to carry a pomander when travelling by public transport?

[ElaineFiggis]

I was verbally abused this afternoon on the train by a very rude old man who seemed to take it personally that I was using a pomander

I know it's a bit unfashionable (don't know why though!) but the way I see it is why the hell shouldn't I take whatever measures I deem appropriate to protect myself from discomfort?

If people observed proper personal hygiene (nothing obsessive here, I just mean not actually smelling bad and making other people feel unwell) and stayed off the buses and trains when they have hacking coughs and sneezes etc, I wouldn't use it

but I travel a lot and just want to be comfortable - why he was so rude I don't understand

he called me a "cow"

[UnrequitedSkink]

You must look a bit bizarre carting round an orange stuck with bleeding cloves all over it though... although, you could be really really cutting edge and they'll be selling them in Topshop by Christmas.

[TheHeadbangingWombat]

I'm having visions of the OP alighting from the bus, pomander still held to her nose,waiting for her valet to lay down a coat so that she doesn't have to walk through a puddle.

[GentleOtter]

What if your pomander stinks and upsets the smelling of wee man?

[elmofan]

elaine - where you wafting the pomander towards the old man on train ? no need to call you names though ,

[MadameDefarge]

Elaine, I am loving your solution to hideous stinkies on public transport.

I personally carry a bottle of eau dynamisante and frequently squirt around my person in particularly smelly environments...

For example, last week, I was at behind a man who reeked of, well, never ever having washed...people around me were gagging and running for the back of the bus...and couple of squirt and voila!

[mablemurple]

WTF do germs smell like?

[Hassled]

I'm intrigued re the practicalities. Does it have a wrist strap? Is the wrist strap made out of black velvet with lace edging? Where is your handbag in all this?

[TheHeadbangingWombat]

How will a pomander protect you from airbourne viruses?

[pigletmania]

what the hell is a pomander?

[ElaineFiggis]

No LOL I don't have a wrist strap (only for dd!) it lives in my bag and comes out when I feel the need of it

My bag always smells nice!

[nickytwotimes]

Am pmsl!

Miasma, miasma.

[ElaineFiggis]

mable I don't pretend to be an expert but IMO where there is a dirty smell there are proibably germs

What do you all do then, just breathe shallow?

[Hassled]

Not shallow breathing, just mouth breathing. Surprisingly easy when you get the hang of it.

[TheHeadbangingWombat]

And how will a pomander protect you from germs?

Besides germs are everywhere including all over you. They'll be there dirty smell or not.

[MadBadandCoveredinSequins]

I prefer a little nosegay, kept in my reticule.

[Alarielle]

If you want to be totally Elizabethan you should take some red paint and daub a red cross on those people you deem as being unclean.

[Habbibu]

You got there before me, Nicky - it's all that darned miasma. John Snow and his nut-job water theories be damned.

[LadyMidnightMT]

Not a cow maybe. But if I saw someone with one of these to protect them from the smell of proles I would think them a daft twat. And probably laugh at them.

[LadyMidnightMT]

is this you?

[hormonesnomore]

I hate, hate, hate the smell of oranges & they should be banned from public transport forthwith. Pomanders made from oranges sound disgusting - I'd rather smell wee.

[MintyCane]

he he he I'm with Riven I rub a bit of lavender on my hands. A pomander is a bit much.

[Habbibu]

"If people observed proper personal hygiene (nothing obsessive here, I just mean not actually smelling bad and making other people feel unwell) and stayed off the buses and trains when they have hacking coughs and sneezes etc, I wouldn't use it"

Pity the poor people using public transport to go to the hospital with their hacking coughs.

[MintyCane]

I can't tell if this thread is for real or I have had waaaaaaaaaaaay tooo much wine tonight.