I would be your friend, Amylou. I love good smelling stuff. I love to catch a whiff of perfume on anyone. If it is maybe too much, it doesn't bother me. I don't wear perfume usually. Not even sure if I own any, any more. There may be some cica 1970 Musk Oil in the far reaches of my bathroom display cabinet. As far as I know, I have no allergies, so smells do not affect me. I love heavily perfumed plants too. So I am totally okay with anything that smells good.

I Love those cinnamon pinecones !!

I don’t like the smell of these pinecones. As for other smells, I really don’t like sweet, flowery smells. I do like kind of woodsy smells or manly aftershave.

I like some smells and am not offended if I smell perfume. But those pinecones just plain old STINK to me.

I think Trader Joe's has something similar right now...not pine cones but something decorative...sticks maybe?

I love the smell of real cinnamon and even the fake cinnamon most of us bake with, but those decor items just smell like chemicals to me...cinnamon scented chemicals.

I always worry about little kids being forced to breathe all that junk when their homes are decorated with it, as well as their clothes washed in scented detergent, etc. No wonder there is so much asthma in young people today.

I love your image! I too notice those quickly diminishing pinecones. Wonder why it's just the last part of the year?

I wish I could smell everything. I have some genetic anomaly that precludes me from smelling things as other people do. I got to smell things for three months after more than a month's of antibiotics, sinus surgery (where they shaved down down bones) an appliance that released steroids, and a nasal steroid. It was amazing! I wish I could smell like that all the time. I loved going to restaurants where people were wearing cologne and dishes went past that smelled like heaven. That was the best.

I have asthma and to dismiss it by saying all perfumes cause asthma is just wrong; prejudice does not a fact make. Some aromas can trigger my genetically-caused asthma (so can rainstorms, and?), and some fragrances do nothing.

Asthma is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health problems that can be caused by artificial scent chemicals. People that drench themselves with those products should be kept away from infants and children, at the very least.

My husband's ENT specialist has a sign on the front door stating that it is a FRAGRANCE FREE ENVIRONMENT. If you are wearing anything, you are asked to go home and reschedule. They are extremely strict about it, justifiably so. My own internist has signage everywhere, but many patients cannot seem to read or think that it doesn't apply to them.

I'm afraid that someone like Amy had so many complaints about her heavily scented person that she had to be officially warned about it and the whole building was made into a fragrance free facility. She was an intelligent professional woman, stylish and attractive other than that.....no one could figure out why she did it.

Amen rhizo, here's a resource to further explain what is in those chemicals and why they are bad for your health: http://thinkbeforeyoustink.com/home.php

Some fragrances cause asthma attacks, but they don't all cause disease. That's all I said. No need for all caps or a pile on. I am not justifying the use of scents. I am an asthmatic and some things bother me, but I don't get on a rip and tell the world to change. I do expect a medical environment to be sensitive. Including my own. I go around scent free myself.

"People that drench themselves with those products should be kept away from infants and children, at the very least."

I am 100% okay with that. ;)

I actually don't consider myself heavily scented, but I suppose sensitive people might think so. I don't wear scents to a doctor or dentists office,where I know there will be close contact with others. As for the rest of the world in which I may come in contact with others,at the risk of sounding callous, someone else's afflictions or sensitivities are not my concern. At all. I wear scents,my home and car and office are scented. The only time anyone has mentioned to me about scent is to ask what it is or where i got it,or compliments. Then again, most people wouldn't tell me they DON'T like what I smell like would they? No one has ever keeled over in my presence......

Mostly I don't care for scents, especially cleaning products like 409, Gain detergent, Febreeze anything.

I totally understand why we have to be scent free. It's an advance that we are considerate. BUT, when I was a young girl working in a large open office one of the delights was when a woman passed by my desk and I got a whiff of a gorgeous scent -- and most women wore perfume. It was a melody of scents. I'm seldom put off if someone overdoes it. That's HER. And of course, I'm not allergic to anything so that's where I'm coming from.

Edited to add that I almost never wear perfume!!! I love a body lotion that is eucalyptus mint or something but I don't think it wafts in the air ...

While I don't wear perfumes or scented lotions (for the most part) I love scented shampoo and conditioner. I love catching a scrumptious scent from my hair!

I'm cool with staying away from other people too :-)

"someone else's afflictions or sensitivities are not my concern."

I like to think that the right to breathe without repercussions caused by others' insensitivity is how most people move through the world, caring about how their actions affect other people.

We have ADA accommodations now because others' afflictions were of a concern to the greater population, etc.

And yet we see over and over again people who have no concern about others' afflictions, until it hits them or their loved ones.

Quoting amylou:

"at the risk of sounding callous, someone else's afflictions or sensitivities are not my concern. "

So dramatic. It is quite impossible to structure ones every choice to accommodate others. I like to wear scents. So I do. I can't worry about everyone else. I'm not gonna switch to unscented soap and detergents because other people are sensitive. I'm not gonna stop eating peanuts because I may cross paths with someone with an allergy,and a few crumbs remain. Not gonna get rid of my dogs because a lot of people are allergic and may have a reaction to a stray hair on my person.

Some see that point of view as selfish. That's fine. I think it's selfish to expect the whole world to accommodate your issues.

Well, I just hope others are kinder to you and your loved ones.

I don't expect others to cater to me and my every demand. Neither do my loved ones.

Every grocery, hardware and craft store in my area now has the cinnamon scented pine cones just in side their front entrances. There is no escaping it, other than to not shop, but as I said, it's every store. The scent is so overwhelming and heavy, that you can taste and smell it for hours. I like cinnamon, but not that much of it. I have talked to the store managers and also corporate, who have said they do get a lot of complaints about it and "will look in to it".

"Well, I just hope others are kinder to you and your loved ones."

I don't ever wish anyone bad things (well, rarely, sometimes it's well deserved) but it can happen that a dose of one's own medicine from someone else, in this case perhaps experiencing callously off-putting and inconsiderate conduct, can open eyes.

The worst is someone wearing perfume in a restaurant, it can block taste buds. I've asked to move to a different table in such circumstances and the service personnel are always in agreement and understanding about the problem. One even said that when a particularly odoriferous person comes in, they discreetly try to put them at a table most distant from others.

I suppose you make all your decisions based on what others want? When you go to said restaraunts do you poll the other tables to make sure that what you order won't aggravate anyone elses allergies or harm their sensibilities? I'm sure you do. It would be callously inconsiderate to not bow down and comply with a bunch of complete stranger's demands. Yeesh.

I don't happen to think being considerate of others (strangers or not) is necessarily bowing down or complying with demands. And I don't happen to think being able to breathe (or have an easier time breathing) is asking anyone to bow down. I've always considered it compassionate and kind, but to each her own.

There is no way that my choosing to spritz on some country apple spray this morning for my own enjoyment through the day is inconsiderate or unkind. There is no malice involved in wanting to smell good. It makes no sense to plan every aspect of ones life around what MIGHT be a problem for someone else.

People can not be expected to live life like that. It's ridiculous. To expect that IS asking people to bow down and comply with your demands.

No, of course not. You come first. Who cares about anyone else?

I guess everyone in the world, stranger or not,including the other diners in the restaraunt that I'm sure you take that poll from come before yourself right?Riiiiiiiiiight.

When it comes to my person and what goes in and on it,I most certainly come first. Duh.

Your holier than thou act is not fooling anyone anyway. Everyone here has already seen your character in how you talk to people here.

BTW, your comment can most certainly be applied to anyone who feels they have some sort of say in what someone wears on their own body. I dont do what you want,so i am inconsiderate. Yeah that makes sense.

Good grief! Have your opinion but don't speak for me as in everyone here.

My husband and I were out enjoying a nice, relaxing breakfast the other day when the horrible, choking fumes from what I think was Fabuloso, a lavender scented cleaning agent. Someone had chosen that moment to clean a sticky floor not too far from us. Worst way ever to end a perfectly fine meal.

Apologies Ava.

Corrected:

Many if not most people here instead of "everyone here."

Here's a question, would you find it offensive if someone smoked next to you in a restaurant? Years ago no one would have thought twice about it but now it would be inconceivably rude. I hope the future holds the same for perfumed products.

And before someone says "no one knew smoking was dangerous" remember that cigarettes were called coffin nails in the 40's.

I totally would have bought those pine cones too.

When there's a law against wearing fragrance in public..I will abide by it. Until then I will enjoy my seasonal fragrances from bath and body works.:)

I like the pinecones and I wear perfume occasionally. Just a little bit and I don't wear it around people I know who are sensitive, like my grandma. I buy natural fragrances so no funky chemicals.

My only objection to fragrances is when people wear too much. I think you should only be able to smell it on someone else if you are hugging them. Interestingly, in my experience, this happens far more often with men's cologne than women's perfume.

Trader Joe's has little cinnamon brooms. I bought 2 but they stopped smelling pretty quickly.

I am one of "those people" who are allergic to the scents!

Yes, it makes my life miserable at times. Please, don't make me walk down the detergent aisle!

I used to play cards at the local Senior Center about 4 days a week. Now I'm lucky if I go once a week, can't take the perfumes, colognes and fabric softeners! My eyes start itching and I can hardly see, takes 3 to 4 days to get back to normal. But, it could be worse, could set off my asthma.

I have stopped going to church. Had to leave one of my kids college graduations because of perfume.

One gentleman (a local pastor), who is so very nice teases me. He will tell me he thought of me while he was in the shower!!!! (Oh dear!) He was trying to decide if he would play cards that day and if the possibility of my being there, he should forego the smelly stuff!

So many people will come up to me and want to give me a hug, I can't let that happen most times.

I am very much a people person, so it hurts to not to be able to go to places that most people think nothing of going to, like the library, movie theatre, laundromat, a play, a ball game, etc.

But, I love my "stinky" friends!!!

I have friends I love who come to stay for a few days and who use scented detergent or fabric softener or whatever - it makes me miserable. The last time someone using that stuff stayed, it took me over a week of airing out my house to get that smell out of my couch! I could barely stand to be in my own home.

I'm really sorry for those who has allergies to scents. I wonder if it's all scents like flowers for an example, or when you walk into a bakery? I don't know much about it but since so many people seem to have these allergies, and so many people do wear colognes or some type of body mist if there isn't a medication for this. I would never intentionally wear something around someone knowing they had an allergy to it.

Also, isn't this condition a new thing? It seems it's becoming more and more common to hear people say they are allergic to scents. Overwhelming scents is one thing but allergies to them is something else.

Really sorry for anyone who has these allergies since scented products are everywhere these days.

Here's the background, perfumes used to be natural as in flowers, vanilla. Of course there were some people that would allergies to a specific item (for me gardenias) and so any perfumes that contain that item would elicit a reaction. Then in the 80's perfumes sold in America moved to an all chemical format with a chemical base that is a common allergen. I can't remember the name of that chemical. That is why so many are allergic to all perfumes, its that common ingredient.

As for those that "perfume bomb" it's usually a case of their inability to smell. Inability to smell can be caused by natural aging, medical conditions or medications and desensitization. Another issue is some elderly individuals that choose to put on perfume instead of bathing, especially in wintertime.

I have 54 triple wick Avon Candles. FIFTY FOUR. Just of Avon candles. That doesn't include about 20 more Fabreeze candles along with some Glade candles and then there's the drawer full of IKEA tea lights. I much prefer the scents of candles over air fresheners and the smell of stale house.

I'm pretty sure some of the colognes women wore in the 50's and 60's were not derived from flowers and vanilla. I recall an aunt wearing evening in paris and faberge tigress by revlon. both were strong and I doubt they were made from flowers or any natural ingredient. I didn't research it so I could be wrong. I did read one article that said scented products is more of an irritant than allergy. IDK

I'm lucky to not have allergies to these fragrances.

I like candles too Debby I think they make a home cozy especially in the fall and winter.

I am a bit on the fence with this one........I can see a validity in both viewpoints :-) The detergent and cleaning product aisle at the grocery store does bother me and I have to circle widely around places like Yankee Candles or Bath and Body Works at the mall to avoid the smell (IMO, they reek!!). But I do not mind and usually enjoy a light scent on both males and females - a mild floral or citrus-based or spicy scent is IMO very pleasant and sure as heck beats BO, which I seem to encounter just as often. Or someone reeking of garlic, which seems to emanate out of their pores as well as their breath!!

I typically wear a scent as well but it is eau de toilette, not perfume, so quite dilute and light. I am constantly getting compliments on it, so it must be appealing to a lot of people :-) I do not wear it if visiting a medical office or in a confined space (movie theaters, lectures, etc). And when visiting my hair dresser, as she does not like scents. That surprises me as she has to deal with some pretty nasty scents, like perm neutralizing solution!!

And I like scent inside my house......but it has to be the right scent :-) I can't tolerate some flowers close up - oriental lilies and paperwhites for sure. But anything lemon or citrus scented is fine and lemon verbena or vervaine is my first choice for any sort of scented product.

But I just have issues with anyone dictating my personal choices. On this and many other issues.

MM_GW, by all I meant that those using natural ingredients such as Guerlain, Jean Patou, Chanel, etc moved to an all synthetic format for the sale in the US. I don't know the brands you mentioned.

I use to burn scented candles all the time, but the last two years or so I find myself being affected by them. What's funny is I'll put up with the stuffy nose and allergy-like symptoms to have my kitchen smell like Pecan Sticky Buns.

Perfume I can not wear or bear to smell on anyone else anymore. I don't know why this has changed.

" What's funny is I'll put up with the stuffy nose and allergy-like symptoms to have my kitchen smell like Pecan Sticky Buns. "

Not funny. Your body is trying to tell you something.

Scents whether natural or synthetic have not caused one to become an asthmatic. They may be a trigger to ones asthma but they did not cause the disease.

I don't care for heavy scents. I rarely wear perfume but when I do its only a tiny dab and never out in public. I have an a asthmatic kid who although scents are not triggers for him I know they are for many asthmatics so I choose to limit the possibility of my person being a trigger to other's. Its extremely scary to witness someone who literally can't breathe. I know a person with asthma should always have their rescue inhaler on them but those of us dealing with this condition know it doesn't always work. People do still die from asthma.

I'm not a 100% scent free household nor am I passing judgement against those of you who wear scents in public.

Passing judgment? Stay away from the cliches. People are describing unpleasant experiences and reactions caused by someone else's inconsiderate behavior.

Inconsiderate behavior in public? Scents are but one of many unpleasant things that selfish people expose others to. Another good one is people talking on cell phones in crowded spaces - a waiting room, an airport gate area, a restaurant, etc., Most people want to be kind to others. Some can't get beyond thinking of just themselves.

Those who want to pollute their own home's air are free to do so. Don't be surprised if doing so and having guests results in those guests not wanting to come visit again.