Do Scented Items Bother You When They Didn't Use To?

[Christine]

Awkwardly worded title, I know.

I am finding it odd that, more and more, I am bothered by scented stuff. I never used to be. In my 20s I used to wear perfume every day, burn candles, you name it.

Now, I can hardly tolerate the stuff. I mean, I'm okay with potpourri and reed diffusers, but anything else--forget it.

I keep getting candle gifts and whenever I burn them, I start feeling dizzy (takes awhile). This is especially true of Yankee Candles and the candles from Bath and Body Works. I got myself some soy candles with essential oils from a natural store. They were a bit better, but it still happened.

Today, I was leaving Macy's and walked through the perfume area. Apparently they had recently doused the area with something. I got dizzy shortly after I walked through and it lasted about 30 minutes. Weird.

I don't seem to get respiratory symptoms, just the dizziness/lightheadedness. I'm almost afraid to go to my friend's house because she's been buying those Wallflower things like crazy.

Do you think the scents are just getting stronger or that people like me just become sensitive to it?

 

[momof1princess]

i have no issues with bath and body works lotions or body mists, but their wallflowers plug-ins provoke a swift and severe allergic reaction (within 10 minutes of plugging-in). i can't use any sort of plug-in or spray air freshener, but i do okay with candles (so far). i gave up trying to use perfume long ago-can't find one that doesn't cause a horrible headache and stuffy nose.

 

[Christine]

i have no issues with bath and body works lotions or body mists, but their wallflowers plug-ins provoke a swift and severe allergic reaction (within 10 minutes of plugging-in). i can't use any sort of plug-in or spray air freshener, but i do okay with candles (so far). i gave up trying to use perfume long ago-can't find one that doesn't cause a horrible headache and stuffy nose.

My daughter recently bought the Yankee plug in for her room. I had the same reaction with it (dizzyness). As long as it's in her room and I stay out of her room, it's okay. I can stand a small scent. But if I go into her room for more than a few minutes, I get dizzy.

I'm a little perplexed by it because I don't think it is made with chemicals or anything. It's supposed to be natural oils, I think.

I also had a very quick reaction to those Febreeze luminaria things.

 

[minkydog]

I used to wear perfume, burn incense,burn candles,etc, but as I 've gotten older I just don't seem to tolerate it so much. It may be because I'm a nurse, and we try to keep scents at a minimum-- have never worn perfume to work, for example. Now that DH can't tolerate scents AT ALL I'm not used to smelling them. I can't even walk into a Yankee Candle store. So the only "scents of Christmas" at my home are from cookies baking.

 

[tvguy]

My daughter recently bought the Yankee plug in for her room. I had the same reaction with it (dizzyness). As long as it's in her room and I stay out of her room, it's okay. I can stand a small scent. But if I go into her room for more than a few minutes, I get dizzy.

I'm a little perplexed by it because I don't think it is made with chemicals or anything. It's supposed to be natural oils, I think.

I also had a very quick reaction to those Febreeze luminaria things.

I always wondered what the difference was between natural oils and chemicals.....I would think from a strictly scientific standpoint both are chemicals. I guess some folks just feel better if it says it's natural. But face it, even arsenic is natural, so unless it came from Mars, everything used on earth is natural.

 

[Christine]

I always wondered what the difference was between natural oils and chemicals.....I would think from a strictly scientific standpoint both are chemicals. I guess some folks just feel better if it says it's natural. But face it, even arsenic is natural, so unless it came from Mars, everything used on earth is natural.

I always assumed that a scent that came from an essential oil was more than likely derived from more of the natural source then, say, something in a Febreze product from the SE Johnson factory.

 

[beachlover9395]

I had no issues with pretty much anything to do with smells when I was younger and when I was a child. I'm 42 now and I can barely tolerate perfumes, room scents, candles, etc. A very small few don't bother me but they're the exception - and it can't be a very strong, overwhelming amount of scent. Only a touch of scent.

Do you also suffer from migraines and/or allergies? I do - also developed these in my late 20's - probably when I started becoming sensitive to smell, light and sound. All of these sensitivities correlate to my allergies and migraines. Sucks for me, I can tell ya!

 

[Gretchen]

Yes-I'm now considered chemically sensitive. And yes, it's a total drag. But beats having other problems!
Good luck!

 

[Christine]

Do you also suffer from migraines and/or allergies? I do - also developed these in my late 20's - probably when I started becoming sensitive to smell, light and sound. All of these sensitivities correlate to my allergies and migraines. Sucks for me, I can tell ya!

For migraines, no.

For allergies, yes, but I've had them since I was a child and, in fact, they are less bothersome now. That is, the pollen type allergies.

I can no longer take many OTC medications such as Advil and extra-strength Tylenol. There is some sort of "filler" in these that causes me to get this weird hive when I take them. It is not the active ingredient doing it (I can take regular Tylenol tablets). That's a new allergy over the last few years.

I was just wondering since these chemical/scent sensitivities seem to be on the increase, is there something different being used, are the scents stronger, or are we just using more of them as a society?

 

[anniemae]

When I was youner I always wore perfume, scented lotion etc. Now, I can't stand those smells. I also used to burn scented candles, now the give me a headache. I don't know if I am more sensitive to the smells, or if I just got used to not having them around, so now when I smell them, they seem more intense.

The other day, I went to the bank and they teller was wearin a TON of perfume. I could not get out of there fast enough.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have found that in the last 5 years or so, I can only spend a few minutes in a candle store before I start to feel as if I am having an asthma attack. That was not the case previously.

I am still able to burn candles without a problem.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Do you get migraines??

I can't do heavy smells anymore either. I can't go anywhere near Bath & Body Works without getting light headed from the smell.

 

[Christine]

Do you get migraines??

I can't do heavy smells anymore either. I can't go anywhere near Bath & Body Works without getting light headed from the smell.

No, I don't get migraines.

That's not to say that I haven't had the odd migraine-like headache here and there but I would not call myself a migraine sufferer.

But like you, I get really lightheaded feeling around the scents.

 

[golfgal]

Only when I was pregnant.

I have never been able to tolerate the florally scents. I do like more citrus based scents.

 

[Rora]

I have pretty strong reactions to scents. Candles, plug ins, that horrible smell in the Stitch ride or in Figment..

I can't burn candles in my house, I just smell them in their container. . I can wear a very select set of perfume (Vera Wang Princess, Bobbi Brown Almost Bare), but most perfumes make me feel like my head's going to explode. Going into stores like Yankee Candle makes me feel like I just got hit by a truck and I'm overloaded with scents.

I've always been this way but I think it's gotten worse as I've grown up. I can smell almost everything before it gets too close to me (I'm at the front door, mom just got out of her car in the driveway, and I can smell her perfume). It's odd. I went to the DR, and he said that some people just have a really really good sense of smell. That's me.

OP- clearly my situation is different from yours but I have heard that smells become less tolerable for some people as they get older.