to be put off going out to restaurants because of the smell?

[toonoisie]

I don’t know if this is just me being fussy, but I’m starting to feel really put off eating out. It’s not the food or the cost, it’s the smell that clings to everything.

Every time I go somewhere, especially places doing grilled or fried food, I come home and my clothes absolutely stink. My coat smells, my hair smells, even my bag sometimes. It’s that heavy, greasy food smell that just doesn’t shift unless everything goes straight in the wash. I don’t want to be washing coats and outfits after every meal out.

It’s got to the point where I think twice before going because I know I’ll come back feeling like I need a full shower and laundry reset. Bit of a mood killer when you’re meant to be enjoying yourself.

I get that it comes with the territory, it’s a restaurant not a perfume shop but surely better ventilation is a thing?

AIBU to be put off by this or is everyone else just accepting that this is part of eating out?

I’ve never experienced this. Ever.

I’ve been like this as long as I can remember
hugged a friend and could tell she had chips earlier as her coat smelled of them from it hanging up at home where she was cooking
i can also smell gas when others can’t, damp, anything really

I find this too OP. Depends where I go obviously but generally end up washing my outfit and use Febreeze/similar on my coats.

Totally agree. A few weeks ago we went to a local steak restaurant before heading to a theatre. I knew as soon as we walked in they would put us by the kitchen. Spent the rest of the evening feeling conscious that we smelt greasy especially when sitting next to people.

Ive never experienced this, you must be overly sensitive to smell

I have hyper smell, it is very odd indeed. To give an example I have a very large sitting room, and if my husband pours a small glass of wine, and sitting at the far end and I come down into the hall way I can smell the wine.

and I’ve never ever had my clothes smell of food after I’ve been out for dinner. Ever.

I've noticed this in all kinds of places. Cafes where I've been for lunch as well as different restaurants. Not just where there's an open kitchen. I generally put all my clothes in the wash after eating out. My hair smells too.
I do have quite a strong sense of smell, I'm one of those people who hates perfume on me or others. I don't think I was always like this.

So have I - it's frustrating that so many people don't understand how subjective smell is.

I suggested peri (which can heighten sensitivity to smells) as I interpreted the OPs post to mean that this was something she had noticed more recently, which may not be the case.

Interestingly, peri can also cause people to get more irritated about things that wouldn't have bothered them previously, so that could be involved too.

Also interestingly, smell sensitivity is a common neurodivergent trait - and one that ALSO usually gets more intense and noticeable as a result of hormonal changes that come with..... perimenopause!

Bloody perimenopause.

Funnily I LOVE perfume and scented stuff
but the smell of BO or tonsil stones on people is

That was going to be my question. It's the only time I have this.

Lots of others have experienced it too and have mentioned it on the thread.

I can always detect the smell of cooking and food on other people too.

Did you actually mean to say that out loud?

I'm pretty sure they mean "Indian restaurants". But yeah, probably an abbreviation to avoid in case of misunderstandings!

Oh I have this, I have to have a shower and wash my hair after a meal out. Can’t bear it and can’t have it on my sheets 😂

Edited to add - on the flip side I love the smell of chlorine on my skin the day after swimming and I absolutely love smells like fuel, damp, marker pens, sponges.

Completely agree OP!

Same reason why I can’t face going in Costa / Starbucks etc. Everything stinks afterwards of burnt coffee grounds and griddled paninis or something. My coat / bag / hair. I find it makes me feel sick & headachey for days

My local chemist smells like a tattoo shop. It must be a specific disinfectant or something but every time I walk in I anticipate a tattoo

It’s those bloody sizzling dishes - I hate them

I've never stunk after going to a restaurant. Why would the smell stick to you any more than when you eat at home? Food is usually cooked in a kitchen rathe than next to the dining area.

You must be eating out at kfc
not all restaurants smell bad surely?

Everywhere that serves food that I have ever been to smells of the food they serve. This smell gets on my clothes, coat and hair.

I’m surprised most people on this thread are saying they’ve never noticed it. I do have some sensory issues so perhaps it’s due to that.

It doesn’t particularly bother me but there are times I feel a bit gross putting my coat on the day after and smelling the previous days food on it. It doesn’t last forever and will go after a day or two.

Food smells often stick to me at home too! And I always always move any washing etc out of the kitchen before I start cooking to make sure they don’t catch smells.

Never noticed it myself, we eat out in a variety of places. I’ve not noticed any smells following going to restaurants or pubs since they banned smoking

Are you pregnant)

tbh, peri is just so weird, sometimes I can smell ALL THE THINGS, sometimes I can’t smell anything (though that’s been since having Covid in 2020), it’s just so flipping random!