4 ms·

I wish my brain worked that way. I just get migraines when I walk into those stores. It’s really one of the most unpleasant experiences I’ve had.

war1025 6y ago
I think I got a headache from it as well. It was really not a great experience. Can't imagine being someone that worked there.
Symbiote 6y ago
I'm glad I'm not the only one. I hold my breath walking past Lush shops. Sometimes I have to use the fairly fancy department store in Copenhagen (Magasin). I often walk all the way round, so I can enter in… handbags or something, I don't know, I just know it doesn't smell. The more convenient entrance is to the perfume section, which makes me gag. I have no problem with person-quantity perfume. I found the signs in California about a "scent-free workplace" a bit strange. Some shops just have enough perfume to knock out a horse. (Many years ago, I had a job working in a chocolate factory for the summer. I couldn't eat chocolate for the whole summer, after the 8 hour exposure every day, but it wasn't unpleasant. I bet there are food industry jobs where the smell really is unpleasant.)
- KineticLensman 6y ago
  > I'm glad I'm not the only one. I hold my breath walking past Lush shops I routinely get sore eyes when I visit my sister-in-law, who loves scented candles. It's that or her cats, although I've never noticed a reaction to animals elsewhere.
  - zdragnar 6y ago
    I have had an allergy to animal dander since I was born. The strength of the reaction depends entirely on the type of animal. It has also changed as I have aged. At this point, birds and cats are about the only animals that I cannot have in my house. Scent allergies are also common to develop as you age. My mother used to love scented things, but hasn't been able to have them for going on 20 years. I wouldn't rule either out, to be honest.
    - ncmncm 6y ago
      Cats can now be vaccinated to eliminate the antigen most people are allergic to. It is very interesting why it works. The source of the antigen is a bacterial infection they lick onto their fur. Eliminate the infection -- really, replace it with a different one -- and no more dander problem.
- Mediterraneo10 6y ago
  > I hold my breath walking past Lush shops. For my part, I have a positive reaction to Lush shops. Almost too positive a reaction: I want to eat all that I smell, and I have to remind myself that those are soaps, they are not edible.
- ashtonkem 6y ago
  If you’re into or follow alternative health people at all, you’ll probable hear one of them mention that “scents are going to be the next second hand smoke”. I have no evidence or opinion on whether that’s right or not, but I do suspect that scents are going to become another one of those culture war issues in work places soon.
- LorenPechtel 6y ago
  Yup, I try to avoid going through perfume sections, if necessary I hold my breath and hurry. Scented candle sections are even worse, I stay far away from them.
robocat 6y ago
I’ve had serious hay fever (allergic reaction) to a shop selling perfumes. I’ve also had the same reaction to a single person wearing too much perfume (covering up bulimia) which also ruined my day (I had to go home from work). There must be people that get full blown anaphylactic shock. But people get really offended when you mention anything negative about the invasiveness of their perfume or makeup!

war1025 6y ago

I think I got a headache from it as well. It was really not a great experience. Can't imagine being someone that worked there.

Symbiote 6y ago

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I hold my breath walking past Lush shops. Sometimes I have to use the fairly fancy department store in Copenhagen (Magasin). I often walk all the way round, so I can enter in… handbags or something, I don't know, I just know it doesn't smell. The more convenient entrance is to the perfume section, which makes me gag. I have no problem with person-quantity perfume. I found the signs in California about a "scent-free workplace" a bit strange. Some shops just have enough perfume to knock out a horse. (Many years ago, I had a job working in a chocolate factory for the summer. I couldn't eat chocolate for the whole summer, after the 8 hour exposure every day, but it wasn't unpleasant. I bet there are food industry jobs where the smell really is unpleasant.)

KineticLensman 6y ago
> I'm glad I'm not the only one. I hold my breath walking past Lush shops I routinely get sore eyes when I visit my sister-in-law, who loves scented candles. It's that or her cats, although I've never noticed a reaction to animals elsewhere.
- zdragnar 6y ago
  I have had an allergy to animal dander since I was born. The strength of the reaction depends entirely on the type of animal. It has also changed as I have aged. At this point, birds and cats are about the only animals that I cannot have in my house. Scent allergies are also common to develop as you age. My mother used to love scented things, but hasn't been able to have them for going on 20 years. I wouldn't rule either out, to be honest.
  - ncmncm 6y ago
    Cats can now be vaccinated to eliminate the antigen most people are allergic to. It is very interesting why it works. The source of the antigen is a bacterial infection they lick onto their fur. Eliminate the infection -- really, replace it with a different one -- and no more dander problem.
Mediterraneo10 6y ago
> I hold my breath walking past Lush shops. For my part, I have a positive reaction to Lush shops. Almost too positive a reaction: I want to eat all that I smell, and I have to remind myself that those are soaps, they are not edible.
ashtonkem 6y ago
If you’re into or follow alternative health people at all, you’ll probable hear one of them mention that “scents are going to be the next second hand smoke”. I have no evidence or opinion on whether that’s right or not, but I do suspect that scents are going to become another one of those culture war issues in work places soon.
LorenPechtel 6y ago
Yup, I try to avoid going through perfume sections, if necessary I hold my breath and hurry. Scented candle sections are even worse, I stay far away from them.

robocat 6y ago

I’ve had serious hay fever (allergic reaction) to a shop selling perfumes. I’ve also had the same reaction to a single person wearing too much perfume (covering up bulimia) which also ruined my day (I had to go home from work). There must be people that get full blown anaphylactic shock. But people get really offended when you mention anything negative about the invasiveness of their perfume or makeup!