I have allergies and asthma. When someone comes near me with all that on I have to move. Quit going to movie theatres and the like, just can't breath with all that in the air around me. Even had to leave my one sons college graduation because of perfumes. I was not happy about that!

When my boys were teens their friends would come over and I would look at them and say, "You stink!" And they knew they had to go and wait for my sons either in the garage or on the deck! They were all ways good sports about it, but swear they just put a "little bit" on!

My allergist office has a sign that tells people to NOT wear perfumes or after shaves. I threw out all my DH's deodorant and got him scentless and he knows better than to wear after shave, or even have it in the house!

I have plenty of perfumes and colgnes from over the years but since many people are sensitive to them I just use the body sprays, vanilla or lavender, that my husband likes and I've actually gotten compliments on. (Years ago I bought a musk spray but my husband said it stunk..and it was supposed to be so alluring...)

I don't smell a lot of perfumes like I used to. It used to be really bad. I have to say though that in reply to the OP, I would rather smell perfume than a person that needs a bath, I almost vomit when I smell the stinky people smell which is more often than perfume scents. It totally grosses me out. It seems like everywhere I go, I smell stinky people. UGH!

I used to work with a woman whose perfume gave me a headache the instant she appeared. Fortunately, she worked in another part of the building but I would dread it when I saw her coming to our department.

Also never got the women who would drench themselves in perfume before going to the gym.

What I said on the car scent thread:

If someone can smell your cologne or perfume other than when in an intimate embrace you are wearing too much. If you can smell it on yourself longer than a minute or so after putting it on you are positively reeking to others.

We no longer live in the dark ages when people only bathed once a month or less and indoor plumbing didn't exist. We no longer have to use scent to cover the stench of sewage in the streets and rotting reeds on the castle floors. Try bathing regularly and you won't have to cover up any perceived stink.

Usually strong perfumes annoy me, but every once in a while I will smell a nice one that scents the air in the person's wake. I wear perfume most days but only one spray. I use natural fragrances, not synthetic perfumes. I am more sensitive to perfumes as I get older, though.

watchme, I agree completely.

One of the culprits for the problem is that our sense of smell becomes desensitized to particular smells within a short period of exposure to it. You've likely all had the experience - when you're cooking something with a distinct smell, or doing something else with a particular odor (even in the bathroom), walk outside or just away for even a few minutes and then come back within range of the smell, the new sensation of the smell will be much stronger than it was when you walked away from it.

Someone who always wears the same scent won't smell it after applying a modest amount because of being desensitized to it. The amount needed for the wearer to be able to smell it becomes WAAAY too strong for others to bear.

Almost like smoking, what was common and tolerated 20 or 30 years ago isn't so much now. For those who apply or set out scents despite how many really would prefer you didn't, remember that a little goes a long way.

I'm just so glad to be able to smell anything again, I'll take stinky or really perfume-y. I'm even an allergic/asthmatic. But it's so wonderful to have it back.

Everyone complains about perfume. I would much rather smell perfume or cologne (unless they bathed in it) over bad breath, body odor, and tobacco body (people who smoke one after the other and the smell in not only on their breath, but their hair and clothes too, yuck!). I will wear perfume. I'm sorry some people are allergic to it. But I'm not.

My eyes burn and I have to hold my breath if I have to walk down the laundry aisle. Thankfully my store moved the pet food to a different aisle, so I don't have to go down the other one anymore. The smells are horrible, and far too strong.

I mentioned on the car scent thread that our neighbour bathes in cologne and the smell lingers in the hall and out the door when he comes and goes. The smell escapes his vehicle when he opens the door as well. Wow, far too much.

I have another neighbour who burns incense, a lot. She, her clothes, and anything that she gives me smell like it. I feel sorry for her pets.

My internist has a sign posted about scents, asking that patients do not wear their scented lotions, perfumes, or body sprays when they have an appointment.

She and the staff will also mention it to someone who hasn't paid attention to the signs.

It is a real medical issue for many. "Second hand perfume".

One thing I think should be noted, there is no scent free. Especially not where cleansers exist. You can try for the least amount possible, but there will be some scent. I know this because I try to keep it scent free, but I can't find it. I'm down to cleaning with steam and baking soda with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Doesn't get it all, so I will finish cleaning and take a laundered washcloth and wipe it down with Lysol (not the spray kind, the liquid) in the end. It's dang close to unscented. That doesn't take care of cleaning clothes or my person. Those products are surely not scent free. Maybe you tolerate it better than other stuff, but it's not scentless. Even Dreft, the laundry detergent for babies, has fragrance listed in the ingredients.

Even though I have asthma and use a nebulizer several times daily, I love scents of all kinds. Flowers, perfumes, laundry detergents, lotions, air fresheners.... the list goes on and on. Unless it's very strong, scents don't bother my asthma so much that I would prefer not to smell pretty things. However, I respect that other people are bothered by them and I don't wear anything except my fav lotions in the wintertime. But, my space is my space. I'm sorry if you can't come in my home or ride in my car.

Smoke bothers me, especially when people burn yard debris. I feel like that's my problem, not theirs.

I knew an older couple who didn't want their home to smell like "old people" so they had mothballs everywhere...when you left your clothes, even your hair, would smell of mothballs...I don't know think either of them realized how strong it was.

pekemom-

I teach food and nutrition classes at the Senior Center, which is actually a lot of fun, and I would say mothballs, as well as cough drops and peppermints are the dominant odor-covering items.

BUT - there is also a scientific reason for "old people smell". It's caused by substance called Nonenal that's not eliminated with the use of regular soap/water. Here's the scoop on the subject, and the solution. http://www.miraiclinical.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=18

I found this information doing research on persimmon extract a few years ago. My best friend and I have sworn to let each other know when we need to start using Mirai Clinical Formula purifying body wash after a discussion about "old people smell".

Now you know...... :-)

Thanks grainlady...they were nice people, I doubt anyone ever mentioned the blast of mothball smell they got as soon as the door opened.

I love perfume. My favorite is Burberry

Hate them, they take my breath away. I only use a perfumed lotion and try to keep it light. How about the old ladies that bath in "Rose" scent...... yuck!

I'm currently into Jean Nate body splash. It evaporates and has no smell unless you get it wet again and activate it......like...sweating at the gym. Then only "I" can smell it....:0) That's my kind of perfume right now...