Smells give me a headache

[shakeitoffshakeacocktail]

For years this has been an issue not covid related. ExH used to wonder complain why our clothes didn't smell of fabric conditioner. Yet we'd get some second hand baby ones off his sister that had sat around for half a year and smell very strongly.

I don't like the smell of fabric conditioner hanging around on my clothes.

Some strong smells give me an almost immediate headache, walking past lush, the old coffee shop that sells beans to the whole city, perfumes, candles.

Does this happen to anyone else?

Also why did his sisters clothes always smell so strong. Do they use a shit ton of the stuff?

I use the recommended dose usually a white one with a baby on it because they are low fragrance

Thread inspired by me buying the wrong one as out of stock and now all my clothes now stink

Smells are a well known trigger for migraine. Not even strong smells, necessarily; some people are triggered by particular fragrances or components. Have a google and I’m sure you’ll find lots of information about it.

I have this! I can never explain it properly to anyone. I don't get migraines and it's almost not a headache but an almost headache, like a discomfort that takes while to go.
It only happens with synthetic smells though - perfume, air freshener and things like that. Food smells never trigger it.

Yes, I have this. I can't tolerate synthetic fragrances and they give me very painful sinusitis and irritate my eyes.

Yes I get this and my Mum has always had this too. If I tried out some perfumes I would invariably get a headache. It’s always a frontal/sinus area headache too. I also can always smell people’s fabric conditioner as well and I don’t use any.

It’s the same type of feeling in my head I get if drink most white wines as well, and I don’t mean being drunk or having a hangover. Even after drinking only a tiny bit I get this horrible feeling in my head and sinus area especially if it’s a floral/perfumed type of white wine.
I avoid white wine if at all possible for this reason.

Yes, I had this, certain smells would trigger a migraine.

Strangely, since menopause my migraines have disappeared and I can enjoy things like perfume again.

The same here, I don’t use fabric conditioner at all, can’t bear the nasty stuff, don’t walk near Lush, only opposite.
I would wash your clothes again, put on extra rinse cycle and then dry outside. It should help.

Oooh yes. Coffee, cigarette smoke and sometimes chocolate are instant triggers. If smells are present for a onger period of time then I get a headache.

Jeyes fluid sets my migraines off.

Yes, smells and certain lights for me too.

Some smells car air fresheners make me feel a bit sick. Strong disinfectant can give me a bit of a headache and irritate my chest.

Yes headaches and nausea, it just keeps getting worse which is annoying, I was given a bunch of flowers at Christmas time but I had put put them outside on my doorstep as they were affecting me so badly when they were inside ( flowers have never triggered me before) Can’t wear perfume or be arround people who do, can only use 1 type of washing pods and the white sensitive fabric softener. Can only use certain household sprays I can’t have smelly candles or room sprays and have to take my own hand gel around with me as some shops provide scented stuff which makes me feel ill until I can wash it off. Occasionally something scented really triggers me off and I’ll start retching so have to rush outside and gulp in large amounts of fresh air to stop myself from being sick. I have to hold my breath and run past the Lush shop in town, I can’t even go into the shops next to it as the smell permeates. Scented sanitary products are also a nightmare.
It really affects my life, sometimes I can develop the headache and nausea before I even notice the smell, wonder why I’m feeling suddenly unwell and then realise someone’s sprayed something in another office at work and it’s just reached me.

Also since other PP’s have mentioned some foods also trigger me especially some spices. I am post menopause so that hasn’t helped things get any better. Oh good yes I forgot about the car fresheners they are one of the worst things, they are banned in our car.

It’s the same type of feeling in my head I get if drink most white wines as well, and I don’t mean being drunk or having a hangover. Even after drinking only a tiny bit I get this horrible feeling in my head and sinus area especially if it’s a floral/perfumed type of white wine. I avoid white wine if at all possible for this reason.

It’s really interesting @DoNotGetADog
I always preferred white wines but last several years noticed correlation between headache and drinking white wine, I still thought it’s a coincidence. And I’m talking about drinking 2 small glasses not a couple of bottles. I will stay clear off whites from now on.

Thanks for the agreement

Obviously a massive trend of recent years with lush scentsy etc

It's definitely synthetic smells for me

Might be sensitive to sulphites, wine giving headaches

I wonder if that's a connection as sulphites are a recognised allergen

Maybe there is a certain group of chemicals they should treat like a allergy warning

@greenlynx

It’s the same type of feeling in my head I get if drink most white wines as well, and I don’t mean being drunk or having a hangover. Even after drinking only a tiny bit I get this horrible feeling in my head and sinus area especially if it’s a floral/perfumed type of white wine. I avoid white wine if at all possible for this reason.

It’s really interesting @DoNotGetADog
I always preferred white wines but last several years noticed correlation between headache and drinking white wine, I still thought it’s a coincidence. And I’m talking about drinking 2 small glasses not a couple of bottles. I will stay clear off whites from now on.

Sulphites are a recognised allergen see if you are allergic/ intolerant

They are commonly found in wine, fruit juice, dried fruits and processed foods

Yep, perfumes, air fresheners, candles, some deodorants.

I’m okay with fresh or cotton scents but anything that smells like vanilla and I’m gone. I first remember it happening aged 8 when my sister got a pretty rank perfume making kit.

@WillYouDoTheFandango

Yep, perfumes, air fresheners, candles, some deodorants.

I’m okay with fresh or cotton scents but anything that smells like vanilla and I’m gone. I first remember it happening aged 8 when my sister got a pretty rank perfume making kit.

Yes I can just about get away with 'fresh' 'clean' or baby product smells

I have one candle I like called stone cove 🤷‍♀️ I think can't bare almost all others

Citrus is usually fine too when I'm cleaning

If I hoover I get headache, smells can also be a seizure trigger with me

It’s definitely the “perfuminess” of white wine that’s the problem. I can drink red fine and don’t have other food allergies, so I’m sure it’s not sulphites.

As PP said, vanilla is a bad smell for me - one of the worst.

Yes, I have this. Always have done. The smell of liver cooking was what gave me- looking back- my first ever migraine aged about five. I also react to some fishy smells, strong coffee smells, strong alcohol smells. Also some candles and perfumes but quite random which ones are an issue. Cleaning products can trigger me but not fabric conditioner especially. Had it since I was a small child but only diagnosed with migraine at 17 and cluster headaches at 21.

I remember being asked by my GP to keep a headache diary when I was around six and first complaining of debilitating headaches. When I wrote that a smell was a trigger he told me that that was impossible and that I was imagining it, therefore was probably imagining all of it. He was a right wanker and gave me- aged six- a lecture about painkiller rebound headaches and accused me of overdoing the old orange Calpol. Ridiculous. Suggested fresh air would help my headaches. These were, looking back, the start of full-blown migraines with aura and sickness and having to lay in a darkened room. My parents pushed and pushed but the various GPs at our surgery either said I couldn’t possibly have headaches without hormones OR that puberty would cure them. I wasn’t taken in any way seriously or sent to a specialist until I was 17, so was left with just OTC drugs for 11 years. But one of the first things the specialist asked me when I was 17? “What smells are a trigger for you?” So it’s definitely a thing.

walking into a lush shop is a trigger for me

They’re most likely carcinogenic anyway or at least endocrine disruptive, scents are completely unregulated and they can use whatever they want and no need to declare the ingredients.

And I say that with great sadness as I do like scents