Published on 12, July, 2020
Does anyone have any tips for dealing with smells without coming across badly?
I'm starting to get really sensitive to smells such as:
No word of a lie some of these smells actually give me a headache.
I wish there were a nasal equivalent of noise cancelling ear buds!
I'm convinced I was the first person to use the description of referring to something smelling of 'wet dog'.
It was over 30 years ago and a lot of things used to smell that way to me. I remember the people around me at that time thinking it was really funny and me just being bemused saying ' have you not smelled a dog before when it's wet?' No, they said I hadn't noticed.
It was a smell that haunted my nasal passages for around 10 years, now there are only particular things that smell that way, still makes me wretch though.
I don't know what your work relationships are like but could you not make a bit of a joke about it....
"John's here again with his pilchards!" He might get the message.
I do think it's unfair to expect non-close people to modify their behaviour, so I don't know what else to suggest.
Ask daughter to open window when cooking? (But for me this then creates temperature problems....)
I end up pulling a face even in public if I smell strong perfume etc. Like I need to make a statement to myself about it. I suppose that's my way of dealing with it. Maybe think about nice smells?
It's a tricky one!
God forbid shih tzus :-)
I wonder what chocolate labradors smell of!
I'm gonna have to smell one now so I can see for myself!
Labradors smell like digestive biscuits if you get a good one :-)
Yes I was thinking of something I could breathe into instead - thing is I'd want it permanently in place :-)
I've been talking to the office managers / admins about noise recently and there isn't a policy as such just occasional reminders. Food isn't covered apart from cleaning up after yourself in the kitchen.
I really struggle with asking directly as it seems so trivial to most people.
I hate smell's too! I used to hold my breath from the front door to the office door (pretty much ran through reception into work) as I didnt like the smell. It wasen't strong I just didnt like it.
Cigerrette smoke is too much! Strong perfume as you said. The list goes on, from the slightest faint smell only I can smell to strong ones. I hold my breath, smell my clothes or get out of the area :/
I don't think I've ever sniffed a labrador! Bad smekls make my heave. A few years ago I had a really smelly student and it was difficult not to heave in class. I dabbed some of my favourite essential oil onto a scarf so I could smell that instead when I went near the student. Maybe you could try that? I don't know your fashion style maybe dab some on a handkerchief?
Oh, I like the pun!
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/WoodyKnows-Pollutant-Pollution-Second-hand-Anti-Pollution/dp/B017EXC0LM/ref=pd_sbs_121_3/259-4037525-4508864?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017EXC0LM&pd_rd_r=0bb8d318-99ab-11e9-90ae-fde394059ce9&pd_rd_w=OjciV&pd_rd_wg=PfeAU&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=3DYHYTA73DBB06MXK0KM&psc=1&refRID=3DYHYTA73DBB06MXK0KM
Most offices frown upon people eating smelly food at their desks...
I'd check if there's an official policy & if there is maybe get HR to put a 'gentle reminder' out to everyone.
If that fails you could ask serial offenders directly if they'd mind not eating fish in the office (do you have a designated canteen space?)
If you do take the direct approach I bet you get people thanking you.
You could always put an anonymous note on the office fridge as well - I wrote a huge 'passive aggressive' (hold the 'passive') note on an 8 foot long whiteboard that I positioned by the side of my team's desks when someone kept taking calls standing there wearing headphones and talking VERY LOUDLY into the microphone...
It worked wonders!
This is great, gives an entirely new meaning to 'masking' in ASD! I'm going to try one.
Yes me too - cut grass, sandalwood, gloss paint, corn stubble (in a field), hay, honeysuckle, Labrador fur/skin (fresh, not stale!), hamster fur/skin (fresh & living again), curry, oregano, coffee, coffee, coffee, toast, frying onions..........
There are smells that I cannot cope with like perfume or air fresheners. However, to bring a positive note to the debate, I realised earlier, I also really like some smells, so its not all negative. I love the smell of grass, and I do not mean the herbal medicinal type. I just mean the green stuff that grows in the garden. I like cutting the grass. I find it therapeutic, and I love the smell of cut grass. Maybe the two are linked...
You could consider getting one of these. They are used often in Asian countries to deal with air pollution or to avoid spreading bacteria:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Activated-WITERY-Anti-fog-Antibacterial-Adjustable/dp/B071L2HDFL/ref=sr_1_4?crid=19PAU1GM0AI52&keywords=face%2Bmasks%2Bcarbon&qid=1561591209&s=gateway&sprefix=face%2Bmasks%2Bca%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-4&th=1
NAS50557 said:I’m I haven’t found an answer, I just have to remove myself from the situation if possible.
That about covers it too for me, smell is a massive problem for me and also makes me feel physically and mentally ill, it's like I've been poisoned or something, really toxic feeling, it can shut me down.
Fresh air is the only thing that helps unless the smell is outside in the air.
There's an idea for all you ASD inventors out there, how bout some kind of oxygen helmet we can wear, I'd walk around wearing one for sure, or some kind of nasal mask we can just quickly fit on as the smell hits.
Yes vanilla is a weird one - the more intense and artificial the vanilla smell, the more if makes me feel sick if I smell it.
I’m so sensitive to smells and get really bad headaches from perfumes, handcreams, air fresheners, shampoo’s and conditioners etc. Whenever I go anywhere I’m going to be trapped, like on a flight, or a bus journey, or starting a new job etc, the first thing that goes through my mind is ‘please please don’t get stuck next to someone wearing perfume’. Or someone with chewing gum as that is my absolute biggest hate. I once moved desks four times in a day at work as people kept coming in wearing perfume and sat on a desk too close to me.
I’m I haven’t found an answer, I just have to remove myself from the situation if possible. If I can’t I get so angry that I feel physically sick and then get headaches.