Perfumes & cleaning supplies hurt anyone else?

Hi Sandy,

Perfumes and cleaning supply ordors can be a trigger for some people, so you are not alone. We have information about Migraine triggers on our Trigger Management page you can find HERE. 

I hope this helps,

Nancy

YES!! And sometimes I can't even smell the stuff. I can count on a migraine almost every time we go to the library. So I found out the cleaning schedule to try to avoid that as much as possible. We use vinegar at home to clean with. No one in the house wears perfume.

But what do you do in public? We were at a public garden and 3 young ladies passed me about 10 feet away and the perfume was so strong that I had to sit down from the headache that hit me. I made the rest of my day awful and my children and husband have to bear the brunt of this. I have to say "no" to so much because of the possibility of fragrances. Go to the mall? No. Go to any place that will be crowded with people? No.

To top it all off, I also have asthma that is triggered by fragrances. So for me it can be a double whammy.

Sandy,

Absolutely.  When I go to Church I sometimes have to change my seat three times before I am not near someone wearing cologne or perfurme.  I sometimes feel like my head is going to explode and I am going to pass out if I don't move.  I must look like a crazy lady but I don't care. I stopped buying and using all cleaning products.  I now mix vinagar and water and clean only with that.  That smell doesn't seem to bother me as much if I don't stay in the room too long.  Give it a try.

Yes I work in a Walmart and the women with the heavy perfumes will trigger a migraine and make me want to throw up in a heart beat. I also can't walk past the detergent isle anymore for the same reson.

               You are not alone.

I experience the same problem with scented products, from soap, shampoo, lotions, detergent products, scented candles, and including colognes and perfumes, any strongly scented product equals instant migraine happening.  Any crowd situation from the small store to the mall, to social events is at times made very difficult as a result, I've become very reluctant to go into the crowd situations.  It's been some years, I spent 80% of the time in the restroom when attending the musical "Cats", the person that had asked me wore the strongest cologne I thought would kill me.  When I explained, asked him to please lighten it up, not wear if going to be near me, even to stop by and say hi, the response was "get over it, stop whining", needless to say I do not cross paths with this person very often.  I'll apply a peppermint/eucalyptus herbal lotion or oils to the trigger points on my sinus areas, some also rubbed into the area under my nose to counteract any encounters in public with strongly scented products that will result in an instant migraine, it is not a cure all, but it does help.  I loved the sign in the accupuncturists office I'd gone to, "no cologne or perfume", I wish this was applied to all public places. 

Hi, Sandy, I can empathize. It depends upon how strong the scent is for me, but the strong perfumes of others can definitely affect my head.  Friends and family know (but sometimes forget), but when out in public (I don't go out a lot) there is nothing you can do in a crowded elevator or when looking over the same rack of clothes or shoes.  I would swear that they took a bath in their fragrance!  In fact, my theory is that wearing such strong fragrances has damaged their sense of smell, such that they do not realize how strong it really is.  If their sense of smell is damaged, or de-sensitized then they just keep adding cologne until they can smell it.  Ugh, what a nightmare some people can be.

Since I'm disabled by migraine disease, I try to run my errands during the day when it is not as likely that the "perfumers" will be shopping.  I still get a few, but far less than when I shop in the late afternoon or evening.

Well, migraine meds are working and I feel sleepy (sleep is a blessing, although not very productive).

Take care,

Mary Ann H

Anything with bleach gives me an instant headache.  And I can't walk past the perfume counter at department stores.  I was at a restaurant with my oldest daughter the other day and this guy walked in and sat at the booth behind us.  We had to move, I couldn't take it. I was sick to my stomach.

Yes, perfumes have the same effect on me.  I literally have to avoid the perfume counters at department stores or I will get a headache.

I don't however have the same reaction to cleaning supplies, although some air fresheners do bother me.

Hi this is jen and oh my gosh yes! I am very sensitive to smells.  Why nurses who work in a neurologists office and work w/headache patients wear perfume and lotions is beyond me.  And my poor husband, when I am headaching, which is almost daily right now, is eating anything peanut butter puts me right over the edge!  He's understanding, but smells are a real battle for sure! Good luck to all who suffer!

Sandy,

I have been sensitive for years, since a teen ager.  I get mirgranes and sometimes a rash.

Inez

Hi Sandy, 

I have been managing Multiple Chemical Sensitivities for over 20 years, including many food and inhalant sensitivities.  Although I've been getting migraines since approx. puberty (40 yrs ago for me), the type of migraine, severity and frequency are definitely more severe as the MCS and other chronic illnesses (Fibromyalgia) become more severe.  Unfortunately, we don't always have to smell odors like synthetic chemicals, to react to them.  May I gently suggest that you consider this possiblilty, altho the MCS is a bear to treat adn live with, so I hope it's not that.  So, I want you to know YES, synthetic petrochemicals ARE triggers for me and several good friends of mine. Take a look at www.ciin.org if you'd like.  GOOD LUCK!! You and your husband are in my tho'ts.