Nose hypersensitivity

[cimorene]

I gather becoming oversensitive to just some smells is a fairly common feature of perimenopause, even for people who aren't already oversensitive to some perfumes. But it's really annoying!

Okay, the smells are usually not nearly as bad as the perfumes - the exception being some mildews, like the one in our boatshed that apparently nobody else smells, which makes me feel like I can't breathe. But various human and animal body odors, but apparently not ALL of them - that's a comparatively new sensitivity that I don't appreciate at all, even though they don't make me instinctively hold my breath. They don't feel DANGEROUS, just disgusting.

It's really too bad there's not some temporary way to turn off the ability to smell. If I could take a pill that would just numb it for three hours or so that would be SO useful! Even though it wouldn't help with any potential allergens, it would still contribute greatly to my quality of life. I have regularly recurring encounters with stink that would be much nicer.

Comments

[phosfate]

I noticed a decade back that I could suddenly tell if anyone lit up a cigarette within a quarter-mile radius. I don't care for it.

[cimorene]

Oh yeah that one too. But I usually only smell the faint remnants of it now. If it's close, it is also a bit like it's attacking.

[mecurtin]

They make menthol plugs--here's an example from US amazon, with customers saying it comes from Sweden, so may be easier to find near you. Most of the people who use them are nurses, paramedics, or other people who need them for work, but some people use them for parasomias. Might be worth a try!

[cimorene]

Ooohhh, that could be just what I need! I'll try to find them.

[msilverstar]

I am much more sensitive to smells now, including my husband's paintbrush cleaner. I discovered unscented Febreeze helps on furniture etc.

[cimorene]

I didn't know they made unscented! I've just steered clear of the whole thing because of my perfume sensitivity!

[msilverstar]

They originally made it unscented but lots of people wanted a "fresh" scent. But I managed to get the real one, should probably stock up.

[lilysea]

I had to wear N95 facemasks - Vogmasks - on trains long before COVID existed because people's perfume/bodyspray/spray on deodorant gives me migraines. :(

So many public spaces are rendered hostile by either other people's choices

or by the store management choosing to fill the store with artificial fragrance

(in a BOOKSHOP? REALLY???)

[cimorene]

Share your rage there. I've had so many allergen encounters from clouds on the bus!