Yay or Nay?

[AustinTink]

I'm also considerate if I'm going somewhere like the allergist or someplace with tight spaces where it could bother others (movies are a great example).

I wish everyone was as considerate. We go to the movies a lot. Some days I have to go straight to the shower when I get home because the person in my seat in the prior show was doused in cologne. Our theater has assigned seats so I can’t just move.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Yay if tasteful, subtle if you will.

Nay if it's acrid or sprayed on in loads. And an extra nay if it's Axe (or "Lynx" as it's known here).

 

[AustinTink]

"Nay" for me. It doesn't give me a headache, but I don't particularly like any kind of perfume. I also don't like the residual smell of most laundry products on people's clothing. Especially when someone has used way too much Tide. Downy's "April Fresh" is the only scent I like and we use it sparingly.

When I see the commercials for laundry detergents that advertise extended release scents or whatever I have to wonder why. It’s such a chemical smell.

 

[AustinTink]

As to the masculine scents, I find all of the so-called better brands to be offensive. My DH has always worn only Old Spice and I think it smells great even though it's a cheaper brand.

My Father-in-law has worn Old Spice for decades. It’s definitely not as strong as some others. Although, his sniffer is not as reliable now that he is older and puts on more than he used to. My mother-in-law always has to tell him to dial it back.

 

[Christine]

Not saying this is anyone on this thread, but many people who overdo it on perfume or cologne honestly believe they are being subtle about it. You can easily become "nose blind."

Nose blindness, also known as olfactory fatigue or adaptation, is a temporary condition that can occur when someone is constantly exposed to the same or similar scents. This can happen when someone overuses scented products, spends a lot of time in an area with a particular scent, or uses smaller spaces where the fragrance can become overwhelming.

 

[Genie+]

I really don’t enjoy how sugar/candy scented so many perfumes have become. Go the perfume counter and half of the big names smell like cotton candy is involved. Making all the breads and spaghetti sauces super sweet with sugar wasn’t enough, now we bathe in sugar too

 

[CGB]

Just a heads up... you all probably shouldn't walk into a junior high hallway after PE during the first month of school. It takes me a few weeks of fussing "SPRAY THAT in the locker room! Not here! Some people are allergic!" before we're able to clear the hallway out. That's for boys and girls! Now, deodorant gets a free pass. We like that stuff, but that's a whole different topic.

For the record, I don't wear perfume unless I'm really dressed up, wearing heels and dinner is involved.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Not saying this is anyone on this thread, but many people who overdo it on perfume or cologne honestly believe they are being subtle about it. You can easily become "nose blind."

Nose blindness, also known as olfactory fatigue or adaptation, is a temporary condition that can occur when someone is constantly exposed to the same or similar scents. This can happen when someone overuses scented products, spends a lot of time in an area with a particular scent, or uses smaller spaces where the fragrance can become overwhelming.

This is interesting. Many kids at my school, when they began experimenting with scents, went straight for Axe in huge quantities. They thought they were being sophisticated (and yes, I can be accused of this too). The poor teachers felt otherwise!

 

[Kennywood]

Cologne / perfume is meant to be an attractant not a repellant.

 

[Mle8308]

To cologne/perfume? As I sit here with a massive headache and my skin flaring because the Lowe’s installation guy is doused in cologne, I have to ask why? Why do people douse themselves in cologne? It’s offensive to me. It smells awful and gives me a giant headache. Sitting next to someone wearing cologne at the movies, on a plane or generally anywhere makes my body physically ill. It’s as bad as cigarette smoke.

So are you team cologne/perfume? Yay or Nay?

He may have been trying to hide the smell of something else! And I don't mean body odor...

 

[AustinTink]

Not saying this is anyone on this thread, but many people who overdo it on perfume or cologne honestly believe they are being subtle about it. You can easily become "nose blind."

Nose blindness, also known as olfactory fatigue or adaptation, is a temporary condition that can occur when someone is constantly exposed to the same or similar scents. This can happen when someone overuses scented products, spends a lot of time in an area with a particular scent, or uses smaller spaces where the fragrance can become overwhelming.

I absolutely believe this is the case with many people I encounter.

To me this goes for air fresheners, room sprays, scentsy warmers as well. When you’re used to it everyday, you might lose sight of how strong is actually is. I had to change dry cleaners (same cleaners but different location) because the new manager at my location decided she wanted to burn scentsy warmers around everyone’s freshly dry cleaned clothes. I have a dress I still cannot wear because of it. I now drive an extra 10-15 minutes to their other location that is scent free.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Not saying this is anyone on this thread, but many people who overdo it on perfume or cologne honestly believe they are being subtle about it. You can easily become "nose blind."

Nose blindness, also known as olfactory fatigue or adaptation, is a temporary condition that can occur when someone is constantly exposed to the same or similar scents. This can happen when someone overuses scented products, spends a lot of time in an area with a particular scent, or uses smaller spaces where the fragrance can become overwhelming.

Same two squirts of Geir for him everyday here. Wife still only wears Laila.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Nay. It doesn't bother me per se and an appropriate amount is fine, but I don't scent myself with anything.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I really don’t enjoy how sugar/candy scented so many perfumes have become. Go the perfume counter and half of the big names smell like cotton candy is involved

I once bought a body spray literally called Cotton Candy. I spritzed some on and went to the library. I was at the checkout desk, and one of the librarians behind the desk called out, 'what is that awful, sweet stench?!' Of course it was me and my cotton candy body spray. I slunk out with my books just as she was getting out the room spray.

Now I stick to lighter fragrances.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I can't stand perfume or cologne. The only thing I can tolerate is a light body spray with a spritz or 2 at most. (Like scents from Bath and Body Works.)

Classic perfume scents? HARD PASS. They hurt my eyes and make me feel nauseated.

Men's cologne? Another hard pass! My husband just smells like his soap, which is a pleasant and not super overpowering scent.

I have a relative who wears perfume, and she always hugs me when I see her. So as soon as I get home, I have to change because the scent is just stuck to me and it's so strong!

 

[Imzadi]

NAY! Especially when trapped in a slow moving elevator.

 

[fla4fun]

I used to like a light fragrance, but I got a job where my supervisor was allergic to most perfumes and I got out of the habit of wearing anything with a scent. These days, most things I use are unscented, including toiletries. Anything with a fragrance is too strong after going without for so long.

 

[Marrila]

A little perfume is fine. I'm much more bothered by folks who use "natural" deodorant and are convinced it's working.

 

[princesscinderella]

I have an allergy to most flower based perfumes, I will get a migraine and sometimes nausea if forced to be around the smell for too long. While I don’t like the smell of body odor it doesn’t make me feel ill the same way perfumes do. We stopped going to a yogurt place near us because of the strong perfume smell of the cleaning chemical they would use to clean the place, it was insanely strong and never dissipated.

 

[disykat]

A very strong Nay. I am bothered by most strong scents and patchouli (which is used in many fragrances) brings on an immediate asthma attack that can sometimes lead to weeks of misery. I have found myself in situations where I have no choice but to leave because someone's fragrance is so strong it permeates the entire room. I generally find men's fragrances are the worst because of cedar and spruce, which are also some of my strongest allergies.

I am also confused by the fact that so many people want to smell like laundry and/or deodorant and think the odors that are being activated when they sweat are preferable to NOT stinking. I buy unscented in everything I can and the lightest scent possible if not.

Since I can't politely say this in real life I use every anonymous opportunity I can to let people know this - if people who aren't hugging you comment on how you smell, your fragrance is definitely bothering other people!

Every time I go to church, a concert, etc. I know there's a chance I'll have to try to find a different seat. Every time I go on a plane etc. I prepare the best I can but ultimately know I might need to leave there as well. It's disheartening when it's really that simple - if people comment on how you smell you are infringing on their space.

No one wants to smell BO, but the only thing worse than BO in my opinion is BO plus strong sweat activated perfume.