One person’s scent is another person’s headache

First, understand that a perfume allergy and perfume sensitivity are are completely different phenomena and have separate physiological processes. Yes, perfume allergies can be treated with limited exposure therapy and may respond to allergy medication. With perfume sensitivity, on the other hand,  limited exposure therapy has been shown to increase symptoms rather than build tolerance. To be direct: fragrance sensitivity is caused by exposure. In essence, the (mostly synthetic) chemical components of fragrance travel through the air and enter the body through the nose and mouth. Not only do they stimulate the scent receptors but they are now inside the body where they enter the bloodstream and get carried to the brain. Over time, these chemicals damage the neural receptors in the brain. 

Wonder why there are more reports of perfume sensitivity? Because manufacturers are putting perfume into more products, exposing people to more perfume, and more people are suffering irreparable brain damage. For those of us who suffer with this problem, we are advised to avoid perfume. It is impossible. It is everywhere. People like having a nice smell in all of their products and manufacturers are going to make what sells. Moreover, do we even know what other effects these chemicals have on the brain or the rest of the body. For instance, there are studies out there right now looking for links between perfume chemical exposure and a variety of other health problems that have inexplicably risen over the last few years. For all we know, the increase in Autism could be a result of those same chemicals entering the bloodstream of pregnant women, being carried to the fetus, and interrupting normal brain development. We just don't know.

I came here with a 50/50 attitude, however after reading the hundreds of comments on this site alone I really have to comment instead of just reply.

Somewhere around 50% of the PRO comments/relpies here are nasty,rude and demanding. while a few CON comments were of the same nature, I beleive they were made out of ignorance and I chose to ignore them. I do beleive someones health issues are theirs to deal with and no one elses and don't like having my personal/professional life dictated to me. I also believe in helping my fellow man and have no problem coming to a 50/50 arrangement with any health or personal issue an employee may have.

My 50/50 attitude right now has been tainted to say the least and as an employer I would like to offer a partial solution.

When interviewing potential employees ask them about any health issues that may affect their ability to perform the job. (for their protection) Have them check a box (yes or no) if no then all is good, if yes ask them if they would be comfortable discussing it with you further. If they do not want to then you know where to file the application.

I own a small home reno/handyman company, when I started my company I photo copied an employment application form from a govenment website,  several years went by with no issues until one year I hired a couple of guys after a couple of weeks one of my regular guys asked me how to deal with the new guy not being able to lift anything because of a bad disc in his back. All the other guys were doing all the lifting/carrying for him. We had a meeting about his back problems and I explained it was not fair that he did not pull his share of the load, so I offered him a deal that I knew everyone would agree with, the guys will "carry" his load but after work he did all the cleanup (sweeping garbage tooks etc.) the guys could keep working right up to 5-6 pm but he would start his cleanup 1 hour earlier.

New guy pitched a fit that he was not a janitor, he expected to sit and wait for the guys to bring him supplies (about 3 hours/day) and only actually work 6 hours. I told him his last day would be friday to which he screamed he was going to sue me.

During the next few weeks of lawyers, workers comp and doctors phone calls we asked for a doctors note which stated his condition had been plaguing him for many years. He lost everything because he checked the box NO to any health issues. I have since updated my applications to include a line for a signature beside the chek box and a three month probation followup with the same question.This is not meant as a screw the unhealthy but as a way of forcing a 50/50 agrrement and to avoid having my business dictated to me, if they refuse they are just screwing themselves but will be someone elses problem not yours. This apples to bad backs, chemical sensitivities ...

I belong to severa online and in person small business owner groups and to date all 183 employers in these groups have added or updated these lines to their applications. So far a couple dozen employers have avoided hassles and law suits because of a government approved precaution.

Hi Paige, I am working from home right now as a Graphic Designer doing freelance work.  I used to work at a fragrance-free workplace which isn't around any more. Since it was a nutrition company, they were sensitive to people's health needs. This is not to say that I didn't suffer challenges there, the worst being exterminators who came in to spray pesticide quarterly (I had them  refrain from spraying in my area). There was a woman with Lupus working there who was chemically sensitive and I think the "no-scents" policy was but in place for her. I do remember people having hostility about that, saying, "Why should I have my freedoms taken away... I'm going to wear perfume anyway!" I asked people why they would want to do something that hurt others, especially a sick person? Their insensitivity and obstinance  never ceased to amaze me Little did I know that I would end up extremely chemically sensitive 

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I don't ordinarily comment but I gotta say thankyou for the post on this special one : D.

I live in Northern California, after over 25 years of residence in my home, a neighboring property was sold and re sold many times, currently being owned by some investor.

For the past 11 months our property which is to the east of the investor owned property, has been filled , perminated without warning with the chemical odor of laundry EXHAUST vapor, so bad that I cannot even set in my yard. At times the vapors saturate the interior of my home.

I have contacted all government resources, by phone, in writing, and currently for the last 90 days I have been living with a friend, because the health side effects, burning eyed , chemical taste, and headakes, were un tolorable. I had to seek RELIEF.

Now that I have RELIEF, I suffer loss of use, property and loss of value.

The Neighbor complained that my hedges were over grown. The City government acted immideatly charging NUNANCE.

Yet that same city government asserts that DRYER EXHAUST is not a NUNANCE. Which forces me to breath very poluted air and that acording to toxocology study contains very hazerdous substances.

The government reconizes the rights of corporate investors over individual citizen ?

This means that individual rights no longer exist. One cannot be secure from poison vapors propelled by another individual into one own private property ?

California continually ignores individual rights in favor of what is termed "for the benifit of the majority". That seems very odd, due to such continuing action over many decades allows one group to assume authority over any individual forcing breach of the federal constitution.

If there is any attorney that can help me PLEASE CONTACT ME, AT CURRENT TIME THERE IS NOT ONE OUT OF 146 CALLS TO ATTORNEYS WHICH WILL PROSITCUIT THE MANY VIOLATIONS OF LAW BEING PERPITRATED AGAINST MY SELF AND MY PROPERTY. ALL ASSERT, CORPORATE RIGHTS OVER INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.

Shellie, no need to go to HR because of me. I asked another coworker whether she could smell my perfume. She had to stand so close that I thought she was going to kiss me before she thought she smelled my perfume. Everyone in our office uses scented candles and lotions and body wash, so there can be other issues besides the scent. I am not the reason for you to go to HR.
I do know that there was one instance when I had had a hot flash and it was my deodorant that was noticed, since I had not used perfume that day. Shouldn't there be a little sympathy for those of us dealing with menopause? The woman asked me what in the world I was wearing (blaring it out so that everyone could hear) and all I could say was "deodorant". My hot flashes don't result in "the sweats", but I usually need a hand fan at those times (God forbid I use an electric fan and then the whole office is aware). The hot flash was over by the time she noticed my deodorant. geez Leave me a little dignity. If I could work alone, I would.

I can't get a break anywhere I go. The carpet cleaner at work makes my tongue swell and I end up spitting into a tissue all day. There's a secretary that loves oil scented sticks and perfumed air fresheners. The restrooms are routinely sprayed with 3M products that clearly state on the label to use with proper ventilation. When I get home my neighbors use heavily perfumed scented dryer sheets. The vapors blow into my house and across my yard. I feel like everyone views me as the hyper sensitive vegetarian weirdo with the runny nose and puffy eyes.

I have talked civilly to the person who is making me ill, I even printed out articles on the internet. HE DOES NOT CARE, He said he
will wear how much he wants because it is right too. Three months later, I did go to my boss
and other people came forward to complain also.
He knows purposely sprays my area (thank god a couple of people caught him) and lately when I go and get my last cup of coffee, now reaks of
him. I washed it today, If figure within the
next few days, I can use scotch tape and pencil shavings to lift fingerprints, and/or capture any spores from his cologne and am ready to take legal action against him personally. (Purposely inflicting harm against another human being)

Thank you for your point about wearing perfume discreetly. That was my whole point.

Tea? What a crybaby!

Really? EVERYBODY else has to be mindful of your chemical sensitivity? I think the real concern is why some people are actually so sensitive, maybe more research needs to go into why all the problems for some people. I have a chemically sensitive child, but I try to do what I can to prevent problems in my own home, like changing diet, using fragrance free laundry products, cleansers, etc. but I absolutely do not feel that it is my place to tell people that because my daughter is sensitive to scented fabrics, etc that they need to be mindful of what kind of laundry soap, body wash, lotion, etc they can use. I think it is our job to find a way to make life work for us, not for others to sacrifice the things they enjoy to make us more comfortable.
I am an American living abroad and at first was astounded by the assault on my senses by everything around me here. People smoke EVERYWHERE, wear perfume, etc. and they are totally unapologetic for it. I think we Americans are just so filled with our own self importance that we think everyone should accomodate the way WE do it. I wouldn't bother ever traveling outside of your little puffy American bubble, because the rest of the world doesnt really care if you dont like it, you find a way to deal with it, if thats not possible, and you physically cant work because of a smell? Maybe you should be on disability.

To "P"

There is no rationality to your note! You are completely ignorant, that is so obvious! Do some research about the chemicals in fragrances and in fragranced things and how they affect the body (and cause cancer). Additionally, it has been found that in chemically sensitive people, there is a gene or two that they don't have that allows one's body to fight off the environmental toxins furnished by these fragrance chemicals. NO, sanitizing public places will make NO difference and doctors can NOT desensitize us as they can NOT alter our genetic makeup (at least not this century)!!! People who are allergic to peanuts will not become immune to their allergy by exposure and in fact, IT CAN KILL THEM!!! AND, it has NOTHING to do with not liking someone's fragrance!!! Your statements are ABSURD and you ought to keep your ignorant fingers and brain off the keyboard!!!

I am now laid off, but I had illness (regular dizziness, feeling like passing out, headache, nausea resulting in actually losing my lunches) from several co-workers who either used excessive perfume or fabric softener or both. When I went to my boss about it, and with a doctor's note, I was treated with such great hostility and anger from the boss whom I'd always gotten along very well with (all he did for me was to move my desk 2-3 yards and the main perpetrator still walked by all the time or worked at a different computer right next to me!). Also, I was treated with great hostility and nastiness from some of the perpetrators, though they did cut down on the use a bit later on. One once sprayed a ton of perfume all around the work area when I'd gone to the restroom. I came back and had to be ill while working the rest of the day, but I'd also told the boss what she did and he said NOTHING to her except to ask if she had done it!!! If I'd been the boss, she'd have been fired for attacking another employee that way! I was always treated like I was the one doing something wrong. I suffered, that's how I dealt with it, I suffered, ALOT, for 3 years and still worked very hard only to be treated like dirt, then laid off when I was out sick for a few days due to uterine tumors that required surgery to cure (of course I could not HELP IT!!!). In other words, I was STILL getting treated with hostility when I didn't do anything wrong! I'm scared about the economy, scared about not finding another job, scared of going through that again at another job and very scarred, yes, scarred, that I was so under-appreciated and badly treated. It'll affect me the rest of my life, I think. And I will never forget!

Way to go!!! Very creative solution!

There's an awful lot of emotion and very little rationality in this thread. To the people with allergies and sensitivities: do you realize that your allergy/sensitivity was most likely caused by living in an atmosphere that was too sanitized? We only develop immunities to foreign substances when we're exposed to them. So by sanitizing all public places of fragrances we'd essentially guarantee that more people will develop allergies to fragrances.

Perhaps the better answer is for those of you with allergies to talk to your physicians about therapies to de-sensitize you to the fragrances that trigger a reaction?

As for those of you who just don't like the smell of your coworker's fragrance: maybe we don't like the look of your hairstyle or clothing choices. Maybe the clak-clak-clak of your heels gives me a headache. Maybe your screechy voice hurts my ears. Put it in perspective. Lots of things irritate coworkers, that doesn't mean we're entitled to make our problem the responsibility of someone else.

Does anyone have any suggestions for jobs one can work in a perfume, scent-free environment? I have tried several office positions but mostly everyone wears scents of some kind. I cannot find a work at home position and am severely sensitive that when exposed to perfumes, lotions,etc., I become more sensitive to a point that I can no longer tolerate anything! I have to leave my house, I have to support myself. Disability takes a year, maybe longer, and even though I am entitled to it, need a source of income meanwhile. I want to work, not go on disability.
I was exposed to a pesticide 4 years ago that gave me chemical burns in my nasal membranes, after inhaling these awful chemicals for two weeks, I had no choice but to leave my apt. altogether. Ever since I've been severely chemically sensitive and can no longer tolerate chemicals of any kind.
I can handle the illness, just need to work, any suggestions?

Also, I agree with JH. I don't use any more scent than she does, yet one day a comment was made by the lady in the next cubicle. A lady who admits to taking scented baths, wearing scented lotions, and burning scented candles at home.
If she had told me that she was allergic, my reaction would have been different, but I was hurt because I had been so careful to wear only 1 spritz on one wrist and transferring it to the other wrist. I simply told her that I don't put much on and that my husband bought it for me for Christmas, so I am going to wear it.
Next thing I know there is an office meeting, at which there is a comment from the office manager that everyone should be careful about wearing too much perfume. Oh, please. Not one person in the office ever said they are allergic to fragrances.
This person had run to the office manager just because I stood up to her. I think there are other issues here, but I have no idea what she really wants from me.

One day I was having some particularly bad hot flashes and was grateful that my deodorant did not fail me. When I went to sit down at the lunch table with some of my colleagues, one particularly brash woman asked me, "What ARE you wearing?" I was confused and told her nothing but deodorant. She complained that it was "quite strong". Mind you, neither she nor anyone else in this office has mentioned having sensitivities to fragrance.
What are we supposed to do about hot flashes? I am taking vitamin E, but at the time I was recovering from a flu and had gone off my vitamins for a few days, so the degree of the hot flashes was greater than usual.
I am not asking everyone to turn up the air conditioning just for me. Usually a handheld fan used briskly for a few seconds does the trick.
But to be ridiculed for having worn deodorant?
Come on.
All I can say to her is wait til she gets to this point.

Hi, I'm the Kim people react to strongly sometimes and thus puts on cologne to appease them.

This is such a dilemma; to want to smell pleasantly but not to want to make people ill. While I agree with someone here who says that some people who are obsessed with scented things can sometimes just be obsessive-compulsive, other people clearly are looking simply for the freedom to breathe. I really don't know if there are any of the latter in my work area; no one has said anything to us about it.
I agree with the person who wrote about employers creating a space for people who suffer from such sensitivities. Perhaps in the long run, the march toward working from home will be a great help to people with severe allergies. But there are so many things people are allergic to; in one workplace a colleague borrowed a sweater from me during the day. The next day she came in and asked me if there was any rabbit fur in it. I said yes. It turns out the very fact that she wore it resulted in fibers going home with her and her husband was very allergic. Two people I work with are allergic to certain nuts, as am I (but to different ones). A guy from work died when he ingested peanuts at a restaurant. I know someone who is allergic to any kind of red food coloring. Sometimes I wonder if we should dress as if we were in a clean room (in white suits, static-free booties, etc.) We can't know what to do if people don't speak up. I need for people to tell me precisely what it is they need, and then at least I can try to help them out.

Mike,
Unfortunately many companies do not provide a perfume free environment. I feel as more people speak up hopefully companies will begin to listen and realize the it could be cost effective to provide this type of space because of the man hours they are losing as this condition effects more and more employees.

I get migraines triggered by fragrances. It has become such an issue for me that I have started a blog about our society's obsession with fragrances and how our health can be affected by scents. http://smellinc.wordpress.com/

I am amazed at how many comments on this blog are from people who also are affected negatively by perfumes. This is an issue that many people do not understand and I hope that we can educate more people about this. I also hope scientists will study this more and perhaps cosmetic companies can make more fragrance free options as well. I don't expect people to stop wearing fragrances all together but please reconsider spraying perfume before you board an airplane and sit next to me. Can't it wait till you arrive?

You are the most inconsiderate, rude, cruel, ignorant person I have ever heard from with regard to this subject. Most perfumes are not natural. They are man made chemicals that may cause you to become ill someday if the smoking doesn't get you first. I should pray for you and I may. I hope you get sued someday soon.

My manager's perfume was so strong that not only could we smell her long after she left the room, but we could taste it as well. The pungent aroma was so thick that it caused breathing problems, headaches and stomach distress. Who do you complain to when it is your manager? HR was aware of the problem- and they even made comments, but did nothing about it. Problem solved when she took a position in another state - today was her last day and I am breathing a fresh air sigh of relief!

Hello my fellow sufferers,

Let's try something new on this posting of comments. Lets ignore the ignorance of those that have no understanding. There is no point to make a point because until they suffer as we do, there will be no understanding in them, right?! Instead, we can have our own little support group here. :) I will start...how many of you, as have I, amost pee'd on oneself because of a coughing fit or sneeze attack? Let us embarrass ourselves...we can do it! We should get a smile once in awhile for what we go through. There is nothing we can do about it when it is happening anyway. Any takers??

I was healthy until I went to the Gulf. So should I have stayed home and not served my country. Then I could continue to work in a polluted environment and it would not effect me. Believe me people with this condition would be pleased to change places with you.If they could change they would. I see your attitude shows disregard for your fellow workers and I hope someday you gain respect for yourself that will transpose to your co-workers.

Comparing something natural to a harsh chemical is not the same thing. If your going to compare you should compare apples to apples.

Do you like breathing? Well, so do I. But fragrances, whether in the office, home or public places, make me stop breathing. Now is that just my imagination, am I a whinning sissy? No, it's called asthma, a life threating condition that when triggered can restrict breathing completely or resulting in a trip to the ER. I always carry with me or have in my office the rescue medications necessary to stop the asthma attack. And thank goodness I work in a hospital.

Try not breathing for a few minutes and see how that works out for you. This is a very serious problem for me. Luckily I have a great pulmonologist and insurance to spend the big bucks it costs monthly to combat my severe asthma.

Purfumes in the work place are a serious concern for those of us with respiratory limitations. And unlike visiting a restaurant, we are in the office 40+ hours a week and cannot escape the scents others are wearing. Now we try to talk about this with potantial employees during the interview process and explain our adverse reactions to purfumes. So far this has worked well. Every now and then someone will "forget," but they soon "remember" as when all the windows are open and the fans are turned on. It would suit me fine if men and women would stop spending their hard-earned money on purfumes. To those of us who are adversely sensitive, it is nothing more than toxic waste.

ALSO... i get a bad reaction.. really bad from the smell of fish or seafood cooking.. is it fair to me to tell people at a restaurant they cannot eat seafood..? or to tell one of my co-workers they cannot have seafood when we go out for lunch. i mean it's all the same thing... i get migraines and nauseous and have regurgitated a few times from the smell of seafood cooking.. especially if its being pan seared..

Look everyone needs to make SOME type of concession here, if the people who want to wear perfume use it lightly then the people who are allergic or do not like it need to make the concession of asking to be moved to a perfume free section of the office... and people who do not smoke that get lung cancer.. i mean smoking isn't the only thing that causes lung cancer.. i do not smoke anymore but i would never give anyone the death stare for smoking..it's their right to smoke, just like it is your right not to smoke.. you have more of a chance of getting melanoma from the sun then getting lung cancer from someone smoking outside in a designated area... or from Radon in your basement...

Sorry Rebecca. I just noticed that statement was originally made buy Dennis. I should have read on before commenting.

Rebecca buy a dictionary. Your statement "People who cannot handle fragrances at work? What a bunch of sissy kids…….what’s next, the color clothes people wear?" puts you in the idiot category with Dave. Not to mention your poor grammar and punctuation.

Many of us do ask people to tone down the frangrances but are perceived as trying to change or control those around us. I am quite certain that if the people who wear these massive amounts of scent had to deal with the severe pain, fatigue and/or breathing problems of those of us who are chemically sensitive they would stop wearing the offending scent.

Once i start sneezing due to the presence of some fragrent human (and it doenst stop after they leave), sometimes I am able to stop my sneezing when I have a smoke... weird solution, but it works for me :)

I couldn't agree with you more!!! I have had this problem for years and I use to always say that it was only a matter of time that some one will sue over this same issue and look what happened in Detroit. Wish I would have done that because many, many times this same problem has arisen for me too. I work in a doctor's office and we see a lot of women. Each one thinking that she has to out due the other woman's scent....talk about stink? And yes when a person is sensitive to smells (any kind of smells) it can trigger a migrain and it will last all day. I am sorry, but if someone wants to wear this stinky stuff then do it in the privacy of your home. I have the right not to smell it too in the workplace and it's time that coworkers understood this and stopped making jokes about those of us who are bothered by their scents. Even air fresheners stink and when used put terrible chemicals into the air that you breathe.

Hello John, I am responding to yours because I have a question. Have you ever been sick? You must be a naturally healthy person. I am wondering because you don't seem to know what any of us 'Whiney Babies' have been through. I am probably being silly doing this because I am sure you will have a lovely response to this as well. A thought I would like to share is this...maybe there was no 'one on one' because she couldn't get close enough to do so. I have the same problems as these others and don't say anything because people are offended that I can't breathe and I don't need to say anything. I so violently cough that at times I get to the point of gagging and have a vomited and passed out, depending on what is surrounding me at the time. That is only a few of my reactions...I actually have the reaction of crying when there is nothing to cry about. It is just an allergice reaction. It saddens me that you have such disdain for others who can't help having a chemical reaction to the planet and what man has put there. I hope that you never have to find out how this can affect a person's life. I wouldn't even wish this on someone like you. To get through life as easily as you seem to makes me envy you. Please take care.

I have suffered with MCS most of my life. Had to retire at 52 as a result as could no longer tolerate meeting rooms, airplanes, etc. For those that suufer you need to understand that each time you are exposed increases the severity of the next reaction. So over the years the allergy gets worse the more you are exposed.