As I sit here writing this, I have a metallic taste, itchy face and nose, and a raging headache. I am one of those invisible scent-sensitive people and it’s really starting to trouble me that people apply so much scent in the way of perfumes/body creams/hairsprays and natural products. A particular culprit to me is a natural rose body cream.
A couple of weeks ago I was bombarded with people’s perfumes and creams, colognes, etc.
It happened again today, so I find myself writing this letter. In the course of a week several instances occurred… at a cafe I took my coffee and walked across the room to avoid scent, a day later I left my very good seats at a nightclub to take up some not so great seats at the back because of a gaggle of super strong smelling gals, on another day I rushed through the change room of the aquatic centre as someone spritzed herself, later in the week I held my sweatshirt over my nose and mouth during a two-hour movie because there were no readily available seats after a latecomer came in smelling strongly of perfume and sat a full two rows in front of me.
That was in one week! There’s a store in town I can’t enter because the incense is so strong. I’ve held my breath or gotten off elevators. I don’t know that if I reserve a seat at the Capitol I will be able to stay in it depending on who’s scent might be sitting near me.
The thing is, I don’t have a medical bracelet to justify my requests, nor an allergy sanctified by the medical system, or even a visible reaction on my skin that you can see. It’s not that I think people don’t believe me, but I don’t understand why they wear it so loudly that everyone gets to smell it, and even in clearly labelled scent-free buildings.
An analogy might be this: a passing car shudders with the sound of the bass booming. That’s like someone wearing a dumpload of scent.
Another car passes by, you can’t hear the cd playing, but by the lip-syncing gestures of the passengers it is apparent they are happily enjoying their music.
That’s like someone wearing just enough scent for them to enjoy and maybe their intimate friend, too.
I’m writing this letter as a plea. A short while ago I had to leave an event early (discreetly) because of scent, even though a letter had been emailed to people to keep it scent-free for several individuals including myself. My only consolation (if you will) was that another person said to me at the exit that she couldn’t take it anymore, and she was leaving at the same time as me for the same reason. I guess you could say I felt validated.
I think of Nelson as a place that often times is dominated by body odour that may be offensive to some. I may not find it attractive, but it doesn’t affect me.
Most people probably smell just fine, and in fact, it’s pheromones that attract people to you and you to them. Please don’t be offended if you repel me for I will, unfortunately, have to leave. I know I speak for many, and it would be great if we can find some place where we can meet in the middle as this is a growing concern.
Thanks for listening.
Meg Stewart
Nelson
