General Chat

Ann .............. Perhaps banned was too strong a word to use, as perfumes and other scented items are not actually banned in Canada, but most places have a fragrance-free policy.

The use of perfumes and other scented items (such as soaps, shampoo, hairspray, etc) are "banned" from public buildings, many offices, especially medical/physiotherapy/dental, etc. in BC and NS that I know of, and in most other provinces and territories.

The actual term used for workplaces is a fragrance-free policy, or a protocol or plan designed to provide an environment without scents. In Canada, human rights cases have determined that it is an employer's obligation to respond to scent sensitivities in the work place.

A bylaw might be used for municipal buildings, which will also include theatres owned and/or operated by the municipality.

I don't know what the penalty is, but I have noticed that most people now seem to at least wear much less.

You can still buy perfumes, talcs, scented shampoos/conditioners/hair spray, etc etc, so they are not banned from sale. I try to make a point of buying unscented products, or hope that the scent has completely dissipated by the time I get to the doctor or physio if I've had to use a scented hair spray (for example).

I stopped wearing perfumes or perfumed talc and hand creams many years ago, partly in response to the "bans", but also because my son-i-l was allergic to many of them.

Interestingly, scent sensitivity is a recognised disability in Canada. The Canadian Human Right Act protects people with allergies or environmental sensitivities, like any other disability.

This of course has a side effect on the public, as you have the option of not entering any place of business that does not display a sign denoting that it is a "fragrance-free area".

Oh yes Ann, hate that too but stale alcohol on someone is nauseating. When I used to get on a bus, several rough looking guys from further long the village would get on the bus on a Monday obviously after a bender at the weekend and the smell was intoxicating yeeeuck!

Florence in the hebrides

On the bus, one smell I hate is when somebody gets on whose clothes obviously hang in the kitchen and chip or other fried food are plentiful. their coats smell like the chippy, stale fat is a horrid smell.

I have an odd one
I suffered with awful pregnancy sickness and oddly when i was throwing up Michael Holliday the story of my life was on the radio

Even after our daughter was born If it was played I puked !

Children in the primary school where I volunteer have a book bag, which goes home so that parents can supposedly help them with their reading.
The bags used to come back to school reeking of cigarette smoke, but most parents are more careful now.
When the school had a large intake of Nepalese children, when Gurkhas relocated from Hampshire, we'd open the bags and get a strong waft of the previous day's family meal.... sort of spicy and not unpleasant.

Daughter works with students with additional needs.
One is blind.
He uses his sense of smell to help identify people and objects. He knew straight away when she wore something which I had washed here rather than in her usual powder and he didn't know it was her until she spoke.
I guess our senses are heightened if we are missing out on other senses.

Stale cigarette smoke clinging to the person ahead of me in the corner shop, giving a strong impression that they've sat indoors all day, smoking goodness knows how many with windows tightly closed :-0 Sad thing is, I don't think they realise how bad they smell.
I can't say I enjoy getting a face full outside either.

Isn't it intriguing how different smells affect us? :-D

Just remembered - years ago, when i was a learning support assistant, I couldn't go near children whose mothers used 'Ariel' washing powder. :-D :-D :-D

Once, when my late Mather was in hospital I sniffed around the room she spent most time in because I was convinced she had had a bit of an ‘accident’.

It was the narcissus in a vase near the door. :-0

I hate the smell of lilies, to me they are foul, I can’t stand to be in a room with them . If I am given them in a bunch of flowers, I have to cut the stamens out before they open.

Apparently it is a genetic thing which is reasonably common

Ooh yes, Poison and Opium are two perfumes I find cloying. They drift behind the person wearing it, so you get a mouthful if you walk in their wake.

I know what you mean about perfume. A gentle waft as you pass by can be quite pleasant but some people seem to bath in it!

My pet hate is honey. The smell makes me feel really nauseous. OH likes an occasional slice of bread and honey so I have a jar in the cupboard but he has to get it while I’m out of the room.

Sylvia, just noticed what you said about perfume being banned? I didn't know that where is it banned.

I love some perfumes but do hate 'poison'. Other than that can live with most smells.

Peanut butter ..........

Daughter had to learn to make her own peanut butter sandwiches when she was 5 years old because I hated the smell so much. I made her sandwiches before that with my head turned well away from it.

The Dior perfume Poison smells like the stuff put down to kill cockroaches

OH used to think the perfume Blue Grass (one of my favourites when we first married) smelled like DDT, that horrible insecticide. He never told me to stop wearing it, but commented every time!


Island ....... we now don't often smell perfumes here because it is banned in so many places. But I have noticed that the scent/smell seems much stronger than it used when someone does wear it.

I have a drawerful of what used to be my 3 favourite perfumes (Blue Grass not among them), I haven't worn them in years.

Well for me its Parmesan cheese...yeeeeuk just smells of sick and turns my stomach :-P :-P :-P

I tried one very very small sip and vowed never again.

LG, I've never tasted it but remember being at a party and thinking eeww... what's that smell? I don't know how anyone can put their nose so close to it - and I live in the land of muck spreading :-0 :-D

:-D :-D :-D :-D Island it does smell like s*** and tastes like it too

MG mentioned bleach.

Yes - and TCP.

LG, is that the stuff that smells of muck spreading? :-0

Another smell that makes me gag is Red Bull