One hundred and fifty people were recently affected by someone who sprayed perfume in an office in Fort Worth, Texas. 34 people had to be taken to hospital.
So it seems that perfume can be dangerous. I love perfume but the problem is it closes my chest (I’m asthmatic, but in denial). I’ve tried spaying a little on my ankle — I insist that a waft of perfume won’t turn me blue. Limited results. Many times I’m reduced to tears at church. You’re the Fire on the left and Happy To Be on the right. Add a little Obsession in the pew behind me and I’m totally overcome. No escape and elders ask if I need time in the prayer room after service. Hard to explain why I’m stricken.
It happens everywhere. I went for a driving lesson the other day (I’m trying to convert my South African licence to an Australian one — at 50 it’s like doing a doctorate). The instructor slapped on the last of his aftershave as I got into his car. “Turn left at the lights…” he ordered, exuding Old Spice. My head pounded, my chest closed and my eyes blurred. “Jenn … I fer.r.r.r.r… turn left … you must concentrate. And you didn’t check your blind spot!”
I felt terrible and was tempted to drive to emergency department instead. I headed home, having wasted $55.
Will the world health organisations ban perfume in public places? It seems that there’s decreasing productivity globally because of staff absenteeism caused by allergic reactions to “scents”? Sufferers of migraines, asthma and allergies are up in arms. ”Don’t infringe on our rights!” they shout. Should perfumes, scents and colognes be banned in the same areas that smoking is banned?
Rather have a smelly toilet at work than a tight chest due to the internal spray — a difficult choice but productivity in the global recession is of the essence.
Perhaps we can develop a test or a machine that senses when you’re over the limit.
“Step over here, madam — you’re reading high. Too much Poison this morning, then?” And she’ll be washed down by female security. Does it lie in the volume or the brand? The Eau de Toilette or the perfume? Chanel versus Clinique?
What I know for sure is that women love perfume and globally sales continue even in the economic slump. Perfume makes us happy. For some, it also leaves us breathless.
In Canada perfume already banned in Government offices and schools….
So true. Strong perfume is even more unpleasantly distracting than the smell of cigarettes. I don’t feel dressed without wearing fragrance, but I am careful to wear light scents (Clinique Happy, Elizabeth Arden Sunflowers) and apply them very lightly. People should only be able to discern a scent if they get very close to you (and in the work place, that should only happen in exceptionally crowded lifts).
What is the eqivalent and sometimes worse, in my opinion to bad b.o., is someone having gone overboard with perfume! I dont have any allergic reactions to it, that would be bad enough, but i dont see the sense of letting everyone within a radius as far as the nose can reach know you got perfume on. I smoke and i know it can be disgusting and always attempt to keep it away from people, perfume should be the same, some people dont like being overwhelmed with the equivalent of 100 roses or lemons shoved up others noses.
Love your article….also, the idea of banning perfume in public would have the additional benefit of avoiding some stinky perfumes!! Unlike you, I don’t have asthma but I often feel like my sense of smell have been assaulted and insulted!! Wish there was a public campaign advising woman that if you can’t afford a decent perfume, go without!! “Nothing” is preferable to “Cheap & stinky”.
I’m not allergic to perfume, but very sensitive to it. Given up wearing it myself because of the overpowering scent on others makes me want to puke. The automatic sprays in public toilets ensure that I don’t linger either – no time to brush hair or see to make-up. Must get out to breath.
You taken a freak incident and blown it all out of proportion to suit your selfish purposes:
1. According to news reports an announcement was made that any employees feeling “dizzy” leave the building. What did you expect to happen when some may feel like taking the “afternoon off”.
2. Medical tests were unable to determine the cause of the workers’ distress. Any surprise?
I’m sorry that you have a sensitivity to perfume. I have similar problems too but only for certain specific scents. However, to speak of banning perfumes or scents in certain areas is, crazy, unpractical and selfish. Its better to apply social pressure to change behavior rather than creating more impractical and unenforceable laws. I wonder what causes some of us to become so self-centered that we expect the world to change to adapt to our unique needs?
Hmmm … I have always avoided women who use a lot of make up and perfume for that very reason – they make me sick, literally. Some perfumes are worse than others.
I thought that I had out grown my ashma but in the past 5 years I have had to have a pump again. Is it all the air freshener and perfume in the cleaning liquids like tile cleaners etc?
Although I don’t stop breathing, I am very sensitive to smell and most perfume makes me feel physically ill – I get incredibly nauseous. If the point of perfume and cologne is to attract the opposite sex, is one actually attracted to these violent smells?
Still, cigarettes have severely limited my entertainment options. Went to a Karen Zoid gig in a dive in Edenvale the other night and emerged with an asthma attack thanks to all the smokers. I just can’t socialise with them.
Jenny, Are you moving to Australia? Goodluck.
Anyway, I totally hate perfume. I think it should be banned. Even “light” scents give me a headache.
@Sarah
Happy and Sunflowers? My two favourites!(must be something to do with us both loving cats and being asthmatics). Re. the perfume: I sometimes spray a little on a hankerchief and put it in my bag (my “ouma” used to have Lavender and 4711 wafting from her bag). If it becomes overpowering,I simply zip the bag and walk away!
@Phillipa
I now live in “heaps good” South Australia.
What is Dave Harris smoking? Or does he take himself so seriously he he cannot see the funny side of life? Will somebody please explain nicely to him……
Oops, now that you say you live in Australia, I wholeheartedly support you in banishing those darn perfumes and scents. Go for it Jenny!
Thanks for clarifying that minor point Phillippa
If one feels stinky all needed is de-odorant which is applied in the hidden part of a body…no need for benzenol perfumes. Regarding imposing controls; I agree with Dave Harris Its better to apply social pressure to change behavior rather than creating more impractical and unenforceable laws. Let’s start with social pressure and it will eventually change in to mandate.
Can relate to the article – no asthma, but the nausea and migraines are terrible. Have given up on perfume completely. If people only used a dab of perfume/after shave instead of swimming in it, life would be grand.
Dear Jenny , loved your article, I have diagnosed chemical sensitivities (sometimes called MCS). All artificial fragrances and many other common chemicals severely impact on my health. I don’t just get dizzy or have migranes. My immune system goes out of control, my muscles spasm, and I am told the nerve endings in my respiratory tract inflame. One nose-full and I can be sick for days or weeks. And I’m not alone, I am a member of a group with several hundred people just like me. I need to use a carbon air filter mask just to get around. Fragrance free churches/schools/offices/meetings increasingly occur in Canada and USA and Europe. Why not here? Dean, what is crazy is how addicted we are, collectively, to chemical brews called fragrances, in France there is even an ad for Vanilla fragranced petrol for heavesn’s sake!
This is a wonderful informative website and I applaud your efforts and all the important
hard work you’re doing. It gives me hope! I created a blog about the same critical issue
and I’m doing what I can to raise awareness on this critical vital issue from my own personal experience. I’m striving to raise awareness about the vital importance of protecting children and animals from the horrifying dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke. Please love your animals and don’t smoke anywhere near them! The blog discusses everything related to big tobacco, non-smokers’ rights, and all the health dangers related to smoking and having to breathe secondhand smoke and secondhand smoker’s breath. I invite you to please take a few moments to take a look and share it with those you love and care about and help them quit the nasty ugly habit. http://smokenscreens.blogspot.com
Thank you,
Amanda
my God, i thought you have been going to chip in with some decisive insight at the end there, not leave it with we leave it to you to decide.