I feel like I may be a rare bird with my olfactory super sensitivity.
When I get a whiff of perfume or cologne, I freak out and get really angry - it's not quite a total overload meltdown for me, but definitely effects me very negatively.
When people that I work with wear perfume, I have to work holding a tissue over my nose. When I get in an elevator where someone's left a scent, I've gotten out and taken the stairs (probably better for me to get some exercise anyway *l*). When I open public building doors, I often pull my sleeve down over my hand to open the door so I don't get someone's cologne on my hand (that can really ruin my day).
People who visit my home now have to follow the rule, no extra smells allowed. I can still smell colognes that were worn by someone in my home from 6 months ago. (No lie!)
I'm sorry. : (
No offense meant to anyone.
I wonder if anyone else has olfactory sensitivity. I've read that it can be a trait of AS / HFA, but the sensitivities I see people on here normally discussing are tastes, textures, sounds and visual sensitivities.
I do like some smells - in fact a lot. There's an essential oil called
Neroli (made from orange flowers I believe) - that's nice to my nose
. I like the smell of fruits, especially pineapple and apples. And I love the smell of coffee.
Stuff that smells bad to other people still smells bad to me (like poop and manure) but actually don't bother me as much as perfume.....why is that?
Anyone else has this issue?
I have olfactory issues, but mostly with cleaning chemicals, bug spray, stuff like that. And furniture refinishing stuff like lacquer and oil-based paint. I've had to leave work more than once when someone was painting a set in the studio.
I don't mind most perfumes, but I hate most men's colognes. Someone shook my hand and he left some horrible odor on my hand that I couldn't wash off. And I always know when someone's used the phone in my office. I know what you mean about smelling perfumes in your house long after the wearer has left. My co-worker lays it on so heavy you can taste it.
As for what I wear, I really liked Nanette Lepore that I got at Sephora--it was the cheapest option for a roll-on. I like those better than sprays. Sprays go all over the place. Unfortunately, Nanette Lepore roll-on was discontinued, so I had to get Daisy by Marc Jacobs.