator sometimes because someone's perfume becomes a passenger for hours. UGH!

I recently interviewed a candidate for a job, and needed to do so offsite. We agreed to meet at the agency's office, on the third floor of their building. I walked into the building, and though there was no one in the lobby, it reaked of someone's deep dive into perfume. I hoped it was someone on the main floor, and not my candidate. I got on the elevator, and darn it if the scent wasn't there as well. I knew then that it had to be my candidate. It was.

In my interview, I explained that I had sensitivities to fragrances, and would she be willing to forego the scents while on the job? No problem. I hired her. She has occasionally worn a fragranced hand lotion, and I've corrected that as well. The key is to keep speaking up. Trying to "be polite" wasn't working, and no one will be my advocate, so I've got to do so myself.

msla wrote:Pine-sol, ugh

How did you know I like the smell of Pine-sol?

"Interesting fragrance. Must you MARINATE in it??"

I am ok with other people wearing perfume, as long as they don't bath in it

When I first started as a checkout chook, there was man who was dubbed 'the cat man' he reeked of cat pee and tobacco smoke. If I had the 'pleasure' of serving him, I would have to hold my breath, he was that bad. Even mouth breathing you would cop it.

What's a "checkout chook?" Is this the Oz term for someone who rings up your purchase at a store?

archangle wrote:What's a "checkout chook?" Is this the Oz term for someone who rings up your purchase at a store?

Sorry, ozspeak! You are correct, its the person who rings up the purchases

The correct term is 'checkout chick', but I am far from being a young chick so I call myself a chook

I do not have any smell issues due to loss of smell 3 years ago.

I do have trouble with my nose being slightly congested in the morning when I wake up though. Seems that only started after I started CPAP. Other than that, my sinuses have been more clear than ever.

I see my ENT every 6 months for a checkup and I'm due now to go in. I can't wait to hear his report, this is the first I see him since I started.

Chillmon, play with you humidifier SLOWLY, one notch up or down for several nights in a row to try to find that sweet spot that doesn't congest your sinuses.

In my "welcome" letter to new clients I ask them not to wear strong scents. Either they never listen or their clothes are so impregnated with the perfume that it doesn't help if they don't squirt extra on that day.

Youth Dew is a particular pet peeve of mine. I work with seniors and that scent seems to be favored by incontinent older ladies. I guess they think it covers the smell. It does not. Youth Dew is bad enough. Youth Dew plus urine is truly ghastly! OMG!!!

It's not just women, I work around men mostly and I have a lot of trouble with their cologne, body wash, after shave, deodorant, landry detergent, just about anything they wear.
A real problem for me is the fabric softeners and dryer sheets. It seems that people think they have to use fabric softeners. The men around me are afraid to tell their wives
to stop using it, even if they do care one way or another.

Scents are a constant battle for me and I am sure I am not alone.

Bryansong