Steven Weissman

Comments

2
“..you will find that about 30 percent of people suffer from it. And for some people, like asthmatics, your toxic perfume can trigger dangerous symptoms”. Maybe instead of the 60% of the people changing for the minority the minority of 30% just shouldn’t go out in public, or work, or go grocery shopping or stay away from holiday shopping, or go to movies, or go to any public place where their sensitivities might be offended.
3
Smelly people of all descriptions should stay st home.

Like the OP, I get triggered by bad smells, particularly rude ones.
Have a wash, then you won’t need as much perfume.
Use a breath mint if you have horrendous smelly breath.
Wear freshly laundered clothes.

Simples.
4
@3: “Wear freshly laundered clothes.“

But detergents have scents too.
6
I am fragance sensitive too, but at least I'm not passive aggressive about it. If I'm in situation where I'm getting sick from someone elses perfume, I politely tell them - usually starting with "I'm sorry, but I'm really allergic to the perfume you're wearing". The vast majority of people are really nice about it and offer to find another place to sit, or to wash off some the perfume. Silently glaring at them while getting sicker and sicker, and then complaining about it on the internet is much less effective.
7
#6 the last time I told a man he was very smelly he punched me in the neck and I had to spend a week in bed.

Please. If you smell bad, stay at home.
8
From the other responses you can see what chemical-sensitive people have to deal with. The sinuses and lungs become irritated and nonfunctioning and instead of concern you get flack from the people who are causing it. Selfish and rude, plus reeking of nasty sweet chemicals, is no way to go through life. Dryer sheets, cheap perfume, air fresheners ... banish them for the sake of your pets if not your fellow humans.
9
In addition to perfume and cologne being just obnoxious (really, you don't need it!) it is actually poisonous to everyone.

"In 2010, the President’s Cancer Panel published a report on cancer risks from chemicals. They concluded that: “The burden of environmentally induced cancers has been grossly underestimated” and highlighted benzene, found in synthetic fragrance, as one of the more concerning substances."
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/hillary-p…
10
How do you know the perfume was toxic? did you test it? I think the smells came from your upper lip. Soap is available for less than $1 at your local grocery store
11
So you don't want me to use fragrance? Do you really want to smell my B.O.?
12
@Arty: Have you heard of the marvelous invention called 'soap?'
13
Honestly, how do you people survive? OMG- The Smells! Must let it destroy my day!
14
@8&9- here's hoping your misery ends soon.
15
100% a woman did it. Women drown themselves in perfume and everyone else has to suffer for it, cause they reek a mile away. Even worse if they try to cover their stench from not showering.
16
#5 I love you!
17
ICR! Often at the grocery I'll suddenly start sneezing and coughing from various smells. I try to avoid the aisles with detergent and shampoo etc. Some things are harmless like Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap, other things are bad but tolerable, like Kirk's Castile soap gags me if it gets too close to my face but I can use it on my hands. Then there's the stuff like dryer sheets that stink from here to yonder! I buy only unscented versions of those things if I need them but usually I don't need most of that stuff ever.
18
Why not just excuse yourself from the situation? Complaining on line isn't useful. Why hang around in a situation you suspect will trigger a migraine?

Some people wear cologne (I don't like it either, but I"m not allergic but I've dated someone who was) and you can't change that. All you can do is remove yourself form the situation. You're an adult. Use your words and your legs.
19
We've been using perfume for how many hundreds of years and suddenly 30% of people are allergic to it?

Or are they allergic the same way they're sensitive to gluten?
20
All of us shouldn’t have to swear off peanuts because some people are allergic.
If you’re so sensitive, YOU should stay home.
Do not expect the world to revolve around you & your issues.
21
Agreed, @ 18!
22
@4 - And there are unscented versions that work perfectly well. When someone with heavy smells sits down next to me, I get up and move. No point trying to make most scent-wearers understand how obnoxious they are. I had a woman tell me she wore patchouli because it was "natural". When I explained patchouli is in fact a natural insecticide, which is why it used to be packed with fabrics coming from India, she refused to believe me, even though it was triggering her own asthma.
23
All of you people saying she should just get up and leave are ableist assholes. Once a migraine is triggered, it's triggered. Leaving doesn't change that but ultimately becomes necessary. Medication can help but usually won't resolve a migraine completely and you can only take two doses of triptans in a day before having to visit the ER. Disabled people should all just stay home though because the world isn't made for us. Ugh. Just fuck all of you.
24
Amen, Anonymous. Synthetic fragrances are toxins.
25
Strong smells can send me to bed with a migraine for DAYS. I don't expect the world to revolve around me, and i do excuse myself from situations, but it's always nice when others are aware of how their behavior affects others. When I'm at work, and a coworker sprays something, I can't just leave. I have rent to pay, a life to live.
26
None of you scent-sensitive, anti-fragrant types have ever worked for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in commissioned sales? ....Didn't think so.
27
@26 What has that to do with anything?

@19 Dabbing a little eau du cologne behind the ears in the 1920s does not at all compare to the perfumed soaps, shampoos, hair products, deodorants, detergents and fabric softeners, on top of whateverthehell Axe body spray is that people coat on themselves in this day and age.
28
People should feel free to use whatever enticing, or stanky, perfumes or colognes that they choose.

But the correct amount is "so little that one can't smell it unless they're in your personal space". If I can smell you from 10 feet away, you're doing it wrong.
29
Bunch of gluten-free hipsters... Good grief, when will Amazon leave town with all these cry babies?
30
@27 I'm not sure there's any reason to believe people are wearing more cologne and perfume than they used to be. Considering that access to hot water is nearly universal (unlike in the 1920s when many homes only had cold running water), I'd wager we're probably using less now than in the past.
31
Personally, I love a good smelling cologne or perfume, on me or anyone else. Doesn't bother me in the least. I like it.
32
Personally, I like a good cologne or perfume, on me or someone else. I like it. Doesn't bother me in the least.
33
@19 sportlandia and @29 Arty Zepp: I'm gluten intolerant because I can no longer properly digest wheat, not that I'm some Amazon elitist on a fad diet, thumbing my nose on South Lake Union. Just because I don't eat wheat products doesn't mean you, I, ANON, or anyone else has to do the same. I avoid gluten like a recovering alcoholic and drug addict is wise to lay off COCAINE AND MALT LIQUOR.
34
I’ll take cologne over the smell of untreated human waste.

Apologies to the Seattleites who don’t have access to running water, but for everyone else: Wash! Use soap. Wipe yourself properly after toileting. Brush your teeth with something other than faeces. Basics taught at pre-school age.

Yuk.
35
34 because there's absolutely nothing in-between. Gray areas, young Fonzie, gray.
36
@15 I was at a food-bar situation last weekend and two males made themselves known with their violently sweet cologne. It shrieked. Yuck.

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