Questions about fragrance use

[Djmac1031]

Personally, several of the products I use, including shampoo, body wash, face toner, moisturizer and of course deodorant all have a matching, clean, very light, very fresh scent.

A scent the average person standing next to me would never smell. But if one were to get more... intimate with me... it would be noticeable in a pleasant way.

Or at least it is for my GF

 

[Erozetta]

Even though I don't do perfumes or scented body wash/shampoo (mildly scented deodorant) I've had multiple people ask me what perfume I wear because they liked how I smelled when I walked by. Even my laundry detergent is scent free.

Every time that has happened, I was writing a story on my phone. So, now I have to consider that when aroused, I apparently smell nice. This does not make it easier to interact with people when they compliment my scent.

The only other time I get told I smell nice is when I've been baking for hours and smell like vanilla or chocolate.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Even though I don't do perfumes or scented body wash/shampoo (mildly scented deodorant) I've had multiple people ask me what perfume I wear because they liked how I smelled when I walked by. Even my laundry detergent is scent free.

Every time that has happened, I was writing a story on my phone. So, now I have to consider that when aroused, I apparently smell nice. This does not make it easier to interact with people when they compliment my scent.

The only other time I get told I smell nice is when I've been baking for hours and smell like vanilla or chocolate.

I think it would be nice to stand next to you in a line. Especially when you've just put your phone into your bag, after writing...

I've just started writing a "stranger's meet" story - I think I'll use that, if I may. No royalties, but I can give you a credit!

 

[Erozetta]

I think it would be nice to stand next to you in a line. Especially when you've just put your phone into your bag, after writing...

I've just started writing a "stranger's meet" story - I think I'll use that, if I may. No royalties, but I can give you a credit!

Feel free!

 

[Actingup]

I think it would be nice to stand next to you in a line. Especially when you've just put your phone into your bag, after writing...

And now @Erozetta understands why the lines around her have been mysteriously growing longer....

 

[Erozetta]

And now @Erozetta understands why the lines around her have been mysteriously growing longer....

Maybe this explains my agoraphobia and why my husband likes being around me so much.

 

[Actingup]

Maybe this explains my agoraphobia and why my husband likes being around me so much.

Down, boys!

 

[TheRedChamber]

Maybe this explains my agoraphobia and why my husband likes being around me so much.

Maybe...though I think the real question we should be asking is 'Do you have any of those chocolate baked goods left?'

 

[Erozetta]

Maybe...though I think the real question we should be asking is 'Do you have any of those chocolate baked goods left?'

I have peanut butter brownies (which is basically a giant peanut butter cookie in between layers of brownie batter.):






And chocolate cupcakes with a cherry on top:

 

[TheRedChamber]

I have peanut butter brownies (which is basically a giant peanut butter cookie in between layers of brownie batter.):


View attachment 2541044View attachment 2541045View attachment 2541048



And chocolate cupcakes with a cherry on top:

View attachment 2541046

Correction. You had peanut butter brownies. Your back was turned a moment ago and, well...delicious by the way.

 

[Erozetta]

Correction. You had peanut butter brownies. Your back was turned a moment ago and, well...delicious by the way.

I have my husband's coworkers angling to get me to open a bakery. The brownies were baked at his boss's request to celebrate his birthday.

I got so many comments that "They are so good, but so filling, I could only eat one container!"

To which my eyes went wide and I responded with "Each container was four servings..."

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Yes, of course I do use fragrances every day. Ultraviolet by Paco Rabanne has been my favorite for years. Usually it’s a touch behind the ears and on each wrist, more if it’s a night out.

Y’all who rely only on whatever scents your soap and skincare products have (and had for decades, it’s not a new thing) are willfully forgoing one of the easiest and low-effort ways we humans can express ourselves, especially in public. Are you also wearing jeans and tee or hoodie and never anything else? Because that’s basically the equivalent.

Maybe some of us don't feel a need to express ourselves in public.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I have peanut butter brownies (which is basically a giant peanut butter cookie in between layers of brownie batter.):

And chocolate cupcakes with a cherry on top:

We used to have a food pornographer in the AH who sadly left the forum some years ago - neither she nor her husband were in the best of health - who would describe the most fabulous cooking in terms that would make Nigella seem like a virgin nun. Why did I qualify those two words? Anyway...

You're easily qualified to fill those shoes, and would make Rusty's recipe thread rather mundane .

 

[Erozetta]

I also have browned butter, caramel filled, triple chocolate chip cookies and handmade salted chocolate dipped caramel that I ship to the podcast co-host a few times a year, lol.

 

[Erozetta]

We used to have a food pornographer in the AH who sadly left the forum some years ago - neither she nor her husband were in the best of health - who would describe the most fabulous cooking in terms that would make Nigella seem like a virgin nun. Why did I qualify those two words? Anyway...

You're easily qualified to fill those shoes, and would make Rusty's recipe thread rather mundane .

I actually added my caramel stuffed chocolate chip cookies there recently.

 

[Erozetta]

I also make real food sometimes. This was spinach and Parmesan stuffed flank steak with herb roasted potatoes, salad, and ciabatta rolls.


I don't actually eat any of this stuff. Not fond of sweets and beef makes me physically ill, but people seem to like what I do.


Wait... Does raw meat constitute nudity? Is this obscene?

 

[TheLobster]

Seriously, though. For anyone who does wear scents, particularly strong scents, there's a 90% chance you've given someone a migraine that ruined their day and made them viciously sick.

Same with people who smoke in public.

Sorry not sorry.

I won't go out of my way to cater to the hypothetical sensitivity that perhaps some people in my vicinity might have, when the sensory stimuli I'm effecting is well within the range of acceptability for the circumstances we're in.
Societal conventions and cultural norms exist for a reason; if you failed to acclimate to them, the onus is on you to deal with it, not on the myriad people around you to adhere to an extra set of conditions that'd accommodate your peculiarities.

And comparing fragrances to smoking is just outrageous, for obvious reasons.

 

[nice90sguy]

I'd hazard a guess and say that using perfume is as old as humanity.

In public places like at the gym and office I make sure I don't smell of anything at all, or just hand soap. But I always use aftershave. I react very strongly to people's scent, whether "natural" or enhanced by perfume, both negatively and positively.

 

[Erozetta]

Sorry not sorry.

I won't go out of my way to cater to the hypothetical sensitivity that perhaps some people in my vicinity might have, when the sensory stimuli I'm effecting is well within the range of acceptability for the circumstances we're in.
Societal conventions and cultural norms exist for a reason; if you failed to acclimate to them, the onus is on you to deal with it, not on the myriad people around you to adhere to an extra set of conditions that'd accommodate your peculiarities.

And comparing fragrances to smoking is just outrageous, for obvious reasons.

Unless you can smell yourself, you're probably not one of the people I'm talking about. That "you" wasn't directed specifically at you, but at people who wear more than necessary. Think "Can smell them from an aisle away." If someone can only smell you as you pass, it's not an issue, you can be easily avoided. If someone can smell you from the next aisle over, then you're actually breaking the societal convention around smelling nice. Nothing about too much perfume smells nice. People should be able to tell the scent is coming from specifically you, not a 10' radius around you.

I can typically avoid people wearing perfumes without issue, and coming across someone with strong B.O. can be just as bad.

Smoking and perfume cause the same olfactory overload that causes migraines. Coffee, fish, and the smell of bacon can do the same thing. It's not about whether the scent might be pleasant to some or even toxic to your health, it's just about the scent being strong enough to cause a reaction. I'm not comparing the actions of smoking to that of wearing perfume, just saying that, generally, strong scents are not enjoyed by most people and can make some actively ill.

One of the most common complaints I've gotten at my job to mediate between employees is a new hire who wears too much perfume, generally trying to cover the smell of having not showered. It doesn't work, it just layers and makes the person smell absolutely rank.

Wearing perfume? Not an issue, compliments will abound from the average person and those with sensitivities can generally avoid them.

Wearing so much perfume you turn heads and noses crinkle? The odds of getting compliments drops to about zero and avoidance of that person ensues. This person has broken societal conventions and crossed the line between personal comfort and disturbing those around them. They cannot be easily avoided because they are basically walking with a toxic cloud that extends well into the space of the people around them and lingers long after they leave.


And for anyone who does wear excessive perfume or cologne to cover the fact that they haven't showered or went on a bender the night before? Yeah, everyone who crossed paths with you knows, take a fucking shower or just wear your choices with pride, added scents don't cover it up.


Edited to add: I fucked up my initial post. I meant to say specifically strong scents, not particularly. My apologies.

 

[Actingup]

Unless you can smell yourself, you're probably not one of the people I'm talking about. That "you" wasn't directed specifically at you, but at people who wear more than necessary. Think "Can smell them from an aisle away." If someone can only smell you as you pass, it's not an issue, you can be easily avoided. If someone can smell you from the next aisle over, then you're actually breaking the societal convention around smelling nice. Nothing about too much perfume smells nice. People should be able to tell the scent is coming from specifically you, not a 10' radius around you.

I can typically avoid people wearing perfumes without issue, and coming across someone with strong B.O. can be just as bad.

Smoking and perfume cause the same olfactory overload that causes migraines. Coffee, fish, and the smell of bacon can do the same thing. It's not about whether the scent might be pleasant to some or even toxic to your health, it's just about the scent being strong enough to cause a reaction. I'm not comparing the actions of smoking to that of wearing perfume, just saying that, generally, strong scents are not enjoyed by most people and can make some actively ill.

One of the most common complaints I've gotten at my job to mediate between employees is a new hire who wears too much perfume, generally trying to cover the smell of having not showered. It doesn't work, it just layers and makes the person smell absolutely rank.

Wearing perfume? Not an issue, compliments will abound from the average person and those with sensitivities can generally avoid them.

Wearing so much perfume you turn heads and noses crinkle? The odds of getting compliments drops to about zero and avoidance of that person ensues. This person has broken societal conventions and crossed the line between personal comfort and disturbing those around them. They cannot be easily avoided because they are basically walking with a toxic cloud that extends well into the space of the people around them and lingers long after they leave.


And for anyone who does wear excessive perfume or cologne to cover the fact that they haven't showered or went on a bender the night before? Yeah, everyone who crossed paths with you knows, take a fucking shower or just wear your choices with pride, added scents don't cover it up.


Edited to add: I fucked up my initial post. I meant to say specifically strong scents, not particularly. My apologies.

In a related issue, I once saw a copy of a staff memo (in another country)... that asked all staff to wash with soap and nominated a particular employee as an example of a person who didn't wash properly and had body odour. 'Don't smell like that person' was the thrust of the notice. Can I recommend this as a management strategy?

 

[Erozetta]

In a related issue, I once saw a copy of a staff memo (in another country)... that asked all staff to wash with soap and nominated a particular employee as an example of a person who didn't wash properly and had body odour. 'Don't smell like that person' was the thrust of the notice. Can I recommend this as a management strategy?

I'm definitely not into humiliating my employees. That memo would go out without naming an individual and the individual would be spoke to privately.

 

[Actingup]

I'm definitely not into humiliating my employees. That memo would go out without naming an individual and the individual would be spoke to privately.

I don’t doubt it! Apologies, I was being ironic - it’s the worst staff memo I’ve ever seen.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

Sorry not sorry.

I won't go out of my way to cater to the hypothetical sensitivity that perhaps some people in my vicinity might have, when the sensory stimuli I'm effecting is well within the range of acceptability for the circumstances we're in.
Societal conventions and cultural norms exist for a reason; if you failed to acclimate to them, the onus is on you to deal with it, not on the myriad people around you to adhere to an extra set of conditions that'd accommodate your peculiarities.

And comparing fragrances to smoking is just outrageous, for obvious reasons.

I beg to differ, only because of the lady who was in traffic next to me, a few day ago, with such potent church lady perfume on, it was an assault through my window. She could take on the gorilla by herself, and not throw a punch. He'd submit after his nose gets rope-a-doped by her perfume.

And it isn't that outrageous, both things can screw with peoples noses, asthma, etc. That's the risk of going outside, though.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I'd hazard a guess and say that using perfume is as old as humanity.

In public places like at the gym and office I make sure I don't smell of anything at all, or just hand soap. But I always use aftershave. I react very strongly to people's scent, whether "natural" or enhanced by perfume, both negatively and positively.

Probably is as old as humanity, but I suspect the antecedents were to cover up bad smells because personal hygiene was lacking. Running water was hard to come by for most of human history.
That isn't the case anymore. I'd rather be around someone who is clean and smells normal than someone who is trying to mask their smell.

 

[AlexBailey]

I’ve dated a few herbalists who made their own mix of scents. Being a queer hippie, I’ve worn a lot of them.

My favorite is a mix of rose, rosemary, and vanilla. Coco butter, vanilla, and a touch of clove are a great combo too.