My husband Barry and I were out and about today and happened to stop at a cute little diner (or as they say in Rhode Island, “dine-ah”) for lunch.
The decor was 50’s style red, white and black. Elvis magnets on the stainless steel. Thick, vinyl seats.
It was kind of crowded, which made it even more fun. We sat at a booth very near the counter and the waitress was there in a flash. Barry ordered a burger with fries and I ordered a B.L.T.
A couple at the counter got up to leave and an elderly woman immediately took one of the vacant stools.
That’s when it happened. The scent. A solid wall of unyielding scent settled like a dense fog.
Now don’t get me wrong. I LOVE scents… perfumes, creams, gels, lotions, hair products, balms, even air enhancers. But in moderation, please!
A woman at a booth near us turned toward the woman, and then winked at us. “Bless her heart,” she said.
And I thought, “Bless her heart. But not her scent.”
There are people with chemical sensitivities, allergies and asthma who have severe reactions to strong scents. There are migraine sufferers whose triggers are strong scents. And there are those who experience extreme nausea with strong scents. I am not one of these people.
But when my B.L.T. came, I pretty much ate the scent, not the sandwich.
I remember reading about a suit filed by a woman against her employer, claiming that her perfume sensitivity is considered a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Well, I wouldn’t go that far. I mean, I didn’t feel faint, my nose didn’t bleed, and I didn’t stop breathing.
I just ate a Jean Nate sandwich.
Maybe we could all sensor (or scent-sor) ourselves, our friends, and our elderly loved ones as we head outdoors.
I guess it just comes down to common “scents” sense.
Any opinions on this?!
I hate it when people ‘marinate’ in their perfume or cologne!
Sounds like a cute little diner though!
I always get the worst headaches from perfumes or other strong scents. It feels like my eyes are going to pop out of my head! So, yes, I definitely have an opinion about people wearing strong scents: DON’T DO IT! 😉
I used to work with a guy (in RI too!) who was always so well-dressed and groomed, but wore WAY too much scent. In fact, when you got into the elevator of the building, you knew if he had arrived for work yet based on the smell inside the elevator!
Jean Nate!?!? Now, that is a blast from the past!
LOL! I know what you mean. Unfortunately, I am one of those that certain strong scents can trigger nausea or mirgraines in.
“old woman” perfume as I call it is a big culprit. You know the perfume de toilete that smells so awful a skunk would run from it.
I have terrible allergies and am very sensitive to perfumes and soaps. Oh so often I’ve eaten meals or watched a play with my nose and eyes watering. Not fun.
1 spritz is enough people! Even if you can’t smell it! We sure can! 🙂
Today I smelled a scent I hadn’t smelled in a LONG time. The scent of that cheap cologne guys wear in high school. It is so permanently engrained in my memory box! I can so remember the first guy I dated smelling like that and I almost wanted to gag. Not because of the first boyfriend, but just as we get older we learn and grow. We hopefully begin to have better taste in guys, better taste in clothes and a preference for better cologne. I literally was distracted, I was in church at the time. It was very distracting.
You are right though! We need to find a way to notify the world – one squirt or dab is enough! I hate to hug certain elderly women, the ones we know very well, b/c their scent stays with me LONG after we hug. I am not usually a fan of their perfume choice either! Ick!
I’m just proud of you that you even attempted to eat your sandwich! I HATE strong scents, even if they’re ones I would like in moderation. I’m more of a scent-free soap kinda gal, so you’ve got my support on this one!
Boy do I hate it when something someone else does ruins a good lunch!
Overpowering smells give me migraines.
I had to give my mom a cotton ball with alcohol on it when she picked me up for lunch. I felt awful asking her to “take off” her perfume (she’s my mom!), but I also was suffering from crazy morning sickness and she didn’t seem to mind. I just wish other people didn’t slather on the perfume so much!
I’m a new reader and this post really hit home with me. I get migraines from strong odors (as well as sunlight) so I would have had to get out of the diner. The diner DOES sound cute, though.
There is a woman at work who’s scent lingers forever just by her walking into my office to drop something off. It’s awful, and I don’t have a scent issue.
I try to wear as little scent as possible (including strong smelling hair products) because my mother has severe asthma and it really affects her.
I think they just don’t realize they smell so strong? It’s the only explanation to me that they would let themselves smell that way.
I haven’t owned or worn perfume for at least thirteen years. I gave it up when I had kids because I didn’t want them to be affected by a scent that wasn’t really their mom. I haven’t missed it and am usually bothered when I smell someone’s strong scent. In defense of the older lady…my grandmother, as she aged, had no clue how much she smelled. It was a mix of Este Lauder and poodle.
I hear ya. I can’t take it. And, it is so much worse if I’m pregnant with the super human smelling powers. You can barely take me out of the house during that time. Bless your heart. 🙂