Perfume in the office

Asthmatic here. I react to perfume. Generally controllable in a light perfume space with inhalers and I wouldn’t dare ask people not to wear it.

However some people wear an awful lot and then it might as well be mustard gas. It’s scary. Literally sucks all the air out of my lungs in under a minute and my airways close up. I can’t breathe, my voice disappears and my eyes stream. If I don't get away quickly I’d imagine I’d be in real trouble.

I also find getting back to normal after a perfume asthma attack takes a lot longer than other triggers (possibly because it clings to your clothes).

But what colour was she wearing? 😉

A light spray is what most wear. I was taught one spray of a heavy perfume is more than enough, 2 of a light scent as anything else is cloying and has the intensity of a bin lorry.

I love scent but when I was first pregnant, years ago, there seemed to be a lot of people wearing Estee Lauder's Youth Dew. It made me so nauseous. A birthday trip to the theatre for a play I was very much looking forward to had to be hastily abandoned because someone in the row behind was doused in the stuff. It was my problem, but ever since I can't be around that smell. I had similar reactions to Ma Griffe but few people I encountered wore it. I find the whole thing very interesting.

Does orange clothing give you a migraine?

I work in my own office, so no, not remotely.

It would be a wonderful world if wearing Old Spice in Waitrose meant you attracted spontaneous choral flash mobs singing ‘O fortuna’ while clobbering the wearer with surfboards.

There was someone wearing Old Spice in Waitrose this morning. Unmistakable. I've had Carmina Burana stuck in my head since then!

Interesting that the hospital pool near me has removed the chlorine and has salt instead. It’s part of the orthopaedic treatment options, open to the public.

Aerosols of any kind are banned at my school due to several very scary asthma attacks. I find it quite sensible. I read in some parts of Canada, wearing of perfume is banned in offices, seems very practical for asthmatics.

perfume gives me headaches. I can’t wear it, can’t use scented soap on my hands, can’t have reed diffusers in my house, have to be really selective about air fresheners. I don’t mind a subtle scent, but a strong scent can make me really unwell.

Japan is full of them… ! And yes I know Japan has its problems but at least they know how to be considerate.

Also - can I get a job in this scent free company please. Sounds like a dream

It’s awful! And yes I swear I smell things other people can’t 🤣

I’m not as bad as your friend by the sounds of it but any very floral perfume has me laying in a dark room throwing up by the end of the day. See also: Bonfire, Smoke in general, Nail Varnish and remover..

We once came home from holiday on a 10 hour flight and the Stewardess was wearing such strong perfume. I couldn’t get away from it so spent the whole flight home asking for more sick bags. Luckily I was sat with my family and not some poor stranger!

Poor you - plus that 'man' smell, when their clothes smell stale.

I work in a large office and I’d rather have perfume than the smell of clothing dried indoors 🤢🤮 . Honestly now it’s getting warmer the smell of sweaty people is vile . We can’t eat out lunch at our desks but the smell of sweaty men in the break out room is just awful . I’ve started sitting in my car or outside if the weather is ok .

It’s called eau de space 🤣 it’s mainly burnt things but it’s also weirdly sweet. It’s so astronauts don’t freak out at the smell on the international space station etc

That reminds me of cruise ships that sell the "cruise ship" room scent 😂

It’s called eau de space 🤣 it’s mainly burnt things but it’s also weirdly sweet. It’s so astronauts don’t freak out at the smell on the international space station etc

Have you smelled the perfume nasa made that’s meant to smell like space? It’s vomit inducing but the most bizarre smell underneath it!

This is intriguing, as I don't see any way of having a sniff of that space vacuum without dying instantly. So how would they know?
Or is it eu de space debris or something?

Have you smelled the perfume nasa made that’s meant to smell like space? It’s vomit inducing but the most bizarre smell underneath it!

Saying that, I do enjoy a subtle bit of perfume myself but obviously it's v individual what kinds of smells ppl like or dislike.

I wish people wouldn't bring the subject of flatulence into these threads. Childish humour if nothing else.

Oh, totally. I'm about four years old in terms of how funny I find farts.

Sorry, flatulence.

I think it's bad form to spray in the office or to wear so much that ppl can smell it after you've left a room so I'm with you on that one OP. I don't like it when rooms have tonnes of those plugins either, very artificial smelling.

I would love to see the POTUS in orange clothing.

Know what you mean, OP. Very keen sense of smell. Can smell my best friend in the guest room up to around 10 days after she has gone home.

I wish people wouldn't bring the subject of flatulence into these threads. Childish humour if nothing else.