Guest guest Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Does anyone have any information on the dangers of perfume/cologne. I'm becoming more and more sensitive to and becoming very sick w/in seconds of being in a room where someone is wearing a lot of fragrance. My work place is the worst but I have not found anyone who can help me.I have had to leave church services, meetings and even indoor horse clinics. I was told by 8 different agencies that they can do something about smoking but not perfume. I thought if I could find some good information that I could give my boss to read she might back off somewhat. She smokes at the back door of our office (while holding it open) then sprays herself w/perfume. She does this 5+ times a day. Everything she touches smells like her perfume including any papers she hands me. All the phones in our office smell like her. Some days my husband (who goes into the office early) will call and tell me not to bother coming in because it is so heavy. Changing offices is not an option. Does anyone know why some people are affected by this and not others? Thanks for any info. Breezi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2005 Report Share Posted October 3, 2005 Hi Breezi, I do have a response. I am an aromatherpist, apothecarist, and I handcraft a healing body care product line. I am also known for creating personal blends, that are not perfumes, just from the essence (essential oils) of flowers, trees, and saps and plants. I am sure of the fact that ingredients in perfumes that have been manufactured by the larger companies that have been around a long time, and are sold in places like Wlagreens, or maybe even some at the bon or nordstom, (although in some of these places they are now also carrying healing product lines...aromatherapeutic blends) but still it is rare that you will find a healing product in a store other than in a co op, street fair, on line, etc...back to your question., formaldahydes, chemicals mixed with harmful plastics, and then also sythetically derived essences, with use of some essential oils, to get to the final desired essence. I hop this is helpful, and that you can handle the situation for yourself, in that you can discuss with this person how it affects you, and if she can tone down how muh perfume she uses. Obviously she doesn't like the smell of smoke (here senses must be quite deadened with all the cigarrette smoking..... blessings your way. ciao for now, Jana Rosa--- In RawSeattle , " Bob & Breezi " <bobandbreezi@h...> wrote: > Does anyone have any information on the dangers of perfume/cologne. I'm > becoming more and more sensitive to and becoming very sick w/in seconds of > being in a room where someone is wearing a lot of fragrance. My work place > is the worst but I have not found anyone who can help me.I have had to leave > church services, meetings and even indoor horse clinics. I was told by 8 > different agencies that they can do something about smoking but not perfume. > I thought if I could find some good information that I could give my boss to > read she might back off somewhat. She smokes at the back door of our office > (while holding it open) then sprays herself w/perfume. She does this 5+ > times a day. Everything she touches smells like her perfume including any > papers she hands me. All the phones in our office smell like her. Some days > my husband (who goes into the office early) will call and tell me not to > bother coming in because it is so heavy. Changing offices is not an option. > Does anyone know why some people are affected by this and not others? Thanks > for any info. Breezi > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 It sounds like you have something akin to multiple chemical sensitivities (or MCS for short). http://allergies.about.com/cs/fragrances/a/aa022299_2.htm has some good information. It says that 95% of the fragrances are from petroleum- based synthetic compounds, and that is probably what you are reacting to. There was a doctor in Kirkland (now a teacher, I can't remember his name) who was an expert in treating MCS using colonics, steam baths, and a cleansing program. One way to deal with the smell is to saturate the area with air purifiers which emit ozone, which will neutralize any odor. Ron RawSeattle , " Bob & Breezi " <bobandbreezi@h...> wrote: > Does anyone have any information on the dangers of perfume/cologne. I'm > becoming more and more sensitive to and becoming very sick w/in seconds of > being in a room where someone is wearing a lot of fragrance. > Does anyone know why some people are affected by this and not others? Thanks > for any info. Breezi > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Hi Breezi, I suffer the same way. I didn't used to when I used to eat junk and use heavy duty chemicals in the house, and before I got asthma. I have overcome the asthma, but now I'm am super sensitive to toxic chemicals, which are most certainly in most cologne. And not just cologne....I worked with a lady who used some fancy shmancy hand lotion that choked me up every day - and her office was down the hall. I'd smell the fragrance (apparently) right when she was applying it, then almost immediately my chest would feel tight and I would start coughing. I had to take a break outside a lot. I had the same reaction from dry erase markers and that nasty spray cleaner people would use to wipe down their desks. I don't think it was because of me, but eventually our office became " fragrance-free " - I think it was because it was Group Health. I seemed to be the only one in the office who was affected by the heavy fragrance, spray cleaner, and markers......I came to the conclusion that because everyone else in the office ate a SAD diet and used mainstream cleaning products, and as a result had built up a tolerance. We're just so dang pure that we can't handle these toxins anymore. Do you think? Have you just started noticing this? If leaving your office isn't an option, then the only thing to do is suggest that your office be a fragrance-free one too. Check out this link http://www.jrussellshealth.com/chemsensperf.html Bob & Breezi <bobandbreezi wrote: Does anyone have any information on the dangers of perfume/cologne. I'm becoming more and more sensitive to and becoming very sick w/in seconds of being in a room where someone is wearing a lot of fragrance. My work place is the worst but I have not found anyone who can help me.I have had to leave church services, meetings and even indoor horse clinics. I was told by 8 different agencies that they can do something about smoking but not perfume. I thought if I could find some good information that I could give my boss to read she might back off somewhat. She smokes at the back door of our office (while holding it open) then sprays herself w/perfume. She does this 5+ times a day. Everything she touches smells like her perfume including any papers she hands me. All the phones in our office smell like her. Some days my husband (who goes into the office early) will call and tell me not to bother coming in because it is so heavy. Changing offices is not an option. Does anyone know why some people are affected by this and not others? Thanks for any info. Breezi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Sheree, The more prevalent and toxic petrochemical aerosol is car exhaust. If there's a way to get others to recognize that reducing it is worth doing, please let me know. I've seen lots of fun transportation alternatives that don't require paving the planet and poisoning its air and water. Such as http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2004/pictures.htm The 2005 event is going on this week, the 82 mph record is expected to be broken tomorrow! This is what's possible with the power in human hearts, minds and muscles. Nick - " Sheree " <goldenrae2001 <RawSeattle > Monday, October 03, 2005 8:56 PM RE: [RawSeattle] Perfume/cologne... > Hi Breezi, > > I suffer the same way. I didn't used to when I used to eat junk and use heavy duty chemicals in the house, and before I got asthma. I have overcome the asthma, but now I'm am super sensitive to toxic chemicals, which are most certainly in most cologne. And not just cologne....I worked with a lady who used some fancy shmancy hand lotion that choked me up every day - and her office was down the hall. I'd smell the fragrance (apparently) right when she was applying it, then almost immediately my chest would feel tight and I would start coughing. I had to take a break outside a lot. I had the same reaction from dry erase markers and that nasty spray cleaner people would use to wipe down their desks. > > I don't think it was because of me, but eventually our office became " fragrance-free " - I think it was because it was Group Health. > > I seemed to be the only one in the office who was affected by the heavy fragrance, spray cleaner, and markers......I came to the conclusion that because everyone else in the office ate a SAD diet and used mainstream cleaning products, and as a result had built up a tolerance. We're just so dang pure that we can't handle these toxins anymore. Do you think? Have you just started noticing this? > > If leaving your office isn't an option, then the only thing to do is suggest that your office be a fragrance-free one too. > > Check out this link http://www.jrussellshealth.com/chemsensperf.html > > Bob & Breezi <bobandbreezi wrote: > Does anyone have any information on the dangers of perfume/cologne. I'm > becoming more and more sensitive to and becoming very sick w/in seconds of > being in a room where someone is wearing a lot of fragrance. My work place > is the worst but I have not found anyone who can help me.I have had to leave > church services, meetings and even indoor horse clinics. I was told by 8 > different agencies that they can do something about smoking but not perfume. > I thought if I could find some good information that I could give my boss to > read she might back off somewhat. She smokes at the back door of our office > (while holding it open) then sprays herself w/perfume. She does this 5+ > times a day. Everything she touches smells like her perfume including any > papers she hands me. All the phones in our office smell like her. Some days > my husband (who goes into the office early) will call and tell me not to > bother coming in because it is so heavy. Changing offices is not an option. > Does anyone know why some people are affected by this and not others? Thanks > for any info. Breezi > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Hi Breezi, I assume you're still raw, in which case congratulations are in order because it means your body's power to warn you of possible health hazards is increasing! I've had the same experience. When it first started happening to me, I briefly longed for the days when I could just ignore pesticides, car fumes, colognes, etc., like everyone else does. But then I realized that these substances hurt *everyone* who comes into contact with them. It's just that 'normal' (unhealthy) people aren't *aware* they're being harmed because their bodies have lost the ability to alert them. Personally, I'd rather know when I'm in danger so I have the option of doing something about it, if possible. More people are becoming aware of the 'illness' known as multiple chemical sensitivity, so you can always claim to be so afflicted. You might even be able to get an official diagnosis from a doctor, which would help make your case. Even if your boss knows about your healthy diet and lifestyle, she will most likely think nothing of your still being sick, since most people believe illness in one form or another is inevitable no matter what you do. The toughest part is having people think you're sick when the truth is your symptoms are actually a consequence of being very healthy. It is becoming more socially unacceptable to wear tons of perfume in a work setting and many offices have gone 'fragrance free', as Sheree mentioned. Other people have noticed your boss's habits too, but just haven't said anything. Sometimes all it takes to get some action is one person making a stink, so to speak. Getting more fresh air into the office or an air purifier might help, too. Failing all those ideas, sometimes it becomes necessary to make changes when we realize some of the things we used to accept as normal aspects of life are hazardous to our health. Finding a new job would be a last resort but if working at your present job makes you sick, it's perhaps the lesser of two evils. I recently had to move because of the pesticides that were being used around the condo I was living in. I've lived in condos for 20 years and even came home one day to find them spraying the trees right outside my open windows, but I never had a negative physical reaction to a pesticide until this last summer. I think you have the Life Science course, yes? You might read the lesson that deals with the " Laws of Life " , one of which is the " Law of Vital Accommodation " , which explains why we become more sensitive as we become healthier. Hope this helps! Best of luck with it. Smiles, Nora www.RawSchool.com - " Bob & Breezi " <bobandbreezi <RawSeattle > Monday, October 03, 2005 10:45 AM RE: [RawSeattle] Perfume/cologne... Does anyone have any information on the dangers of perfume/cologne. I'm becoming more and more sensitive to and becoming very sick w/in seconds of being in a room where someone is wearing a lot of fragrance. My work place is the worst but I have not found anyone who can help me.I have had to leave church services, meetings and even indoor horse clinics. I was told by 8 different agencies that they can do something about smoking but not perfume. I thought if I could find some good information that I could give my boss to read she might back off somewhat. She smokes at the back door of our office (while holding it open) then sprays herself w/perfume. She does this 5+ times a day. Everything she touches smells like her perfume including any papers she hands me. All the phones in our office smell like her. Some days my husband (who goes into the office early) will call and tell me not to bother coming in because it is so heavy. Changing offices is not an option. Does anyone know why some people are affected by this and not others? Thanks for any info. Breezi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 i'm glad this discussion came up i started having ''mcs'' symptoms several years back i first became aware of my sensitivity to chemicals when sunscreen became popular i swallowed the sales hype and i tried them all (natural and mainstream ) and they all made my eyes water even being around someone wearing sunscreen was a problem i've always been a sun worshiper anyway so wasn't concerned and continued to go ''unprotected'' in the sun so i'm happy to hear that fragrance free zones are happening i have the similar problems with ''fragrances'' and have had some interesting experiences becuz of it like the time i was outdoors talking to a realtor and her perfume was so overwhelming that i had to stand upwind of her the breezes were changing directions and i kept moving around so i could breath normally and she noticed my dance and commented on it i explained that her perfume was bothering me and she replied she hadn't put any on today... (whoa!!!) i once had some people stop by with their teenage daughters and the house still smelled of them the next day and the windows were open all the time imagine what was in their bloodstream... i live in panama now where windows, if they have glass in them, are usually open and i recently moved out of a rental house becuz of the fragrances the house had a managers apartment and two rental rooms i rented one of the rooms for storage and used the bathroom and electricity but lived in my van which was parked along side the house on the downwind side of the building the manager was a mr. clean freak and everything got wiped down or moped everyday with something chokingly strong the fragrances coming off their laundry which was hung up to dry was ''out of this world'' they explained they used a special something in the dryer so their clothes didn't smell ''musty " ... also, ''something'' got wok fried at least three times a day at times, the air was so thick with airborne molecules of oil i probably coulda wrung it out but i didn't wanna get my hands greasy... thankfully, perfumes (and cigarette smoking) aren't popular in panama however cooking oil and diesel vehicles are :/ i also react to many of the ''natural'' fragrances'' that people wear plant fragrances have been developed by plants as a survival/defensive mechanism to keep animals from eating them, especially in plants we know as herbs using them in salves, lotions, perfumes and such and rubbing them on your skin doesn't make sense to me... i have no problems with clean fresh air or the fragrances of fruit warmed in the sun!!! norm )~ ...... raw food, simply wonderful ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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