over scented world

chewie · #1 04/18/12, 01:31 PM

I have been using the homemade laundry detergent, make my own goat milk soap, and in general, just use plain simple stuff. didn't think much about it since this stuff all works well.

the other day DD16 had a friend over. whew! the girls' clothes smelled sooo strong of fabric softener I had a hard time being around her! then we went to a bigger town for the day and wow! everyone I got too close to had too much smell! does this happen when you get so used to NO smell?

Jim S. · #2 04/18/12, 01:58 PM

I am not in an unscented world to the extent you are, but we keep it tamped down pretty good, and YES people do not realize how much they reek of perfumes and whatnot, because they have gotten desensitized to it. Someone at work will walk past me of a morning and I will be about bowled over by the "good" smell of perfume.

Ever open a magazine and be assaulted by a perfume scented ad page? Eccch! It is as intense when someone walks by me in the city, sometimes.

Our sensitivity extends to water, too, since we use unadulterated well water from a limestone source. When we go into the city, we smell the stink of swimming pool chlorine when we wash our hands in the sink, and in summer the river source brings with it the smell of chlorine and algae, too.

But again, most people are as desensitized to that in the city as they are of the equinox or the moon and stars. It's part of why I like it so much when my tires hit my gravel drive at night.

Pam6 · #3 04/18/12, 02:45 PM

My MIL's has washed some of the kids clothes when they are over there and they come home so 'smelly' that I can hardly pick them up!
We use homemade detergent and homemade household cleaners so I think it does make the perfume smell even stronger.

meanwhile · #4 04/18/12, 02:51 PM

We have to re-wash every piece of cloths that someone gives us. They always stink! When people come to visit, they smell of perfume. I think they just get too used to it and then use more perfume and smell worse. I just like to smell the fresh air.

vicker · #5 04/18/12, 03:36 PM

I'm sensitive to odors too, and the worst are all the "good" smells everyone uses! And, they so often clash. My father is going through chemo and at the cancer center they have signs asking everyone not to wear perfume or other strong smelling things, needless to say it seems everyone assumes that that means everyone but them.

geo in mi · #6 04/18/12, 03:43 PM

How about cigarette smoke?

geo

Laura Zone 10 · #7 04/18/12, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewie

I have been using the homemade laundry detergent, make my own goat milk soap, and in general, just use plain simple stuff. didn't think much about it since this stuff all works well.

the other day DD16 had a friend over. whew! the girls' clothes smelled sooo strong of fabric softener I had a hard time being around her! then we went to a bigger town for the day and wow! everyone I got too close to had too much smell! does this happen when you get so used to NO smell?

When the kids have friends over, I can smell the fabric softener all over the house for days.
It gives my boy a headache! We keep smells to a minimum here, so when we are out in public we can tell:
Who smokes cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and weed.
Who has cats.
Who uses fabric softener.
Who has multiple store bought air fresheners in their home / car.
Who cooks with a lot of onions / garlic or curry.
Who uses dehodrant with scent.
The difference between OTC hair care products VS natural.

jd4020 · #8 04/18/12, 04:09 PM

I have used an unscented laundry soap for years and can remember Dh's comment about being at work and having to smell not only heavily scented laundry and dryer sheets but cologne and then as the day wore on, the dirt and sweat of the guys he worked with. We aren't allergic to any scents that we know of, but, we have friends whose list of allergies are quite lengthy & include scents of most any kind.
We live in a fairly scentless world as well.
I clean with soap & water, baking soda, white vinegar and lemon juice. We don't use perfumes or colognes. Deodorants or anti perspirents have been replaced with baking soda. Occasionally I will buy some homemade soap that has some lavender in it but that's as far as I go. I love the way homemade soap smells anyway.
I'm not sensitive to smells as in being allergic to it, but rather like it is overwhelming to me and I want to get some fresh air as soon as possible. I think it's kind of icky when someones perfume comes into the room 5 minutes before they do. And while I do give hugs, I don't like it if I have to smell like the person I'm hugging i.e. their cologne rubbing off on me. But maybe, on those few times I have to run to town after cleaning out the barns and not time to shower or change clothes, perhaps those who wear lots of perfume, won't be able to smell much of me? lol

God bless,
jd

blynn · #9 04/18/12, 04:16 PM

We make our own detergent, and I only use lavender spray for perfume, it's pretty light and wears off quickly. So yes, we do notice the scents that other people use. My MIL uses Tide detergent and if they watch our dog for a day or two or dog comes home smelling like either that or the air fresheners that are plugged in everywhere, they have more than one per room in their house.

nappy · #10 04/18/12, 04:21 PM

When my adult children come to visit, the strong scents from their perfumes/deodorants, detergent and fabric softener overwhelm my sensitive nose. It's difficult to hold my tongue....but I have mentioned to them that these perfumy scents could be one reason for their ongoing allergies. With so many people dowsed in these scents, I sometimes wonder if the scents are there to cover up unpleasant odors? I really don't mind food odors except for fried foods.

Ardie/WI · #11 04/18/12, 04:30 PM

I love a good quality scent but some woman marinate themselves in their cologne. IMO, less is more.

What I like is that the more expensive perfumes have a sprayer that goes "poof" so that I can apply a poof here and there without being overwhelming.

As for air scents, I think that they are made too strong. I have an area where one of those plug-in thingies are needed and when I open up a new one, I have to put it outside for a few days or my stomach rebels.

The detergent and fabric softener aisle in the stores are awful. I cover my nose when I have to go there.

Don't get me started on people who smell of cigarette smoke or, worse yet, BO!

mary,tx · #12 04/18/12, 05:00 PM

I enjoyed wearing a dab of perfume when I was young, but gave up perfume my first pregnancy, when suddenly every smell made me feel not so well. I remember taking a step back at times because a cashier's cologne smell was so strong.

Laundry detergent smells didn't bother me until I started using a fragrance free detergent for my son who is sensitive (the one with fibro). Now if I use something different, I NOTICE the smell.

I still am often overwhelmed by the cologne smell when people walk past me in stores. I wonder if they realize how strongly they smell, whether the person with them actually likes that, or sometimes whether it is the one or the combination of the smells on a couple that make is smell SO bad.

Yes, cigarette smoke also bothers me.

chewie · #13 04/18/12, 05:11 PM

yes, cig. smell is awful. I found it odd how these smells have gotten 'stronger' to me now that I'm no longer used to them. working at the lodge, I use all the reg. smelly stuff adn it gags me. and what's with those room fresheners that go off every time someone walks past it? really, ppl want to breathe a chemical that often?

as for a 'bad' smell, usually its cuz something needs cleaned up, including myself! b.soda, vinegar, soap and water can really work on most problems I have and not have that over-strong 'mountain breeze' scent!!

jwal10 · #14 04/18/12, 05:18 PM

I avoid the candle, perfune, soap and detergent Isles. Sets my nose off....James

Horseyrider · #15 04/18/12, 05:32 PM

Oh gosh, that's one of the things that really gets me.

I used to walk my dogs in town; but I learned to stay out on weekends and after five. That's because when we would walk, we'd be subjected to clouds of dryer ventings that would about knock me flat. Eww! It isn't like it stinks, but it's so overpowering it changes from sort of nice to very unpleasant.

I love a good scent. However, I don't want it in every pore.

Haven · #16 04/18/12, 05:34 PM

Everything is unscented here too. I walk into other homes and feel like I'm in a synthetic perfume factory.

I saw a show where people lived on some pioneer land for a few weeks. When the film crew walked across a field toward them, the "pioneer people" said they could smell the crew coming across the field - it was all the soap, fab softener, perfume etc.

Ardie/WI · #17 04/18/12, 05:37 PM

The only time I use fabric softener sheets is sometime loads get static electricity in Winter. Then, I use a half a sheet so it isn't too bad!

HeelSpur · #18 04/18/12, 05:47 PM

A lady at a flea market last weekend bout choked me to death with the gallon of perfume she had on. She musta been french. gag

mommathea · #19 04/18/12, 05:51 PM

I use all unscented laundry stuff, no perfume, dh wears some but he keeps it light. I don't buy a shampoo based on what it's for but if it has a light almost unscented smell.
For cleaners it's mrs meyer lavender stuff or vinegar w/eos. I can't stand anything else.
I get a headache just from walking down the cleaning isle. And can tell if someone is doing laundry a mile away. I can't stand the stink of laundry detergents and fabric softeners. I get sick to my stomach.
And don't get me started on febreeze. NASTY stuff. Gives me an instant headache.

Sonshine · #20 04/18/12, 10:22 PM

I actually like the smell of some of the fabric softners.