To think you don’t need to wear so much perfume?

[Migrainium]

My friend came round two days ago and I can still smell her perfume in my house. Several times I’ve been out walking and a car will drive past and I can smell their aftershave several meters along the round.

I am very sensitive to smells which can trigger migraines, but even so, AIBU to think people should tone it down a bit?

I’m actually allergic. I sometimes break out in a rash just from passing someone on the pavement who thinks it’s ok to walk around bathed in perfume. More than brief casual contact is much worse.

I have come to truly hate the people who are selfish enough to wear perfume outside of their own homes. It’s unnecessary and can hurt other people. Many of them are aware of the danger they pose to others, but deny any responsibility.

Several years ago my parish church requested that people go easy on the perfume. They also watered down the incense somewhat. I assume people had had problems.

I suspect some perfumes are stronger than others. A bit like candles perhaps.

Absolutely love a strong perfume or aftershave. My in-laws hate scents of any kind no car air freshener, no candles, no flowers, no air fresheners. To be quite honest their house stinks of just a stale stagnant smell, they washed DD clothes recently and they smelt like damp. Each to their own I suppose but I couldn't live without nice scents.

I think it's more when people wear a perfume the notes of which you don't like.
I get migraine, and steer clear of perfume when I have a headache.

Anything with oud notes I can smell for hours and hours. Likewise I used to sit next to someone at work who wore Tresor. That made me feel sick.

Otherwise, I don't think I know anyone who wears that much that it would be obnoxious.

I agree.

some people really stink if perfume. I love perfume, but sometimes it’s too much. I’ve had to change seats on the tube.

I often walk past a care home and the carers reek of some strong perfume, it makes me wonder how the people they care for feel.

That brand shoud be banned! The odours emanating from the chemical bath bombs and other frankenstein shit from those shops is revolting!😀

You have a particular condition that is set off by perfume. So telling your friend about this and perhaps agreeing to meet outdoors is a reasonable thing to do, as it is not just her wearing of perfume that is the cause.

For me, given how poor some people's cleanliness is, I welcome a distracting or different smell, but I don't have such a condition as the OP.

I like perfume and have always liked a man to smell of aftershave so I'm afraid I can't agree

YANBU. I’m asthmatic and allergic to most perfumes. I can’t stand when people come into my clinic and the whole place smells like their perfume for the rest of the day whilst I cough, wheeze, and itch.

YA definitely NBU! I find strong perfumes incredibly intrusive and off-putting.

If I have to remain in an environment where I am inhaling strong fumes from someone's so-called "perfume" (to me, a 'perfume' is a pleasant, subtle and delicate scent, such as one might experience from sniffing a rose, not an overpowering chemical stench!), such as in a theatre or at a meeting, I inevitably end up with a sick headache and a blocked nose.

I just don't "get" why people smother themselves in powerful chemical smells that are far worse than those dreadful diffusers that some people have in their bathrooms and lavatories to disguise the other smells that might occasionally emanate from those places!

Honestly, apart from dog poo, which smells utterly disgusting, I think I would rather spend the evening in a theatre sitting next to a pile of poo than I would a heavily perfumed person! 🤣

Oh, wouldn't that be absolutely marvellous?!
I was overjoyed when smoking in public places was finally banned. It meant that I could eat out in a pub or restaurant and not go home with a headache. If only the same could happen with perfumes.

I am the opposite, I love strong perfumes and aftershaves. It's very rare for me to smell a strong one these days though.

I don't mind perfume, I don't get migraines etc. But we have one visitor who over uses perfume and it is horrendous. The sofa stinks for days after their visit. I don't like hugging them. I don't like them cuddling my child or their soft toys. It leaves a really horrible strong trail after they've left. I thought maybe they'd had covid and couldn't smell but no it's always been like this.

I agree. I've had several nights out at the theatre or cinema spoiled by the person sat next to me reeking of acrid cologne. I suppose their reasoning is if they like the smell others will too.

I like perfume. I like it on myself and I like it on other people. So I’ll carry on wearing it.

I don’t think everyone should have to stop wearing perfume just because a minority of people are ultra-sensitive to it. ‘Antisocial’ does not mean ‘a normal, mainstream human behaviour that a small number of people don’t like’.

Perfume is one of those things that Mumsnet is weird about, in a way that doesn’t reflect the real world in any way whatsoever.

I think it's becoming one of these things where people think I've paid for it, I want to get my money's worth and they drown themselves in the stuff.

Perfume is one of those things that Mumsnet is weird about, in a way that doesn’t reflect the real world in any way whatsoever.

All these people who might have commented on your perfume IRL, let me break it to you gently, but they didn't comment because they liked what you were wearing. They were just too polite to say what they really thought, but wanted to draw your attention to it.

some people do seem to drown themselves in aftershave or perfume which i find bizarre. Surely just a spray or 2 usually suffices! Ugh I can’t stand being knocked out by others’ strong smells of any kind!

If you don’t like your friend’s perfume talk to her about it - if she’s a friend she’ll tone it down.

Yanbu. Interesting that a number of people have never noticed strong perfume on others. I must have a very strong sense of smell then!
I used to work in an office where more than one woman would wear one that smelt of rotting pot pourri. Poison maybe? It made me feel physically sick and would avoid sitting next to them.
It's always the case that there are people who have no self awareness and are unable to consider that their actions may affect other people (perfume, noise etc). I think it's rude.

Used to work with someone years ago who doused herself in Estée Lauder Beautiful. She’d get noseblind to it after a while and keep resprayingg. It was horrific.

if you want to smell nice use body lotion, it’s more subtle. If you want people to notice when you have entered the room you’re an attention seeker.

I have only smellt perfume in a good way.

Omg that's brilliant.

Through no fault of my own, I'm really allergic to perfumes, aftershaves, some deodorants (specially anything sprayed in the room in in), air fresheners (pretty much all kinds).

Ive been left in tears before and also had to leave lectures when I was at uni, because of being exposed to this in environments I have every right to be in.

I'd genuinely rather have to put up with eye watering body odour on someone for however long it is, than risk getting sick or having to get hospital treatment. It makes me so unwell.

I like wearing perfume.

Trouble is you can't always smell it on yourself but I think a light spray in the morning is ok

I got complimented the other day about a perfume I was wearing

Better than sweaty BO smell surely

Absolute bullshit and really unkind. If I compliment someone on their perfume or aftershave then that is exactly what I am doing. Not passive aggressively sending snarky messages!