I beg to differ. Allergic does not always mean rhinitis symptoms like sneezing and itching eyes. It is much worse than that when there is a reaction to smells. It will start in the mouth and in the head. There may be strange sensations like itching and swelling on the tongue. The head will start to feel "full" followed by a headache and dizzyness and nausea. This is where the allergy connects to the stomach. With the nausea, which may be severe, comes a hard piercing knot in the stomach, not so much as if you have been punched but more like there is a fist in your stomach with sharp piercing points all over it. Body symptoms may also occur from hives to unsettling feelings in the limbs. It really feels as if thowing up will help you feel better- but how can that be when you have ingested nothing? Particles are everywhere including in the things we smell. So yes we can be allergic to (the particles in) fragrances and smells.

 

thank you so much, this is exactly what is going on with me for example whenever i smell cleaning supplies i start with a numbness in my head which leads to a headache behind my eyes, forehead, and nose causing alot of pain and then i feel dizzy and sick to my stomach thinking if i throw up i will feel better and my joints ache also i am the same way with purfumes, sprays, air fresheners ect. my headaches have been pretty regular for the past two weeks with numbness and upset stomach when i was checked i had elevated white blood cells and was put on an antibiotic for ten days i also had a ct scan which came out normal...question is should i get an mri done my doctor has thought all along that it is allergey related and put me on claratin and a nose spray but even the nose spray has a smell to it that i can not tollerate and claratin did not seem to help i have always had a problem with strong oders some times not as bad as others but the past few weeks have been very intense with the numbness, upset stomach and headaches i need to get to the bottom of this i can't function and i have went to the hospital twice in the past two weeks with such pain i wake up every morning wondering what my day is going to be like and just pray i can enjoy it with my children and lately there hasn't been to many good days do you have anymore advice for me i appreciate all your help...Amanda

 

I get a burning in my nose to the point that it becomes numb and the aroma of the perfume or cleaning supply seems to permeate my sinuses, then I get a knot in my stomach an my throat and chest burns. This all happens very quickly especially with the pine scented cleaners and people who use certain perfumes. I have always had bad reactions to perfumes but it all got much worse when I was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic. I now take Metformin and Glipizide for this. I do have to wonder that, since the Metformin works on the liver, that it might be adding to my problem.

There is a new person at work that is East Indian. I have only worked with her 3 times and instantly my skin starts burning on my nose and along my upper cheeks and than my lips and tongue. I am trying to find out what she is wearing or people at work are saying there is something in her mouth. It is so strong and so far it is only bothering me and one other girl ( it is affecting her eyes). My supervisors are not taking it seriously, but I have to work 10 hrs with this person and my face is burning. What is it? I asked her what perfume she had on and she said Armani-Diamond. I looked that up and it has cedar oil in it, which can cause allergic reactions. The people at work seem to think it is something East Indians put in their mouth.

You absolutley can die from " a smell" and for you to say its not possible is irresponsible...I am allergic so bad to perfumes that some can close my airways and kill me.

I can only say that when my fellow workers bring up plates of food from the cafeteria, my work environment turns toxic for me as the air within 75 to 100 feet of my desk turns toxic. First, there is a strong urge to cough which overcomes me. Then my larynx stops functioning, meanwhile my breathing becomes irregular and I need to take more breaths per minute. Finally the coughing fit breaks out uncontrolled. In short, I am having a full blown asthma attack. Perfumes do the same trick-they trigger a full blown asthma attack. The key to understanding all of this is the space in which it functions-an area that encompasses 12 to 15 cubicles. In short I have to wall out of the working area entirely an move about 500 feet away.

Hello Katrina my name is LaTasha. I also have the same problem as you. I find it very difficult to function with this problem. I walk around at work with a mask on, people think I am crazy. I makes me dizzy my eyes puff up with large bags around them in my head feels swollen as if no oxygen is getting to my brain. Also i immediately catch a headache. Any smell, perfume, alcohol, cologne, tooth paste any thing that has an order triggers the problem that I just listed. I am really starting to get depressed about this. What should I do? Do you have any suggestions because I am getting frustrated. Thanks LaTasha

My aunt has a similar problem...she can smell anything, even an odor or a perfume that someone can put on days ago. It irritates her so bad that she looses her voice. It also causes her throat to swell up. She has seen several doctors and no one has been able to treat it. If anyone knows of a treatment please respond!

 

Thanks Kim

I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE A NEUROLOGIST 11/18/2009 I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES.

Thank you very much

You need to see a Toxocologist or an Environmental Doctor. What you have is called Environmental illness also known as EI. OR. Chemical sensitivity.

It is not uncommon these days and the only cure is to avoid what bothers you. It will be a whole lifestyle change. If you want any more information please feel free to write me. I have had EI for 15 years now.

Good luck,

 

Jake Eli  AKA Lizzy. dnvrliz@aol.com

Interesting comment from you.  I found I could not breathe in a room filled with chemicals used in a machine that made miicrofiche.  Cough wheezing, and total loss of speech followed.  This went on for a year.  Workmans Comp. said it was not the fault of the workplace.  Amazing since I did NOT have the problem before being moved to that room.  Now it is 16 years later and my speech is still not correct.  No, I did not have a stroke. 

I have been having issues at work.  I have been to an allery DR.  tested for the normal or common issues.  I believe it to be a chemical vapor. How do I proof it is my question.

Hi my name is Laurie I to have the same problem drs have no anwsers. The only thing that helps me is to use oxygen right after i smell something I know things are bad when my nose gets numb and cant talk. I cant color myh hair or use any other chemicals.

Hi LaTasha! Try benadryl honey. Feel that itchy feeling on your tongue and in your throat? Me too lol. It is an allergy and I think it is very serious. If you don't want to sleep try loratadine.

Eve

I too have the effects simular to these. If I smell anything from perfume to sccented deodorant I get nausea my face starts swelling and before you know it I have pressure in my head and my face. And it hurts like H*LL. Then I feel like Im gonna throw up . I have to go to the er for some shots in the butt every time this happens. I wish there was a treatment for this. I also have to use ricesocks to help with the pain and swelling in the face and head. put my head over a pot of boiling steaming water. and then use a saline rinse in my nose and it might help. The doctors are working to try to find the problem. I will let everyone know the out come. But i MUST TELL YOU ALL I HAVE A ANUREYSM ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BRAIN. 2MM. I HAVE ALSO HAD 4 FACIAL SURGERIES. BUT THE ANUREYSM DOC SAID IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY SMELL AND ALLERGIC REACTION. THE FACIAL DR. SAYS HE PULLED EVERYTHING OUT OF MY FACE AND ITS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACE.THEY THOUGHT I WAS ALLERGIC TO THE TITANIUM. NOW I AM GOING BACK TO ALLERGY DR. NEXT WEEK. I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW. BUT THEN I WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH CERVICAL AND LUNBAR FACET SYNDROME. YOU MUST READ UP ON THIS.IT WILL CAUSE PRESSURE AND SWELLING IN THE HEAD. ALSO CERVICAL COGENIC HEADACHES WILL CAUSE THIS SAME PRESSURE IN THE FACE AND HEAD. EMAIL CHERIDEVON@YAHOO.COM i WILL UPDATE ASAP ON THE NEW TEST.i HAVE HAD MANY ANGIO GRAMS,MRIS CAT SCANS, BLOODWORK,PATCH TEST,BONE TEST ,SURGERIES , AND HAVE TAKEN MORE ANTIBIOTICS ,STERIODS,AND PAIN MEDS AND SHOTS, MY ONLY HOPE IS JESUS CHRIST. I PRAY THAT HE WILL HELP US BY PUTTING THE KNOWLEDGE IN THE DOCTORS MINDS AND HANDS ON THIS SITUATION AND THEY WILL RESPOND AND FIND THE ANSWER AND SOLUTION TO CURE AND TREAT US ALL OF THIS HORRIBLE ALLERGIC SMELL REACTION. MAYBE WE SHOULD ALL CONTACT DR. DREW. MAYBE HE CAN HELP US ALL. THANKS EVERYONE CHERI

 

I am sorry to hear about your suffering!...on the other hand I am glad to hear I am NOT the only one that suffers when there is a smoker up the block or someone with perfume or cologne near me!  I also hold my breath or cross the street.  I don't just smell it I feel it in my chest!  There ia particular 'oil' some people put on themselves that is horrible!  I once went shopping and the handle on the shopping cart had that oil and I could not get rid of it!!...even after washing with soap!  I live in fear of having that on my body and not being able to get rid of it.  Good luck to you.  robin

In order to be acknowledged you would have to prove that it in some way disables you from daily life activities.  I have been to an allergist and my primary care doctor.  they have tried to blame it on my smoking. BUT I am not allergic to cigarettes. I have had asthma attacks from the smell of perfumes and colognes worn by insensitive people who claim they love to SMELL GOOD..How aobut patting that scent right under your nose on your upper lip where you can enjoy it and stop making us suffer.. I HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF HARRASSING PEOPLE because I have brought to their attention the odor or scent THEY ARE WEARING IS CAUSING ME TO HAVE BREATHING ISSUES.. It is just a horrible thing to suffer with...

hey katrina m sushmita.i do have d similar kind of prob bt only wid d smell of moving buses or cars.my mom used to hv dis prob bt wid tym d intensity it has reduced.i was also taken up for homeopathic medication when i was 6 or 7.bt dat medication is prooving no worth now.i get vomitin tendency thats uncontrollable..i juz wish smbdy could research on d matter...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually, you CAN be allergic to 'smells'.  Or more accurately, to any one of the CHEMICALS that make up the particular smell.  I have had 2 anapylactic reactions from the smell of my son's deodorant and mousse. 

 

My face feel puffy, flushed, my mouth taasted like a bowl of pennies, and my heart rate increases...thankfully both times I had Benadryl and was able to control the symptoms.  I did call 911 both times however. 

 

My allergist said a person can be allergic to anything that the body has become sensitized to-- including fragrances, or smells.  I know it's true because I've been there, and it sucks.

 

 

Teacher, teacher. You have no clue.  You could only understand if it happened to you!!  It truely makes you ill from you head to your toes.

Apparently you are one of the lucky ones that doesn't have allergies!! My allergist said that people who have allergies have a high sense of smell and that contributes to their allergy problems. I'm allergic to shellfish and I fixed a meal that had oyster extract in the sauce and had a reaction. When I asked why the specialist said"You was breathing rite and mixing the sauce in with the veg. you inhaled and that triggered your allergic reaction." That goes for many other SMELLS and it isn't in my head! Thank you so very much! 

No way do I agree with you or the first posting referring to a doctor that states it's not possible.  An allergy is an irritation, regardless ... I right now and suffering my an itchy reaction on my neck, as well as my eyes and have a headache all because of perfume that was sprayed in the lady's room. 

I'm not sure if what is being sia is basically that it can be psychosomatic but I just want to say that my sensitivity is such that sells will wake me from sleep so I think that it would disprove the conditioned response theory. If someone uses spray deodorant or perfume in another room, walks through the room I am in, a few minutes after they have left, I will awaken and realize a lingering strong smell as awoken me. Eve if their is no trespass in my room, the odor coming from under a door can awaken me, this is how sensitive I am to odors. Worse parent is is becoming worse, not less as years pass.

That is a very stupid answer, sorry but a lot of things that smell "Good" to me have an underlying neutral scent that definitely sends particles into my system in which I am allergic to. So :P

For several years, I have been sensitive to smells, leading to nausea, ear swelling, face flushing, dizziness, and vertigo. I thought maybe it was all in my head. No one really could understand me; they seemed to think I was just overreacting. Recently, I hugged someone at church, then later felt weak, nauseous, generally not well the rest of the day.  The next day, when I picked up my sweater that I had on the previous day, I could get a light smell of perfume.  I had exposed myself without realizing it.  So, it was not "all in my head." These disabilities are essentially invisible to those who are not experiencing them, making it very difficult for people to take you seriously when you are going through something very physically serious. Be careful when you are quick to judge someone psychologically.